Golf

Harris goes low with a 59 on his way to playoff victory

By AAP Newswire

Aug 10, 2026

American Frankie Harris shot a final-round 59 on his way to victory. — American Frankie Harris shot a final-round 59 on his way to a playoff victory. -AP

Young American golfer Frankie Harris has made a big statement, closing with a rare 12-under-par 59 before winning the Korn Ferry Tour's Pinnacle Bank Championship in a playoff.

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Harris's maiden victory came in just his sixth tour start this year.

The 23-year-old made an 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole to get to 22-under 262, then beat fellow American Alistair Docherty with a par on the second playoff hole at The Club at Indian Creek in Nebraska on Sunday.

Harris is not the first player to shoot a final-round 59 on his way to victory.

Among those to have managed the feat was Australia's Stuart Appleby, who carded 59 in the final round on his way to victory at the 2010 Greenbrier Classic on the PGA Tour.

Harris shot eight-under 27 on the back nine in the final round on Sunday - with an eagle and six birdies - by making just over 153 feet of putts.

"The thought of a 59 never even crossed my mind. Honestly, like 100 per cent honesty, I did not know I shot a 59 when I made that putt on 18," Harris said.

"I knew I was playing well, but I was just trying to keep the pedal on the gas and finish strong."

Docherty was coming off a birdie on the 15th when Harris finished. He birdied the last three holes, starting with a 53-foot putt on the 16th, the last one giving him 64 to force the playoff.

"I was ready to crack my first beer once I finished the round, but then my caddie and I made a smart choice not do that because Alistair came in real hot," Harris said.

On the 18th for the second playoff hole, Docherty went long off the green, chipped to six feet and missed the par putt.

Harris became the fourth player in the past six weeks with a 59. He became the ninth player worldwide to have a sub-60 final round and win the tournament.

Harris, who ended his college career at South Carolina, finished No.9 in the PGA Tour University rankings. That gave him conditional status on the Korn Ferry Tour and full status on the PGA Tour Americas.

Victory moved him to No.29 on the points list. The top 20 earn PGA Tour cards for 2027.

Players with sub-60 final rounds on recognised golf tours (x-won the tournament):

PGA Tour:

58 — Jim Furyk, 2016 Travelers Championship.

59 — x-David Duval, 1999 Bob Hope Invitational.

59 — x-Stuart Appleby, 2010 Greenbrier Classic.

LIV Golf League:

58 — x-Bryson DeChambeau, 2023 LIV Golf-Greenbrier

Korn Ferry Tour:

59 — Will Wilcox, 2013 Utah Championship

59 — David Kocher, 2023 Albertsons Boise Open.

59 — x-Frankie Harris, 2026 Pinnacle Bank Championship