NEWS

Fewest number of putts in a round on PGA Tour

By T.J. Auclair
Published on
Fewest number of putts in a round on PGA Tour


Putting is such an important facet if you want to have any success in golf.
 
Compared to the average player, all PGA Tour players are remarkable putters of the golf ball. 
 
And since those Tour players are so special, they're also able to compile on occasion an extra special round.
 
Eight times in the PGA Tour's history, players have played all 18 holes in a competitive round needing just 18 putts. Think about that for a second: That's an average of one putt per hole.
 
Can you even imagine what one putt per hole would do to lower your scores?
 
Here's a look at all eight of the players who have used just 18 putts in a single Tour round:
 
- Sam Trahan, final round, 1979 IVB Philadelphia Golf Classic at Whitemarsh Valley CC. Surprisingly, Trahan only managed to shoot a 1-under 70 that day and finished the tournament five strokes out of last place of those players who made the cut. Clearly he wasn't hitting many greens in regulation that round. 
 
- Mike McGee, first round, 1987 Federal Express St. Jude Classic at Colonial CC in Cordova, Tennessee. McGee missed the cut in the event.
 
- Kenny Knox, first round, 1989 MCI Heritage Classic at Harbour Town GL. Knox shot a 69 in that round and was the first of two players on this list to have 18 putts in a single round and finish inside the top 10 of that event. Knox finished tied for fifth.
 
- Andy North, second round, 1990 Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic at Kingsmill GC. North shot a 2-under 69 that day. 
 
- Jim McGovern, second round, 1992 Federal Express St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind. McGovern shot a 9-under 62 that day -- the lowest score among the eight who have recorded just 18 putts in a round. He finished the tournament tied for fourth. 
 
- Corey Pavin, second round, 2000 Bell Canadian Open at Glen Abbey GC. Pavin shot a 7-under 65 that day. 
 
- Ken Duke, third round, 2009 WGC CA Championship at Doral. Duke shot a 5-under 67 that day and tied for 40th in the tournament.
 
- Blake Adams, second round, 2010 Verizon Heritage at Harbour Town GL. Adams shot an 8-under 63 that day and finished the tournament in a tie for 64th.