Zach Johnson Flirts with 59, Settles for 60

In his third round at the Tour Championship on Saturday, Zach Johnson reached the 18th tee needing one more birdie to post a score of 59. Had he gotten that birdie, Johnson would have become the fourth golfer in PGA Tour history to shoot 59.

Alas, Johnson parred the 18th hole and "settled" for a round of 60. But 60s are still pretty rare on the PGA Tour, too. In fact, entering the 2007 season, there had only been 19 rounds of 60 posted in PGA Tour competition. From the PGA Tour Media Guide, those 19 rounds are:

• Al Brosch, Brackenridge Park GC, third round, 1951 Texas Open
• Bill Nary, El Paso CC, third round, 1952 El Paso Open
• Ted Kroll (30-30), Brackenridge Park GC, third round, 1954 Texas Open
• Wally Ulrich (29-31), Cavalier Yacht & CC, second round, 1954 Virginia Beach Open
• Tommy Bolt (30-30), Wethersfield CC, second round, 1954 Insurance City Open
• Mike Souchak (27-33), Brackenridge Park GC, San Antonio, TX, first round, 1955 Texas Open
• Sam Snead, Glen Lakes CC, second round, 1957 Dallas Open
• David Frost (29-31), Randolph Park GC, second round, 1990 Northern Telecom Tucson Open
• Davis Love III (31-29), Waialae CC, second round, 1994 United Airlines Hawaiian Open
• Grant Waite (31-29), TPC Scottsdale, final round, 1996 Phoenix Open
• Steve Lowery (29-31), Callaway Gardens (Mountain View Course), final round, 1997 Buick Challenge
• Tommy Armour III (30-30), Las Vegas CC, second round, 1999 Las Vegas Invitational
• Mark Calcavecchia (29-31), TPC Scottsdale, second round, 2001 Phoenix Open
• Robert Gamez (27-33), Indian Wells CC, third round, 2004 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic
• Bart Bryant (29-31), The Resort Course at LaCantera, third round, 2004 Valero Texas Open
• Phil Mickelson (29-31), TPC Scottsdale, second round, 2005 FBR Open
• Pat Perez (30-30), Palmer Course at PGA West, first round, 2006 Bob Hope Chrysler Championship
• Arron Oberholser (30-30), Cottonwood Valley Course, second round, 2006 EDS Byron Nelson Championship
• Justin Rose (29-31), Palm Course, first round, 2006 FUNAI Classic at Walt Disney World Resort

See the PGA Tour 18-Hole Scoring Record for the three rounds of 59 that have been posted in PGA Tour competition.