Ramjack Media
24 January 2026
In this episode of Sports History Daily, we revisit one of the most extraordinary—and pressure-packed—rounds in golf history. On January 24, 1999, David Duval entered the final round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic at PGA West trailing the lead by seven shots. What followed was a near-perfect display of precision, confidence, and nerve. Playing the Palmer Private Course, Duval caught fire early and never let up. Birdie after birdie dropped, and as the round built, so did the tension. By the time he reached the 18th hole, Duval stood at 11-under for the day—needing an eagle on the par-5 finishing hole to reach the mythical number in golf: 59. With water guarding the green and the tournament hanging in the balance, Duval attacked. His approach settled just six feet from the cup, and when the eagle putt fell, history was made. Duval signed for a final-round 59, becoming just the third player in PGA Tour history to shoot a sub-60 round—and the first to do it in the final round to win a tournament. The round vaulted Duval from seven shots back to a one-stroke victory and marked a defining moment in his career. Within months, he would rise to World No. 1, briefly unseating Tiger Woods and establishing himself as the premier challenger of the Tiger era. Duval would go on to win 13 PGA Tour events, including the 2001 Open Championship, before injuries cut his prime short. This episode explores not just the score, but the context—why Duval’s 59 stands apart from every other sub-60 round, how rare it was under Sunday pressure, and why it remains one of the loudest statements ever made on a PGA Tour leaderboard.
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