Professional golfer Si Woo Kim stood on the precipice of golf history Friday at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. After a scorching 8-under start through 11 holes, the pressure of a sub-60 round finally arrived at TPC Craig Ranch.

Kim shot an 11-under 60 during Friday’s second round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch. He reached 18-under for the tournament and took a big lead. Kim made 12 birdies and only one bogey. The bogey came on the final hole, stopping him from making history with a 59.

"I was trying to be low, but I didn't expect this low," Kim told Golf Channel after his round. "It was the greatest round I've ever had."

Kim said he saw other players going low early and set his own target accordingly. "I was hoping to make it over 10-under," he said. He never chased 59 until the closing holes made it impossible to ignore.

"I never thought about 59," Kim said. "I just trying to make birdie pretty much every hole because every hole is pretty much doable except the last hole."

He got to the 17th, and that's when 59 entered the picture. He drained a putt on 17 and stood on the 18th tee knowing exactly what was at stake. The left wind made it difficult. He went aggressive on his second shot, maybe too aggressive.

"I was too, too, too pumped," Kim said. "I hit it far."

The bogey on the final hole stopped him from shooting 59, but the 60 was still the best round of his career.

Kim played with Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka for the second straight day. Scheffler, who is one of Kim’s close friends, shot a 63 and was at 13-under, five shots behind Kim heading into the weekend. The group stayed relaxed and had fun during the round.

Si Woo Kim Explains the Small Swing Change Behind His Amazing Week

Kim had been struggling with his game before this week. But a small change he made with his coach before arriving at TPC Craig Ranch helped turn things around.

"I was a little off the last couple of weeks," Kim said. "I was trying a little bit of adjustment with my coach, and I think that's working now."

The results backed that up. Kim's ball-striking and putting were both sharp through two rounds. He described his overall game heading into the weekend simply: "Everything feels good."

He holds a five-shot lead with 36 holes remaining. His plan for Saturday and Sunday hasn't changed from what got him here.

"I just trying to be as low as I can," he said.

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Eknoor Juneja

Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav