Hiroshi Iwata shoots 63 to match major scoring record at PGA Championship
Heading into the weekend at Whistling Straits, there had been 26 rounds of 63 in the history of major championship golf.
On Friday, Hiroshi Iwata made it 27.
Tapping in for par after barely missing a birdie hole out from the rough, the 34-year-old became the 13th player to shoot 63 at a PGA Championship, the first since Jason Dufner in 2013 when the American won at Oak Hill. He finished his round with an eagle, eight birdies and a bogey at the par-4 ninth.
Before this week, Japan's Hiroshi Iwata had never made a cut in a major.
He just tied the major scoring record. 63. pic.twitter.com/h0g4OkMHwp
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 14, 2015
Making Iwata's round more improbable was that he entered Friday tied for 123rd after a 5-over 77. His incredible day moves him into serious contention for the weekend.
It was only the fourth major appearance for the Japanese player who had previously failed to make the weekend at the 2008, 2014, and 2015 Open Championships.
Iwata is currently ranked 102nd in the world and has two career professional wins, both on the Japan Tour, his most recent coming this past July at the Shigeo Nagashima Invitational Sega Sammy Cup.