Michael Kim shoots 59 at 3M Open to take tournament lead

Michael Kim surged to the top of the leaderboard at the 3M Open, delivering a historic performance that placed him among the elite few in golf history. By carding a 12-under 59 at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota, Kim became the 15th player to record a 59 on the PGA Tour. This milestone performance represents the 16th time in the history of the American circuit that a player has broken 60.

The 33-year-old’s bogey-free round was defined by a late-stage push, as he secured birdies on the final four holes. His journey to the record books began on the 3rd hole, where he embarked on a streak of five consecutive birdies. Kim reached the turn at 6-under 29, maintaining a rhythm that he described as an awesome feeling where the ball did exactly what he envisioned. Kim recorded 6.724 strokes gained on the green during his round, rolling in nearly 104 feet of putts. To finish the round, Kim sank a 24-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole.

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Despite the historic nature of the day, Kim maintained a disciplined outlook regarding the remainder of the tournament.

"I kind of remember thinking on 18 that you have to go for it, 60 or 61 doesn't really make too much of a difference,"

Michael Kim, Professional Golfer, via Golfmagic

"To shoot 59 today was pretty cool and feels like I'm part of the history books."

Michael Kim, Professional Golfer, via Golfmagic

Entering the weekend, Kim holds a three-shot lead over Ben Kohles, who sits at 11-under. The presence of world number one Scottie Scheffler remains a focal point for the leader. Kim acknowledged the challenge ahead, noting that even with his record-setting performance, the tournament is far from decided.

"We still have a long ways to go and that guy named Scottie Scheffler is probably going to throw up a good score today anyway,"

Michael Kim, Professional Golfer, via UK Yahoo Sports

Tournament Context

• Course Record: Kim’s performance established a new course record at TPC Twin Cities.
• Recent History: Kim’s 59 is the fourth to be recorded on the tour since 2024. Jake Knapp, who is also competing in the 3M Open, was the most recent player to achieve the feat at the 2025 The Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches.
• Tournament Schedule: Having competed for five consecutive weeks, Kim initially considered skipping this event. He spent time at home following a missed cut at the Open Championship before deciding to travel to Minnesota.

Kim’s approach to the final holes, which are heavily guarded by water, emphasized aggression over safety.

"I just kind of told myself like, 'Hey, this is the way, this is the moment to get into the history books and let's go for it, let's not try to luck our way into it, let's try to step up and hit some really good shots,'"

Michael Kim, Professional Golfer, via Yahoo Sports

As the field looks toward the weekend, the focus shifts to how the leaders will handle the pressure of the remaining rounds. While Kim achieved his career-best low round—surpassing his previous record of 62—he cautioned against complacency.

"Today was an awesome day, but still, I'm only halfway there so still need to kind of get focused up for the weekend,"

Michael Kim, Professional Golfer, via AOL

Following the round, Kim indicated he intended to head to the practice range to hit a few balls, a departure from his usual routine. He noted that he typically only practices after a poor performance, but felt it was necessary to help him wind down after an extraordinary day. Kim remains focused on the upcoming rounds, emphasizing the importance of not comparing his future play to the historic score he posted on Friday.