Shoots 59 at the Standard Register PING on 2 April 2001, becoming the first woman ever to record 59 in an official tour event.
On 2 April 2001, during the Standard Register PING tournament at Moon Valley Country Club in Phoenix, Arizona, Annika Sörenstam shot a stunning 59, becoming the first woman in history to record a 59 in an official tour event.[1][5] Her round consisted of 13 birdies and 5 pars, with a front‑nine 28, and required near‑perfect ball‑striking and putting.
This score shattered previous notions of what was possible in women’s professional golf. The sub‑60 barrier had long been a benchmark associated with the men’s game; Sörenstam’s achievement demonstrated that women could reach the same level of scoring excellence given the opportunity and conditions.[5][6] The performance was widely covered across global sports media, and footage of the round became one of the most replayed highlights in LPGA history.
The 59 anchored her reputation as an analytical, fitness‑focused golfer who applied precise preparation to competition. It helped drive greater respect for women’s golf among fans, sponsors, and broadcasters, contributing to increased television coverage and prize money during the early 2000s.[5] It also raised the bar for her peers, who now had a new standard of scoring to aspire to.
Historically, Sörenstam’s 59 is remembered as a watershed moment in women’s sports—a numerical symbol of parity in performance potential and a vivid example of how a single round can change perceptions about an entire tour. More than two decades later, it remains a reference point whenever conversations turn to the greatest rounds ever played by a woman professional.[1][5]