3M Open: Michael Kim feeling ‘pretty good’ after historic round of 59

Michael Kim is thrilled to be “part of the history books” after a stunning 12-under-par round of 59 at the 3M Open in Minnesota.

A 24-foot birdie putt on the final hole to post just his 16th sub-60 round on the US PGA Tour.

Kim birdied the last four holes at Blaine’s TPC Twin Cities course, raising both hands in triumph when the putt on 18 rolled in before unleashing a powerful fist-pump.

The 33-year-old had 12 birdies without a bogey to finish the second round of the lead, three shots ahead of compatriot Ben Kohles.

Seoul-born Kim is the 15th golfer to reach the magic number of 59 on the US Tour.

Jim Furyk shot a tour-record 58 at the 2016 Travelers Championship.

“I remember thinking on 18 you have to go for it, 60 or 61 doesn’t really make much difference,” said Kim, whose previous best round was 62.

“It was pretty cool to shoot 59 today and feel like I’m part of the history books.”

Kim’s exciting day included five consecutive birdies from the third through seventh holes, starting a run with an 11-foot birdie putt at the third.

He made a 12-footer on the par-three fourth, landed his approach within five feet and sank a 10-foot birdie on the fifth and a two-footer on the seventh.

Kim opened his closing burst with a birdie from 12 feet on the 15th before adding another birdie at the ninth and 10th and 12th.

He followed that up with a 13-foot birdie at 16 and drilled a 17-foot birdie putt at 17-3.

“I made a really nice birdie putt on 16. It had a lot of break and it went dead center,” Kim said.

“There’s a lot of water on the 17th and 18th and I kind of said to myself ‘hey, this is the way – this is the moment to go 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’.”