HONG KONG — In a remarkable performance, Patrick Reed marked his place in golf history by becoming the ninth player this year to shoot a score of 59 or lower. Reed concluded his round with an impressive four consecutive birdies, resulting in a score of 11-under 69 at the Hong Kong Open, part of the Asian Tour.

However, this score will not be officially acknowledged as a record on the Asian Tour due to the prevailing conditions of preferred lies. This rule allows players to lift, clean, and place their golf balls in the short grass, which alters the standard playing conditions.

Earlier this year, John Catlin achieved a score of 59 in a tournament held in Macau, an event that is also categorized as part of the International Series on the Asian Tour. His score continues to stand as the official record for the Tour.

Reed’s round began energetically with five back-to-back birdies and concluded with four more in succession, which propelled him to a three-stroke lead over competitors Rashid Khan from India and Nitithorn Thippong from Thailand.

Throughout the year, there have been a total of eight rounds recorded below 60 in professional golf, including two in the PGA Tour, three in the Korn Ferry Tour, and one each in both the LIV Golf League and PGA Tour Americas. Notably, Cristobal Del Solar set the bar this year by shooting a stunning 57 on the Korn Ferry Tour, marking it as the lowest score recorded across professional tours this year.