HIROSHI IWATA JOINS CLUB 63

With a 9-under-par 63 in today’s PGA Championship second round, Japan’s Hiroshi Iwata ties the all-time 18-hole scoring mark in a major championship. Additionally, Iwata set the competitive Straits Course scoring record by one stroke. China’s Wen Chang Liang had a 64 in the third round of the 2010 PGA Championship.

Additionally, Iwata achieved the following:

Hiroshi Iwata joins the ’63 Club’. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)

• Joins Japan’s Isao Aoki as the only Asian professional golfers to post a 63 in a major. Aoki recorded his 63 in the third round of the 1980 Open Championship.
• Becomes the 25^thindividual to record a 63 in a major, a feat that has happened on 27 occasions.
• Joins Michael Bradley (1995, PGA Championship 1^stround) as the only players to record a 63 in a debut in a U.S. major championship
• Owns the highest score in a major (77) prior to matching the all-time 18-hole record. Mark Hayes previously had the mark (76) in  the 1977 Open Championship (see chart)
• Becomes the 13^thplayer to post a 63 in a PGA Championship, a period of 40 years dating back to 1975 when Bruce Crampton had a second-round 63

63s in Major Championship History (Updated)

Although the complete list of 63s in a major championship is listed below, note that Greg Norman and Vijay Singh are the only players to record a 63 in more than one major championship. Six players have won after posting a 63 in a major: Johnny Miller (1973 U.S. Open), Raymond Floyd (1982 PGA Championship), Norman (1986 Open Championship), Jack Nicklaus (1980 U.S. Open), Tiger Woods (2007 PGA Championship) and Jason Dufner (2013 PGA Championship).

Rory McIlroy on his way to shooting 63 2010 Open.