Scotland’s Scott Jamieson went within four inches of the European Tour’s first-ever round of 59 on day three of the Portugal Masters at Vilamoura.
The Glaswegian posted a new course record of an 11-under par 60 after his chip shot from the back of the green hit the edge of the hole and stopped four inches shy of a birdie in what would have been a 59 and the first in the 41-year history of the European Tour.
Jamieson had commenced his round at three under par and cut a swath through the leader board to be out in 29. He then birdied 10 and 11 but failed to birdie the par five 12th before another birdie at 13 and then 16 and 17.
Scott Jamieson becomes 17th player in EuropeanTour history to shoot a 60. (Exclusive photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
His second shot into the last went through the green and after a long study at his birdie chip there was a loud sigh from a huge crowd gathered around the final green as Jamieson’s chip shot for birdie from rough behind the flagstick hit the hole and stopped four inches from dropping.
The Glaswegian’s score of an 11-under par 60 for a 14-under par tally was four shots better than a prior best and a new Oceanico Victoria course low.
Jamieson now heads to today’s final round enjoying a fourway share of second place and two shots behind England’s Paul Waring who birdied his 16th and 17th holes in a score of 67 to finish on 16-under par as the Wirral golfer seeks a first win in 118 events.
Jamieson had come from a share of 52nd place to in front of the field with an effort that included 11 birdies and four in succession from the fourth hole.
And while the soon-to-be new father brilliantly managed to save par with a chip-in for par at the 14th Jamieson could look back failing to birdie the par five 13th and also the agony of seeing his chip shot from rough at the back of the 18th spoiling creating a European Tour first ever sub-60 score.
“I was right in the zone and I’ve never ever felt that way before on a golf course,” said Jamieson.
“It was a ten out of ten round where I couldn’t do anything wrong.
“I had said to my cadddy walking up 17 that I really want to make a birdie here so that we would have a chance at a 59 going down the last so that we might become a part of history.”So that was great to birdie 17 and then I could not have asked to hit a better approach shot into 18, as it pitched just short of the hole but just ran through the green.”
Jamieson is the 17th player in the 41-year history of the European Tour to post a round of 60.
But while the crowd following Jamieson swelled to a few hundred near the end of his round there was just two Tour colleagues in the South African pair of Garth Mulroy and Brandon Stone hoping to see history in the making.
After starting the event with a 66 Jamieson posted a disappointing second round 73 but picking up on a swing key over the last handful of holes that he put brilliantly into effect on day three.
“I had played the last four holes on Friday really well but found a swing key involving my right knee and keeping it a bit more solid so much so that I didn’t need to go to the range and that really worked today,” he added.
