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Oliver Fisher becomes the first golfer to shoot a 59 in European Tour history
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You would hardly have known how historic the moment was with the nonchalant way Oliver Fisher tapped in his par putt on the 18th hole at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course on Friday. Only a few seconds later did the 30-year-old Englishman reveal a wry smile and a look that showed he knew just what he had accomplished.
Nineteen times golfers have shot 60 on the European Tour, but famously never a 59 until Fisher capped a remarkable round under perfect playing conditions at the Portgual Masters.
Fisher put himself in position for something special by playing the front nine on the Arnold Palmer-designed course in Vilamoura, Portugal, in seven-under 28, with five birdies and an eagle.
“I obviously knew I was in with a shout of shooting a low one when I made a good start,” said Fisher, who posted an even-par 71 during Thursday’s opening round. “It was important to keep reminding myself that I was out there to have some fun, enjoy it, and not get too tentative. When you've got a good round going, it's easy to do that.”
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Fisher kept the momentum going with birdies on the 10th, 11th and 12th holes to get to 10 under, needing just two more birdies on the final six holes for the magic number.
He got one of them on the par-4 15th, and the other on the par-5 17th. But in between came arguably the biggest moment of the round. Fisher missed the green on the par-4 16th, but saved a par from 20 feet.
Needing par on the home hole, Fisher split the fairway with his drive and hit his approach to roughly 40 feet. He then nearly jumped 59 and went right to a 58, just missing his birdie attempt.
Ranked 287th in the world, Fisher entered the tournament 72nd in the Race to Dubai, his tour card for 2019 seemingly in hand. That hasn’t always been the case for the former Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup player, whose lone European Tour win came in 2011 at the Czech Open.
“Very different to a couple of years ago on this green,” Fisher said, “when I was fighting to keep my card. I had that in the back of my mind, thinking, ‘You know what, things could be worse.’ It was fun, I tried to enjoy it.”
The 12-under performance jumped Fisher into a share of the lead midway through the day with Australia's Lucas Hebert. Fisher's best finish this season is a runner-up showing at the Qatar Masters.
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Oliver Fisher Shoots European Tour's First Ever 59
Oliver Fisher has become the first golfer to shoot 59 on the European Tour
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Oliver Fisher has become the first golfer to shoot 59 on the European Tour.
The Englishman made 10 birdies and an eagle on route to a 12 under par total in round two of the Portugal Masters on the par-71 Dom Pedro Victoria course in Vilamoura.
Related: WIN a Galvin Green Ryder Cup Pullover
Whilst the PGA Tour has seen 10 rounds sub-60, this was the European Tour's first.
Watch: Hear what Fisher had to say after his historic 59
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Fisher began the day at level par after an opening 71 but was out in seven under par thanks to five birdies and an eagle on his opening nine.
Watch: Fisher's clutch par save on 16 kept the dream alive, he would birdie the par-5 next
The 30-year-old then began his back nine birdie-birdie-birdie to reach 10 under after 12 holes and further birdies at the 15th and 17th meant he needed to par the last for 59.
A beautiful drive, iron shot to 30 feet and two putts secured history - and his putt for 58 came very, very close!
Watch: Fisher two-putts the last for a 59
Tour Pros including world number one Justin Rose and Thomas Bjorn congratulated Fisher on social media:
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Oliver Fisher's only European Tour win came in 2011 at the Czech Open, although he will fancy his chances to pick up trophy number two in Portugal this week.
He currently ranks 287th in the Official World Golf Ranking.
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Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook , Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
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Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
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Fisher's 59 - The world reacts
Oliver Fisher became the first man in European Tour history to card a 59 in the second round of the Portugal Masters and the tributes came in thick and fast from Ryder Cup Captains, Major Champions, World Number Ones and beyond.
After 46 years and over 690,000 rounds of European Tour action, the magical 60 barrier was finally breached as Englishman Fisher carded ten birdies and an eagle at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course.
Congratulations quickly flooded in from his country, his continent and the world, and here we take a look at some of the tributes.
Awesome @olifisher1 5️⃣9️⃣ the first ever on the @EuropeanTour — Justin ROSE (@JustinRose99) September 21, 2018
Wow!! Unbelievable stuff!! Congratulations @olifisher1 #59 — Matt Fitzpatrick (@MattFitz94) September 21, 2018
Amazing @olifisher1 - 1st ever 59 on the European Tour. Top lad too! Well done Ollie 🙌🏼 — Luke Donald (@LukeDonald) September 21, 2018
A special moment for such a special guy. Couldn’t be prouder of you @olifisher1 💪💪💪 https://t.co/MMxacPYEXo — Thomas Bjorn (@thomasbjorngolf) September 21, 2018
What a round @olifisher1 ! History maker! Congratulations!!! — Tommy Fleetwood (@TommyFleetwood1) September 21, 2018
What a round of golf 59 #respect @olifisher1 1st man to shoot 59 on the @EuropeanTour 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 — Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) September 21, 2018
Congrats @olifisher1 on your amazing round today. First ever @EuropeanTour 59! I’ll be more than happy with that score after 15 holes today! — Gonzalo Fdez-Castaño (@gfcgolf) September 21, 2018
Congrats @olifisher1 first man to shoot 59 @EuropeanTour Great to see! — Ernie Els (@TheBig_Easy) September 21, 2018
Oli Fisher take a bow! #59 pic.twitter.com/u4GQIbOPts — Chris Paisley (@ChrisPaisley86) September 21, 2018
The first 59 ever on @EuropeanTour !!!!! ...... fantastic.... well played Ollie Fisher 👏👏👏👏 — Dick fulchers lad (@Fooch1993) September 21, 2018
59 today 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 amazing 🎯 out there @olifisher1 — Richie Ramsay (@RamsayGolf) September 21, 2018
So pleased for my grumpy understudy @olifisher1. History made and it couldn’t of happened to a better man👍🏻👊🏻 — mark foster (@markfozgolfer) September 21, 2018
And this was inevitable.
Thanks David. Absolutely delighted. Loving getting these messages at home on the couch. #mr59 https://t.co/hWQp4LJyiq — Oliver Wilson (@Oliver_Wilson) September 21, 2018
Fisher cards history-making 59 in Portugal
Oliver Fisher has made history by carding the first round of 59 on the European Tour at the Portugal Masters.
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Oliver Fisher has made history by carding the first round of 59 on the European Tour at the Portugal Masters. Since the formation of the European Tour in 1972 there had been 19 rounds of 60...
Nineteen times golfers have shot 60 on the European Tour, but famously never a 59 until Fisher capped a remarkable round under perfect playing conditions at the Portgual Masters.
English golfer Oliver Fisher has carded the first round of 59 in European Tour history at the Portugal Masters. The 30-year-old made 10 birdies and an eagle for a 12-under second round in...
As part of the European Tour Group’s 50th anniversary celebrations, we remember Oliver Fisher’s piece of unmatched history when he shot the first ever 59 on the DP World Tour. It took 46 years and over 690,000 rounds of golf but on Friday, September 21, 2018, the Tour finally had its Mr 59 – Oliver Fisher.
Oliver Fisher has become the first golfer to shoot 59 on the European Tour. The Englishman made 10 birdies and an eagle on route to a 12 under par total in round two of the Portugal Masters on the par-71 Dom Pedro Victoria course in Vilamoura.
Oliver Fisher became the first man in European Tour history to card a 59 in the second round of the Portugal Masters and the tributes came in thick and fast from Ryder Cup Captains, Major Champions, World Number Ones and beyond.