The others to shoot 59 were Al Geiberger at the 1977 Memphis Classic, Chip Beck at the 1991 Las Vegas Invitational, and David Duval at the 1999 Bob Hope Classic. Appleby’s achievement was the first 59 on a par-70 course.
Appleby had nine birdies and an eagle in his round on the Old White course. Appleby birdied the final three holes with putts of less than 15 feet to earn the $1.08 million winner’s check.
“You don’t shoot a low number . . . feeling a huge amount of indecision,’’ Appleby said. “I was just comfortable.’’
Appleby saw playing partner D.A. Points flirt with a 59 Saturday before settling for a 61. Yesterday, it was Appleby’s turn.
“It was nice to be on the receiving end,’’ Appleby said.
Appleby won for the first time since the 2006 Houston Open. His previous career low was 62 in the 2003 Las Vegas Invitational.
Brendon de Jonge (65) finished third at 17 under.
LPGA — Yani Tseng made a 6-foot putt on the 18th hole to win the Women’s British Open by one stroke over Katherine Hull in Southport, England.
It was the 21-year-old Tseng’s third major title and second of the year to go along with the Kraft Nabisco. She has four LPGA victories overall, having won the 2008 LPGA Championship and 2009 Corning Classic.
Hull came into the round trailing by four strokes but trailed by just one heading into the 18th. But she missed a 20-foot birdie attempt and had to settle for a 70, and Tseng made her par putt to shoot 73 and total 11-under 277 at Royal Birkdale.
Tseng earned $408,000.
She drove into a bunker on the last hole and was just off the green in three. Hull chipped poorly before her birdie attempt went past the hole, and Tseng coolly stepped up to make the winning putt.
“I was nervous and tired with all the pressure and attention out there,’’ Tseng said. “Katherine played well and put me under a lot of pressure. It was the toughest win I’ve had to date. I usually come from behind to win. I’ve never won from the front before.’’
Na Yeon Choi and In-Kyung Kim shared third at 7-under 281. American Cristie Kerr was tied for fifth at 6 under.
