Players 2021: Jhonattan Vegas holed 203 feet of putts on Friday at TPC Sawgrass yet his score will shock you

Jhonattan Vegas knows from making long putts at TPC Sawgrass. During the final round in 2019, the 36-year-old from Venezuela rolled in a nearly 70-footer for birdie on the 17th hole, giving him the honor of making the longest holed putt on the famed island green since ShotLink stats were measured in 2004.

Vegas’ success from long distance continued on Friday during the second round of the Players Championship. On the par-4 first hole, Vegas hit his approach to 62 feet, 6 inches and proceeded to roll it in for a birdie. After making bogeys on the fourth and fifth holes, Vegas then holed another impressive birdie putt on the seventh hole when he made a 33-footer.

When he got to the par-3 13th hole, Vegas found himself over another lengthy birdie putt, this one from an even 60-feet. And, well, guess what Vegas managed to do …

By the end of his round, Vegas had holed an impressive 203 feet, 3 inches of putts, just seven inches shy of the all-time record for a round at the Players held by Nick Faldo. He would have blown the record away if only he made the 61-foot birdie effort that he cozied to 17 inches on the par-3 third hole.

Yet for all that, Vegas wound up posting just a one-under 71 to get to even-par 144 after 36 holes. A respectable score, no doubt, but when you hole that many feet of putts, you expect to find yourself a little higher than just inside the cutline.