Must Be Nice
Turns out Mr. 57 Cristobal Del Solar didn't even know he shot 57 (Wait, what?!)
Hector Vivas
What was going through Cristobal Del Solar's mind as he closed in on the lowest round ever in a PGA Tour-sactioned event? Apparently, not much other than "just trying to make birdies."
Del Solar was busy making birdies in the PGA Tour's Mexico Open on Thursday as his opening-round 65 had him among the leaders. But after, the 30-year-old Chilean was asked about his history-making performance two weeks prior at the Korn Ferry Tour's Astara Golf Championship.
That Thursday, Del Solar made two eagles and nine birdies in shooting 13 under par and earning the name "Mr. 57." Yes, the course was only 6,254 yards—and playing even shorter at nearly 9,000 feet above sea level—but a 57 is a 57. And it's officially in the record books as the lowest score in Korn Ferry Tour history, one shot lower than Stephan Jaeger at the 2016 Ellie Mae Classic. It's also one stroke lower than Jim Furyk's PGA Tour record of 58 set at the 2016 Travelers Championship.
Turns out, though, Del Solar wasn't thinking about any of that as he played that round. In fact, he didn't even know exactly what he shot when it was over.
"Yeah, honestly—well, first of all, I didn't even know it was history until I finished the round. I didn't know what I was at," Del Solar told reporters on Thursday. "I mean, I knew I was under 10 under, so I didn't know I was 13. I was like maybe 13, maybe 12, you know, maybe 14. Like I didn't know exactly, I was just trying to make birdies."
Imagine being so good you lose track of how many under par you are? Or not knowing how deep into a sub-60(!) round you are? Must be nice.
"Again, I was hitting the ball great, putting myself in really good positions and making putts," Del Solar added. "I guess that's how you shoot 57."
I guess so, Cristobal. I guess so.