Kevin Chappell tied the PGA Tour record for consecutive birdies (9) in a round and shot just the 11th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history on Friday at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier… and he still trails 36-hole co-leaders Scottie Scheffler, Joaquin Niemann and Robby Shelton by three strokes.
That’s some pretty stiff competition in the PGA Tour’s wraparound season.
For Chappell, however, his bogey-free 11-under par 59 on Friday was made even more impressive when you consider that the California native hasn’t played a round of competitive golf in more than nine months after having a microdiscectomy and laminectomy at the L5-S1 of his back, which is where the lumbar spine ends and the sacral spine begins, after just three starts in last years fall season.
Signed and official.5️⃣9️⃣ pic.twitter.com/TIqqJOv4Qk
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 13, 2019
Beginning his round on the back nine, Chappell parred the 10th hole and then birdied the next nine taking him to the cusp of 59-watch with eight holes to play. Birdies on his 14th and 16th holes had him looking to break more records.
“I made (birdie) on seven to get to 11-under par for the day and I just told my caddie I wanted to shoot 57,” Chappell said. “I just tried to keep the mindset to attack.
“Ten months ago I was on the couch and couldn’t walk. So many people had so much to do with getting me back out here and getting me competitive. I haven’t accomplished the goal yet, there’s a long weekend to go, but this is a step in the right direction.”
“10 months ago I was on the couch and I couldn’t walk.”
It’s been an emotional return to the TOUR for @Kevin_Chappell. pic.twitter.com/eSFLfawy5e
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 13, 2019
Chappell was given the okay by doctors to play nine holes just four months ago. He built up his stamina hitting wedge shots — a few a day to start, gradually building up to playing his first nine holes in May.
“(I) was really, really diligent,” Chappell said. “Listened to my team and listened to my body. I remember playing the ninth hole, par-3, hitting the shot into the green and thinking, I can’t hit any more shots, I’m tired,” Chappell said. “To be here today, four months later, playing – starting my first PGA Tour event, it’s pretty surreal.”
Even as good as Chappell’s comeback story is, he still has a tall task ahead of him this weekend in West Virginia. His first-round of 1-over par 71 put him behind the 8-ball in terms of making the cut, much less contending.
Now, he’s three shots back of the three co-leaders and in position to all but seal the PGA Tour’s Comeback Player of the Year award.
