– It is completely absurd, of course. That’s how you might only do it on Playstation, says Viaplay’s golf commentator Joakim Mikkelsen. Thursday evening also saw the start of the Phoenix Open on the PGA Tour, but just as much focus was on the level below – the Korn Ferry Tour. There, Cristóbal del Solar delivered absolutely crazy golf. After 15 of 18 holes played, he was a full 13 shots under par after nine birdies and two eagles. – We are quite serious about “54 watch”, wrote the golf writer Shane Bacon on X with three holes left in the round. Del Solar had to make do with par on the last three holes, but this resulted in a round of 57 strokes. Never before has anyone had such a low score in a round at the highest or second highest level of the major golf tours. In the past, there has also been a round of 57 on the Alps Tour, level three belonging to the European Tour. It was on a course where par was 68. Number 259 in the world – How is that possible, Mikkelsen? – What is perhaps worth noting for most people is that this is number 259 in the world. It is proof of how enormously deep it is in professional golf, when people who the vast majority have never heard of deliver such a historic round, Mikkelsen says of the Chilean. – It goes without saying that an isolated score is difficult to put up against each other. It’s a fairly short course that is quite easy for the pros, but 57, you still have to go there. It shows how insanely high the level is at level two in the USA, says Mikkelsen further. EXPERT: Joakim Mikkelsen comments on tournaments at the highest level for Viaplay. Photo: Tordis Gauteplass The total length of the course is 5718 metres. – Yes, the pitch is short and we play at height, but you still have to be able to do it. You have to go out there and make birdies, says Del Solar to NBC. The Chilean says he has never gone under 60 strokes before and that he himself did not have a complete overview when he entered the last hole of the course. – I asked my caddy, how are we doing? He looked at me and said: “I don’t know, look at the scorecard. I do not know”. I knew I wanted to go under 60, but I didn’t know exactly what, he says. Played with a Norwegian One who got to experience the round up close was Kristoffer Ventura. The Norwegian played together with Del Solar and himself delivered a brilliant round of 62 strokes, eight strokes under par. – How do you think it was for Ventura to go through such a round, and at the same time see his playing partner deliver in the way he did? – I think he just kept laughing at that. When you go eight under par, you usually run the show in your group and people take their hats off to you. And then you’re five strokes behind another, Mikkelsen says with a chuckle. – You just have to laugh about it. That’s professional golf in a nutshell. “What exactly are you giving me here? Here I go eight under and then I get pig’s dung”. PLAYED WELL: Kristoffer Ventura delivered very well on Thursday, but was still seen in the shadow of Cristóbal del Solar. The Norwegian has previously played on the PGA Tour and can return there through good performances at the level below. Photo: Reuters – There are signs that you sometimes pull each other up when you play with someone who is doing well. I don’t think there was exactly a bad atmosphere in that group, says Mikkelsen. The tournament in Colombia will be played on two different tracks. The three remaining rounds will be played by Del Solar and Ventura on another court in the Colombian capital. – It’s a huge departure from the norm when you go on a round like this. You can never dream of following it up. It will adjust, says Mikkelsen. – I try to do my routine. I know I just had a round of 57, an incredible round, but it’s the first day of the tournament, says Del Solar soberly. After day one, Brian Campbell and Michael Johnson held a four-stroke lead. Ventura is tied for fourth place.
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