Goydos shoots 59, leads Deere by one

SILVIS, Ill., July 8 (UPI) -- Paul Goydos shot a dizzying 12-under 59 but Steven Stricker was right on his heels with a 60 in Thursday's first round of the John Deere Classic in Illinois.

Goydos had a dozen birdies and no bogeys in his round and became only the fourth golfer to shoot 59 in a PGA event and the first to do it since David Duval in 1999.

"That's just a mythical number in our game," said Goydos, who missed the cuts at the U.S. Open and last week's AT&T National.

Goydos hit 16 greens in regulation on the rain-softened links at TPC Deere Run and sank some impressive putts, including a 39-footer on the 11th hole and a 7-footer for birdie on 18.

Stricker refused to give an inch and roared into the clubhouse at 11-under 60 thanks to six birdies on the back nine.

American Michael Letzig was tied for third place at seven-under 64 with Australians James Nitties, Matt Jones and Aaron Baddeley.