A Jaw-Dropping 59 Kicks Off PGA Tour Champions' Team Event, And The Field Is Already Chasing!

Over in Madison, Wisconsin, the PGA Tour Champions just saw something WILD happen in their ONLY team event. Freddie Jacobson from Sweden and Soren Kjeldsen from Denmark dropped a stunning 12-under-par 59 on Friday at the American Family Insurance Championship! A 59! This isn't just good, it's setting the pace, and they've got everyone else scrambling to catch up after just one day.

Jacobson and Kjeldsen's Blistering Start

These two Nordic warriors came out firing. Kjeldsen, the Dane, got them rolling right away with an eagle on the par-5 second hole. It wasn't just him, though; they tag-teamed this course. Of their ten birdies for the day, Jacobson sank six himself. Kjeldsen said it best, "We sort of alternated nicely, like one guy made a putt and then the next guy, and Freddie was sort of on fire middle of the round." They built serious momentum, which is key in this format. Kjeldsen even tied for second here last year with a different partner, so he knows how to perform.

Who's Right on Their Heels?

But don't think it's a runaway! This is a three-day event, and the leaderboard is TIGHT. Jacobson and Kjeldsen are only up by a single stroke, with two teams right behind them at 11-under. That's Brian Gay and Slovakia's Rory Sabbatini, plus the Aussie duo of Richard Green and Mark Hensby. Sabbatini, who just turned 50 in April, is still chasing his first PGA Tour Champions win. He and Gay played together in 2019 at the PGA Tour's Zurich Classic, finishing third. Gay was on a heater on their back nine, sinking seven birdies by himself for a nine-hole score of 28! Sabbatini confirmed it, saying, "Brian was obviously, as they say in Vegas, he was on a heater, so I stayed out of his way and let Seabiscuit run, and he did. He fired 28 on the back nine, which was our front, by himself. I just sat there and watched. It was kind of fun for me." Just two strokes back at 10-under 61, Germany's Bernhard Langer with New Zealand's Steven Alker are tied with Aussies Cameron Percy and Greg Chalmers. Last year's champ, Darren Clarke, with Ben Crane after his partner wasn't available, opened with a solid 9-under 62, tying for sixth. Stewart Cink and Zach Johnson, with five tour wins between them this year, settled for a 6-under 65 to start. This field is deep.

What's Next?

It's scramble time for Saturday! This format can really shake things up. Jacobson and Kjeldsen have that slender lead, but with Gay's heater and the field so close, anything can happen. We're only one day into the PGA Tour Champions' only team event, and it's already a must-watch. Can our Nordic leaders hold strong, or will someone else make a run? Get ready!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.