The Leader of the AT&T Byron Nelson Matched the Course Record With a Cracked Driver

S.Y. Noh had an eventful day at TPC Craig Ranch, to say the least.

Seung-yul Noh encountered several “firsts” during his impressively eventful day at the AT&T Byron Nelson. 

With nine birdies and an eagle, Noh shot an 11-under 60 to tie the TPC Craig Ranch course record and card his personal best score on Tour. No one would know based on his clean scorecard, but Noh also cracked his driver face in the middle of the round, a blip which he said he’s never run into in his 15 years as a professional golfer.

“You know, just everything was going amazing,” he said. “Off the tee, missed two drivers because the crack of the driver head. Except two shots off the tee through the green, everything going perfectly today.”

On the par-4 12th, Noh hit a tee shot almost 70 yards to the right and realized there was a slim crack on his driver head. According to Model Local Rule G-9, equipment can be replaced in the middle of a round, but a singular crack is not enough damage to allow for a substitution.

Noh then daringly pulled out the cracked driver on the subsequent hole, where he sprayed the shot 70 yards in the opposite direction. The South Korean hit a provisional—which was just as far left—but luckily found his original ball and scraped away with par. At that point, Noh revisited his conversation with John Mutch, the PGA Tour’s Chief Referee, who allowed him to replace the driver head due to “significant damage.” 

Equipment issues for the clubhouse leader @ATTByronNelson.

S.Y. Noh's driver was damaged mid-round @TPCCraigRanch. pic.twitter.com/HKNWtlXEKT

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 11, 2023

The 31-year-old received his replacement driver head on the 16th hole. 

Noh then went on to make a birdie on the par-3 17th hole, giving him a chance to eagle the 18th for a historic 59. But disappointingly, the tournament leader decided to lay up on the reachable par-5. He claimed he was left with a “borderline” 3-wood distance. 

“Everything going good. Even wedge game and putting, everything going good. I'm just trying to make birdie, just forget about the eagle 59,” Noh said. 

Behind Noh, Adam Scott and Zecheng Dou sit at 8 under par. Scott’s 63 was his best opening round on the PGA Tour since 2014, when he shot a 62 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. 

Scottie Scheffler is one back of Scott and Dou at 7 under. The Players champion started the round 6 under through six holes.