Nicolas Colsaerts an inch away from European Tour’s first 59

Nicolas Colsaerts almost had it, almost had carded the first 59 in European Tour history, but his bid for history was an inch too far to the left. Instead, the Belgian shot the 19th 60 in European Tour history on Thursday in the Portugal Masters.

The long-hitter had to work hard to give himself a chance at the historic round. After going out in a modest 31, Colsaerts made eagles at the par-4 15th and par-5 17th to need one final birdie.

His approach to the last left him some 18 feet for the record, but the putt didn’t break how he thought it would.

“I thought it was going to be slightly left to right at the end and it kind of went straight and basically just left it hanging,” Colsaerts said of his 11-under-par round. “Too bad, I thought it was a pretty good effort.”

At this same tournament a year ago, Scott Jamieson’s bid for 59 came up short as his birdie chip at the last grazed the cup. Paul Casey had a chance to shoot 59 during the KLM Open in September, but bogeyed the last hole.

The European Tour is the only of the world’s five major tours to have never hosted a 59 without preferred lies. Kevin Sutherland scored the first 59 in Champions Tour history this season at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open.

By contrast, there have been 35 rounds of 60 or better in PGA Tour history, with six 59s. Jim Furyk was the last to break 60, doing so in the 2013 BMW Championship.

Curiously, there had been seven rounds of 60 in PGA Tour history before Al Geiberger became Mr. 59 in 1977. Prior to that day in Memphis, there hadn’t been a round of 60 on the PGA Tour in 20 years. It would be another 23 years before another 60 was posted after Geiberger.

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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