PGA

• How Stuart Appleby shot a 59

  By Gerard Gallagher, Golf Editor White Sulphur Springs, WV (Sports Network) - Stuart Appleby carded the fifth 59 in PGA Tour history on Sunday to win The Greenbrier Classic by one shot.

  It was the first 59 in PGA Tour history carded on a par-70 course and Appleby became only the second player after David Duval at the 1999 Bob Hope to post golf's magic number in the final round of a tournament.

  Appleby joined Duval and Al Geiberger (1977 Memphis Classic) as the only players in tour history to shoot a 59 and win. Chip Beck tied for third place at the 1991 Las Vegas Invitational and Paul Goydos finished runner-up to Steve Stricker after carding his 59 in the first round of last month's John Deere Classic.

  Appleby earned his piece of history with a round that included an eagle and nine birdies at The Old White Course in White Sulpher Springs, W.Va., which was hosting the first year of the tournament.

  Here's how he did it: - Hole No. 2 (448-yard par four) Birdie Appleby hit driver off the tee, landing it 147 yards from the hole, then knocked a seven-iron to 11 feet for his first birdie.

  - Hole No. 4 (396-yard par four) Birdie Hitting driver off the tee again, Appleby was 94 yards from the hole and used a sand wedge on his approach. He made a 27-foot birdie putt.

  - Hole No. 5 (344-yard par four) Birdie Appleby used his three-wood for the first time and had 89 yards left to the pin. He hit a lob-wedge to seven feet and made birdie.

  - Hole No. 6 (471-yard par four) Birdie Back to the driver, Appleby had 151 yards to the hole and hit an eight-iron on his approach. He made a 12-foot birdie putt.

  - Hole No. 7 (405-yard par four) Birdie Using three-wood for the second time, Appleby was left with 125 yards on his approach and hit a pitching-wedge to seven feet for his fourth birdie in a row.

  - Hole No. 8 (226-yard par three) Par Appleby was tested for the first time at No. 8, where he missed the green left with a four-iron. He chipped to nine feet and rolled in the putt to save par.

  - Hole No. 9 (404-yard par four) Birdie One of his best shots of the day. After hitting driver off the tee, Appleby knocked a sand-wedge approach inside a foot for his sixth birdie of the front nine. It gave him a 28 and his eighth consecutive 3.

  - Hole No. 12 (568-yard par five) Eagle Appleby made his only eagle of the tournament here. He hit driver, then drilled a four-iron more than 230 yards to about 12 feet, holing the putt to move to eight-under for the round and begin the 59 watch in earnest.

  - Hole No. 16 (442-yard par four) Birdie Using driver again, Appleby was left with 162 yards to the hole. He hit an eight-iron to 14 feet and made the putt. Now he needed two more birdies with a par-five and par-three hole remaining.

  - Hole No. 17 (572-yard par five) Birdie Appleby hit his drive into a bunker, then laid up to 104 yards with his second shot -- the perfect distance for his sand wedge. He knocked it to 10 feet and made the birdie putt.

  - Hole No. 18 (168-yard par three) Birdie The shots that clinched Appleby's 59 were an eight-iron to 11 feet and a birdie putt that split the center of the cup. Appleby celebrated with a right fist pump, then waited as Jeff Overton failed to catch him at 22-under 258, giving the 39-year-old Australian his ninth career PGA Tour victory.

  And a piece of PGA Tour history.

  08/01 22:50:17 ET