Annika Sörenstam’s iconic 59 from the Standard Register PING tournament, from 24 years ago, might be one of the greatest rounds in LPGA history, but there’s a new name lighting up the LPGA. Japan’s Minami Katsu, the 27-year-old star, just pulled off one of the most flawless rounds we’ve seen in recent history at the 2025 Buick LPGA Shanghai.

During the second round, Katsu fired a remarkable 11-under-par 61, setting a new course record at Qizhong Garden Golf Club. Her round included twelve birdies, one bogey, and an impressive long putt on the 18th that had the gallery stunned. Her previous career-best was 10-under, so this was not just a record-breaking performance but also a new personal milestone. Katsu took just 24 putts to finish the round, and hit 17 greens in regulation! Talk about making a statement.

“It was a pretty flawless round—couple luckies I think, but really good overall,” Katsu said, clearly humble despite her record-breaking performance. “Honestly, I’m very happy with the record I made today. But there are still two more days to play, so probably no celebration yet. I’ll try to keep it simple.”

The day started with a bang for Katsu, who fired off six birdies on the front nine, a flawless display of golf that set the tone early. Even after a slight hiccup, a bogey on the par-4 10th that would have rattled many, Katsu kept her calm and got right back to work. She birdied six more times on the back nine, including the 18th, giving the crowd exactly the kind of show they came for. And it wasn’t just a single-day spark.

With this round, Minami Katsu also broke the tournament’s 36-hole scoring record and leads by two shots, at 13-under par, heading into the weekend. Not bad for a player still chasing her maiden LPGA Tour win. But if this is the way she’ll continue to play, that first trophy just might be in her hands this weekend.

Truth is, the signs have been there for weeks—Katsu’s been in red-hot form recently. She finished third just last week at the LOTTE Championship and was tied for first at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship before the weather washed out the event. With five top-10 finishes this season, including a runner-up at the AIG Women’s Open, Katsu is clearly finding her stride at just the right time.

But here’s where things get even more exciting. Katsu’s performance, while impressive, is still miles away from one of the most iconic records in LPGA history.

LPGA’s Most Iconic Rounds

When Minami Katsu fired the round of 61, she didn’t just grab the lead—she entered one of the most exclusive clubs in golf. Only a handful of players have ever come close to touching the all-time low record set by Annika Sörenstam, who famously shot a 13-under-par 59 at the 2001 Standard Register Ping tournament.

That round remains the greatest in LPGA history, not just for its precision, but because it shattered the previous LPGA record of 61, which Sörenstam herself had once shared with Karrie Webb and Se Ri Pak. Over two decades later, it’s still the number every golfer secretly dreams of.

Since then, few players have been close to equaling Sorenstam’s magic number. Jessica Korda came closest in 2021, firing an 11-under 60 at the Tournament of Champions. This was the first 60 shot on the LPGA Tour since 2008 when Paula Creamer achieved the score, birdieing nine of the last 11 holes in the opening round of the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic. In the majors, the standard is held by Lydia Ko, who attacked Mission Hills with a final-round of 10-under 62 at the 2021 ANA Inspiration.

Before Minami Katsu’s 61 on Friday, the lowest round this season had come from fellow Japanese player Yuri Yoshida, who carded a bogey-free 8-under 63 on the moving day at the Amundi Evian Championship. That round tied the lowest third-round score in the tournament’s history and stood as the lowest round of the year, until now.