Johnny Keefer is on the verge of chasing down a Tiger Woods record at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship – and it's got the golf world buzzing with excitement!
Written by Jimmy Reinman
FRENCH LICK, Ind. — In the past year, Johnny Keefer has consistently climbed up the leaderboards, and now he's inching closer to the legendary Tiger Woods. This 24-year-old golfer arrives at this week's Korn Ferry Tour Championship, sponsored by United Leasing & Finance, as the top player on the season-long Korn Ferry Tour Points List. This marks an incredible ascent through the developmental levels of professional golf. Having dominated the PGA TOUR Americas standings in 2024, Keefer is poised to repeat his success as the leader on yet another tour. But that's not all – he's also within striking distance of some remarkable history.
Entering the French Lick Resort, Keefer boasts a season scoring average of 67.79, which matches exactly the official average Tiger Woods achieved during his legendary PGA TOUR seasons in 2000 and 2007. If Keefer can improve even slightly on this number this week at the challenging Pete Dye Course, he'll establish a new standard: the lowest season-long official scoring average ever recorded across the combined histories of the PGA TOUR and Korn Ferry Tour.
But here's where it gets controversial... The PGA TOUR's official scoring average is a weighted statistic, which adjusts for the overall stroke average of the entire field. On the other hand, the Korn Ferry Tour's primary scoring average is the raw, unadjusted figure. We're sticking to comparing the official stats from both circuits here, because if we looked at the actual (unadjusted) scoring averages, Keefer has already surpassed Woods with his 67.79 compared to Woods' 68.17 in 2000. In fact, Keefer is also on track to topple the all-time actual scoring average record for both tours, which was set by Scottie Scheffler last season at 67.99. That's some seriously elite territory!
Tiger Woods' 2000 season is often hailed as the best in golf history: he racked up nine victories in 20 events, including two major championships, with four second-place finishes and only three results outside the top 10. Seven years later, in 2007, he equaled that feat by winning seven times in 16 tournaments, claiming the PGA Championship and TOUR Championship, while maintaining that precise 67.79 average.
For Keefer, the similarities are uncanny. And this is the part most people miss – his journey mirrors Woods' in some striking ways, but with his own unique path.
Let's dive into Johnny Keefer's path to the PGA TOUR. Over 22 Korn Ferry Tour events this year, he's secured two wins, two runner-up spots, and five more top-10 finishes. If he claims the top spot on Sunday, he'll lock in invitations to the 2026 U.S. Open and THE PLAYERS Championship. Only Austin Smotherman has any realistic shot at overtaking him mathematically.
This is an astonishing climb for someone who, just over a year ago, was anxiously checking the PGA TOUR University rankings. Keefer started the 2024 NCAA Championship outside the top 25 but ended up tied for 11th at Omni La Costa, slipping into the 25th spot – the last one that guaranteed a PGA TOUR Americas card.
'As Keefer reflected that day, 'If I had finished just one shot worse, I might have been stuck playing APTs (All Pro Tour events) instead.'
Instead, he traveled north to Canada and absolutely dominated the PGA TOUR Americas. In just 10 appearances, he grabbed one victory, four second places, and four more top-six results, effortlessly leading the points standings. He also topped the circuit in scoring average at 66.00 over 35 rounds.
That momentum launched him into a full Korn Ferry Tour season, where he's shown remarkable consistency, accuracy, and composure far beyond his years. He even broke into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking, earning his debut in a major at the 2025 PGA Championship in Quail Hollow.
Now, facing the final test on another Pete Dye-designed gem that requires both control and imagination, Keefer stands at a crossroads. Success here could forever link his name with one of golf's all-time greats.
But is this comparison fair? Some might argue that the tours have evolved, with better equipment and courses today, making records harder to compare directly. Others could say Keefer's rapid rise feels almost too good to be true, like a modern fairy tale. Do you think Keefer can truly eclipse Woods' legacy, or is this just hype? Is it controversial to pit a developmental tour against the PGA TOUR's elite? Share your opinions in the comments – I'd love to hear if you agree or disagree!
