Jake Knapp shoots 59 at the Cognizant Classic - the 15th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history
Jake Knapp poses with his scorecard and his ball after shooting a 59 during the first round of the Cognizant Classic
Jake Knapp knew he was on the verge of something special early on Thursday, with a run of five straight birdies to open his round at the Cognizant Classic. In the end, he joined one of golf’s most elite clubs.
Knapp — the No. 99 player in golf’s current world rankings — joined the PGA Tour’s sub-60 club on Thursday, shooting a bogey-free 59 in the opening round at PGA National. It was the 15th time that someone has broken 60 in a PGA Tour event.
“It’s just one of those days where everything was kind of clicking,” Knapp said.
Knapp finished one shot off the tour scoring record of 58, done by Jim Furyk in the final round of the 2016 Travelers Championship. Knapp became the 14th player to shoot a sub-60 round; it has been done 15 times, with Furyk the one who has carded such a round twice.
Knapp had a putt for eagle at the par-5 18th that would have tied Furyk’s mark of 58 — 18 feet, 8 inches was the measurement given by the PGA Tour. The eagle putt didn’t have the speed and he tapped in for 59.
And yes, he was thinking about 58 — especially after a long birdie putt at the 15th put him at 11 under for the round.
“I stepped up on the 16 tee and just kind of told my caddie, ‘Let’s play 2 under in the last three,’” Knapp said. “‘Let’s do what we’re supposed to do.’” He had to settle for 59, if a 59 can ever actually be settled for.
