PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Jake Knapp showcased an extraordinary display of skill on Thursday at the Cognizant Classic, starting his round with an impressive sequence of five consecutive birdies. By the end of the day, Knapp joined an exclusive group in golf history.
Ranked 99th in the world, Knapp made his mark by shooting a bogey-free 59 at PGA National, joining the PGA Tour’s prestigious sub-60 club. This achievement marked only the 15th occurrence of a golfer breaking 60 in a PGA Tour event.
“It was just one of those days where everything clicked,” Knapp commented with satisfaction.
Knapp’s performance saw him finish just one stroke shy of the tour scoring record of 58, a feat achieved by Jim Furyk in the 2016 Travelers Championship. Notably, Knapp became the 14th golfer to achieve a sub-60 round, with Furyk being the only player to have accomplished it twice. In recent years, such rounds have become slightly more common, with nine instances since 2016.
At the 18th hole, Knapp had a chance to tie Furyk’s record with an eagle putt from 18 feet, 8 inches. However, his putt missed, and he settled for a birdie.
The idea of scoring 58 had crossed Knapp’s mind, particularly after making a long birdie putt on the 15th, which brought him to 11-under for the round.
“I stood on the 16th tee and said to my caddie, ‘Let’s play 2 under in the last three holes,’” Knapp recounted.
Ultimately, he secured the 59, an accomplishment in itself, yet one that leaves a hint of what could have been.
Daniel Berger, another competitor, had an impressive round himself with a bogey-free 8-under 63, notably making a par on the 10th despite losing his tee shot in a tree. “I thought I played well,” Berger remarked, acknowledging Knapp’s remarkable day.
Knapp’s round, featuring 12 birdies on the par-71 course, shattered the previous Cognizant Classic record of 61, set by Brian Harman in 2012 and matched by Matt Jones in 2021. While low scores have been seen in the tournament, a 59 was unprecedented at PGA National.
Despite the typically breezy South Florida weather, conditions were calm, leaving PGA National defenseless. Even the local wildlife, such as the alligator near the seventh hole, served as no distraction.
Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, and other top names also scored well, with Spieth, in particular, returning strong post-wrist surgery with a solid 65.
The day concluded with an average score of 68.62, recording the lowest ever for a tournament round at PGA National.
Knapp, who previously tied for 17th at his best finish this year, seized his place in the annals of golf history on a course that players say has become more forgiving in recent times. His putts totaled only 98 feet, a testament to his extraordinary ball-striking on this historic day.
“You still have to hit shots. You have to make putts,” Fowler emphasized. “Anywhere, shooting 59 is hard. You still need to make putts and get close enough to seize opportunities.”
Reflecting on the day, Knapp, who holds one PGA Tour victory from the previous year’s Mexico Open, expressed simple gratitude and motivation.
“You have to admire him,” commented Billy Horschel. “A 59 at PGA National was thought to be impossible.”
Horschel and Knapp exchanged words after the round, with Horschel noting he would never have bet on a 59 at PGA National, emphasizing the rarity of the feat.
Knapp’s day began with an impressive run, including a standout 60-foot chip-in at the second hole. His confidence didn’t waiver as he discussed possibilities with his caddie, Mike Stephens, who said, “We kept it light and conversational as usual.”
Regardless of the historic accomplishment, Knapp maintained a focus on the job ahead. “Whether 89 or 59, I’ll be back tomorrow to do what I do best,” said Knapp, demonstrating his grounded outlook.
