In an impressive display of skill at the PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Jake Knapp set a new standard by shattering records with a dazzling 12-under 59 in the opening round of the Cognizant Classic. This achievement marks the 15th instance in PGA Tour history of a player scoring below 60 in a round.
Knapp’s performance placed him firmly in the lead, four strokes ahead of competitors Daniel Berger, Russell Henley, and Sami Valimaki as the tournament heads into its second day. The conditions on Thursday were evidently conducive, with still air and receptive greens aiding Knapp’s remarkable run. However, the forecast predicts increased winds for Friday, potentially creating a more challenging atmosphere for competitors as the second round unfolds.
Reflecting on his round, Knapp expressed his comfort and confidence on the course, especially given the calm weather which allowed for aggressive and advantageous play. “I like this golf course,” Knapp noted. “When the wind was down, I knew that it was going to be gettable. It’s one of those courses where you know you have to play pretty aggressive.”
Historically, those achieving such exceptional feats on the tour have varied in how they maintained form. Notably, Jim Furyk, David Duval, and Stuart Appleby were all able to ride the momentum of their under-60 rounds towards commendable finishes or victories in their respective tournaments without needing to immediately return to play the following day.
Al Geiberger, who first achieved a 59 in the 1977 Memphis Classic, succeeded in converting his remarkable second-round score into a win despite a follow-up round of 72. Justin Thomas and Brandt Snedeker similarly capitalized on their respective 59s, maintaining performance through successive rounds to ultimately top the leaderboard. Thomas’s consistency at the 2017 Sony Open and Snedeker’s balance of aggressive play solidified their victories.
Others, like Paul Goydos and Adam Hadwin, found themselves just shy of triumph, finishing second. Goydos opened the 2010 John Deere Classic with a 59, trailing the winner Steve Stricker after consistent rounds following his breakthrough performance. Likewise, Hadwin’s 59 at the 2017 CareerBuilder Challenge placed him in second, narrowly losing to Hudson Swafford.
The tenacity of players such as Chip Beck, who fell just short at the 1991 Las Vegas Invitational despite a superb 29-under overall, highlights the unpredictability and competitive intensity of golf at this level. Similarly, Jim Furyk’s first 59 at the 2013 BMW Championship and Scottie Scheffler’s feat at the 2010 Northern Trust reflect how additional remarkable rounds still led only to top 10 finishes.
More recently, Hayden Springer achieved a memorable 59 at the 2024 John Deere Classic, using his momentum to secure a position within the top 10. Cameron Young mirrored this achievement at the previous year’s Travelers Championship, joining the exclusive club of those who have broken 60.
For Kevin Chappell, his 59 during the 2019 Military Tribute at Greenbrier was even more significant, coming after serious surgery and marking his resurgence in the sport. Despite not finishing near the top, his achievement was a testament to resilience and recovery, offering a heartening narrative within the competitive context of professional golf.
As Knapp prepares for the second round, the golfing world waits with anticipation to see if he can continue to leverage the momentum from his outstanding start and withstand the anticipated challenges of altering weather conditions.
