PALM BEACH GARDENS — Rory McIlroy saw this coming.
Maybe not a 59, but the No. 3 golfer in the world knew Jake Knapp had special days ahead.
But on the Champion Course at PGA National? A track many, including some who live here, avoid because it’s so challenging?
“If he keeps playing the way he is, he’s the full package,” McIlroy said a year ago after playing with Knapp at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches and watching him card a pair of 66s on the way to a T4 finish.
“He could be a superstar out here for sure.”
Now, everyone sees what McIlroy was seeing because Thursday was the day Jake Knapp, 30, knocked out The Champ.
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Jake Knapp sets Cognizant, course record with 59
Knapp shot a 12-under 59, smashing the record for the Cognizant Classic and PGA National by two shots. He carded a 29 on the front nine after starting with five consecutive birdies and a 30 on the back nine.
The Scottsdale, Arizona, resident, whose lone PGA Tour win was last year the week before Cognizant in Mexico, was inches from equaling Jim Furyk’s PGA Tour record of 58 when his 19-footer on No. 18 lacked enough speed and slid to the right.
Still, even in ideal conditions with little wind and receptive greens following an early-morning shower, a 59 is a 59.
“I thought I did a good job of just trying to focus on shot by shot and not letting what happened or what could happen affect anything,” Knapp said.
Knapp, caddie Mike Stephens and girlfriend Makena White walked off the 18th green like it was just another round. What happened after said otherwise.
Knapp was asked for photos holding his scorecard and ball with “59” written and circled. Stephens was being congratulated by other caddies. White listened to every word Knapp spoke during his round of interviews with a perpetual smile.
“Just another day,” Stephens said. “I think this is week eight in a row. He’s made a bunch of cuts in a row. Just another day.”
Just another day, until you realize the company Knapp now keeps: He is the 14th player in PGA Tour history to shoot 59 or better – Furyk did it twice with a 59 and 58. The last was Hayden Springer in the first round of the 2024 John Deere Classic.
The previous tournament and course record of 61 was shared by Matt Jones (2021) and Brian Harman (2012).
But the number Knapp now is interested in: five.
As in the number of those golfers who shot 59 in a single round who went on to win that tournament.
“If it was Sunday and the tournament was coming down to the line, it might be different,” Knapp said. “But at the same time, it’s Thursday morning and I’m doing my best to just put myself in position going into the weekend.”
Makena, who has photos of her boyfriend’s yardage book in her camera roll with his notes so she knows where he is aiming, was more succinct.
“After today is done it’s time to move on and take that momentum into the next three days,” said Makena, a clinical specialist in cardiac and vascular surgery from Ottawa, Canada. “Nobody cares on Friday, Saturday, Sunday what you shot on Thursday. Still got to keep things together and keep rolling.”
‘Tried to just birdie everything:’ Jake Knapp after his 59
When asked what he had going during the round, Knapp stated the obvious: everything.
Knapp was first after the morning wave in strokes gained off the tee and approach to the green. He was third in putting, that including making 97 feet for putts, including a 31-footer for birdie on the par-3 15th, the start of the Bear Trap.
It was that left-to-right putt on No. 15 in which he got a good read from Tom Hoge, that put the possibility of a sub-60 round in everyone’s head.
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“It was like, ‘OK, now this is kind of here,’ ” said Knapp, who also chipped in from 62 feet on No. 2 for one of his 12 birdies.
“But at the same time, didn’t let it affect the game plan or anything like that. Tried to hit an aggressive shot into 16, 17 and 18. Knew I was hitting it well, so tried to just birdie everything today.”
Now, the No. 99 golfer in the world ranking was thinking even grander.
Fifty-eight started creeping into his head.
“When I made that putt and knew where I stood, would have been nice to make the (eagle putt) on 18,” he said. “But happy with it overall.”
And Makena’s head, too.
“I am always setting my hopes as high as possible for him so 58 would have been sweet,” she said. “59 is absolutely incredible.”
Knapp spent a few hours following the round of his life on the range before getting in a workout, taking a nap and awaking for his afternoon tee time.
In other words, routine.
“Whether I shoot 89 or 59, I’m going to come back out and do my job tomorrow,” he said. “I feel like over the last couple weeks I’ve started to get into a better head space of just keep trusting the stuff I’ve been working on and that it’s going to keep getting better, and come out tomorrow and just try to keep doing it.”
Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches
Through Sunday, Champion Course, PGA National
TV: Friday, 2 p.m., GOLF; Saturday, 1 p.m., to NBC at 3 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m., to NBC at 3 p.m.
Defending champ: Austin Eckroat
Tickets: Daily grounds tickets are available for all days. Tickets are dynamically priced, so fans are encouraged to buy early to secure the lowest available price. Visit thecognizantclassic.com/tickets.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Jake Knapp sets Cognizant Classic, PGA National record with a 59
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