Jake Knapp signed for the fifteenth sub-60 spherical in PGA Tour historical past on Thursday, capturing a 59 at PGA Nationwide and setting the course report within the course of.
It’s additionally the primary sub-60 rating on the PGA Tour shot inside the state of Florida, in accordance with golf statistician Justin Ray.
Knapp birdied his first 5 holes, which included a chip-in birdie on the par-4 2nd. You had a sense that Knapp would produce one thing particular on the Cognizant Basic on Thursday — he had every thing going his approach.
The previous UCLA Bruin then made pars on the sixth, seventh, and eighth holes, however turned on the jets once more as he made the flip. Birdies adopted on the ninth, tenth, and eleventh. He then had one other stretch of three consecutive birdie makes on the thirteenth, 14th, and fifteenth holes, the final of which got here by way of a 31-foot make. That was the one putt Knapp made exterior of 12 toes, proving how properly he performed from tee-to-green. Knapp discovered 12-of-14 fairways, leads the sphere in strokes gained off the tee, and ranks second in strokes gained approaching the inexperienced.
He additionally had an eagle look on the par-5 18th, which, had it fallen, would have given him a 58, thus matching the bottom rating in PGA Tour historical past. However his eagle attempt missed on the low facet. Knapp tapped in for birdie, subsequently giving him a splendid 59. On condition that PGA Nationwide is a par-71, Knapp sits atop the leaderboard at 12-under par and holds a four-shot lead as of this writing.
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By means of. Comply with him on X @jack_milko.
