Mexico Open: PGA Tour rookie Jake Knapp shares heartwarming routine after special round

Jake Knapp had an amazing Saturday on the Mexico Open at Vidanta, as the previous UCLA Bruin waltzed across the golf course with little bother.

He shot an 8-under 63 in the future after he signed for 64, and now sits at 19-under by 54 holes. The rookie now leads by 4 pictures heading into Sunday’s last spherical as he eyes his first PGA Tour title.

However it doesn’t matter what he shoots, the place he performs, or who he performs with on the PGA Tour, Knapp has established a particular ritual that he does after each spherical.

He texts his late grandfather.

“He’s tremendous particular to me and my whole household, so I do know he’s with me on the market, and he’s watching,” Knapp mentioned afterward, preventing again tears.

“[I text him] that I miss him, miss speaking to him, want he may see it. It was all the time my dream and his dream as effectively for me to get out right here.”

Knapp’s grandfather, whose initials are tattooed on his left bicep, handed away firstly of final 12 months.

He and his cousin obtained matching tattoos just a few months later to honor their grandfather, whom Knapp spoke with after each spherical he performed.

“My household and I speak so much about it,” Knapp added.

“I’m simply very grateful to have a grandparent that was so shut and concerned in my skilled life and our lives normally.”

Undoubtedly, his grandfather watched over his grandson with a giant smile on Saturday, as Knapp set the 9-hole scoring file on the opening aspect.

He made birdies on each gap besides the 2nd and the eighth, each par-4s, to exit with a 7-under 28.

It should have been ‘Knapptime,’ which is the moniker he makes use of on his social media handles.

“I can’t complain, clearly. I really feel like I struck the ball about the identical because the final couple of days,” Knapp mentioned of his sizzling begin.

“Simply hitting it rather well, driving it effectively. I used to be capable of roll in some extra putts. Felt like as soon as I used to be capable of see a pair go in early, it simply felt like form of every little thing was entering into for a short while there.”

Knapp leads the sector in total strokes gained, driving distance, and greens in regulation. He blisters it off the tee, averaging 328.4 yards this week.

However Knapp, who completed twelfth on the Korn Ferry Tour final season, has discovered that discovering fairways is extra essential than bombing tee balls.

“I‘ve realized over the previous few years and particularly this 12 months that fairways are a premium, so I are likely to hit numerous that spinny-cut shot to get it in play,” Knapp mentioned.

“Particularly after I’m hitting the ball effectively, I do know if I can simply get it in play off the tee, I can provide myself numerous possibilities from there.”

He gave himself greater than his fair proportion of possibilities on Saturday, which absolutely delighted his grandfather in heaven.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. Remember to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.