Jake Knapp recorded the 15th Sub-60 circle in the history of PGA Tour with 12-Ispod 59 59 in the first round The Cognizant Classic in PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens.
Knapp, 30, had the opportunity to equalize the lowest circle in the history of the tour, but his plow Putt of just 19 feet at the 18th hole slid several inches to the right of the cup. He then collected it to Birdie to finish his circle.
By the end of the day, Knapp had a four -stroke leadership over Daniel Berger, Russell Henley and Finnish Sami Valimaki. Rickie Fowler was part of the tie for fifth place with seven below 64, and Jordan Spieth is another blow.
The winner of last year’s Mexico Open as a tour, Knapp used the ideal scoring conditions on the championship course. The bird was his first five holes and had two more shares of three consecutive birds. This included drying a 31 meter trail on the 15th hole PAR-3 to reach 11 below.
“I knew it was obvious that it was really early, but at the same time it could happen and then it can be thrown out somehow,” Knapp said when it came to thinking about breaking 60. “I thought I did a good job to just try to focus on recording and not letting out what happened or what could happen.
“Then I made a long way once, it was like,” Ok, now this is here. “But at the same time, he did not allow the game plan or something to influence.”
After consecutive pars, Knapp arrived in the 18th hole that was supposed to be an eagle to reconcile the record of PGA Tour Jim Furyk 58 at the 2016 passenger championship. He pushed his shot at 335 meters in the middle of the waterway, and then put his approach 18 feet, eight inches.
He missed Eagle’s attempt, but easily converted a bird to break the course record of 61 previously shared by Brian Harman (2012) and Matt Jones (2021).
“I didn’t really think about it, to be honest with you,” Knapp said of his thinking on the last hole. “I think you think too much about it, you will just add pressure to something that is very unnecessary.
“At the same time, if she was on Sunday, and the tournament went down to the line, it might be different. But at the same time, on Thursday morning and I do my best to just put myself in a weekend position.
“I just tried to focus on a shot and believe what I do all day.”
Of the previous 14 rounds of Pod-60 in the history of the tour, Knapp was only the fifth that was achieved in the first round of events. Two of the previous four continued with the tournament.
Berger’s 63 were involved in a couple -5 on the 10th hole – his first day – after his manner shot in Palm.
“It was an interesting start to the day,” Berger said. “I really didn’t feel like I was hit so bad, and then the next thing you know, I saw everyone trying to look for their ball.
“Definitely not the way you want to start a circle. But somehow he hung himself there and made a great chip for a couple, and that circle went a bit. Although it was for the couple, he felt good.”
Fowler, who has crossed five of his eight birds in the last seven holes, also noticed a lack of difficulty.
“It won’t be easier with conditions than it was today,” Fowler said. “It is said, 59 is still 59. You can’t take anything away from it.”
Berger and Fowler will focus on the persecution of Knappa, who said he was planning to practice and “maybe get a little sleep” after the historic circle. 59 was followed by T4 last year’s T4, when he cartorated a couple of 66 years while finishing four goals behind the winner of Austin Ecckroat.
“I like this golf course. I’m comfortable,” Knapp said. “There’s no real thunderousness or anything like this. It’s just ahead of you. It’s based on a very execution. You just have to hit the shots that the hole requires.”
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