PGA Tour rookie Jake Knapp and his long, languid swing only needed nine starts at the highest level of golf before breaking through with some winning hardware. It took a gritty even-par round of 71 to get it done on Sunday, as Knapp only managed to find two fairways in his final round.
In the end, the 29-year-old did enough to hang on for a 19-under par total score, and a two-stroke victory over Sami Valimaki at the Mexico Open.
Living the dream 🏆
Rookie @KnappTime_LTD secures his first TOUR victory @MexicoOpenGolf. pic.twitter.com/82kkVcuhbl
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 25, 2024
When your swing compares favorably to Fred Couples, you’re probably doing something right on the course.
The similarities between Jake Knapp's and Fred Couples' driver swings. 🪞👀
đź“ş: NBC & @peacock | @MexicoOpenGolf pic.twitter.com/RP3Kesz2Sb
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) February 25, 2024
However, Knapp proved on Sunday that even when he doesn’t have his best stuff, he still has that X-factor where he can grind and eke out a good-enough score to get the job done.
Jake Knapp has hit 2 fairways today as he heads to the last hole with the lead.
Since tracking began more than 40 years ago, nobody has hit 2 or fewer fairways in the final round of a PGA Tour win.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) February 25, 2024
But here’s the even bigger kicker. Did you know that, in pursuit of his dream to play professional golf, Knapp worked as a nightclub bouncer as recently as two years ago just to make ends meet? True story.
Jake Knapp ran out of money while trying to qualify for the PGA Tour, so he spent 9 months working as a bouncer at a nightclub to keep his dream alive.
Now, just 2 years later, he has won the PGA Tour's Mexico Open, taking home $1.45 million.
It also got him into the Masters. pic.twitter.com/uLXDaXQ9Jz
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) February 25, 2024
In his first time with a real chance to win a PGA Tour event, all Knapp did was show off literal historic levels of competitive resilience. I’m sure that was a product of the winding odyssey Knapp took to arrive at this watershed moment.
Talk about your life changing overnight, but obviously, Knapp was not an overnight success. That’s where the real beauty lies in his story, which as far as the PGA Tour is concerned, is only getting started. What a coming-out party, though It blows my mind time and again to hear how some of these guys break through the ranks and get their Tour card.
Here’s another part about Knapp’s win that you’ll really dig. Ready? What better way to celebrate the momentous occasion than to shotgun a beer, surrounded by your best friends?
It's officially Knapp time.@KnappTime_LTD | @KornFerryTour pic.twitter.com/OVpX3p2PdV
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 25, 2024
Jake Knapp clearly knows how to party. Here’s to that.
As if he wasn’t root-for-able enough, in an interview Knapp did earlier in the week, he got emotional while discussing the tattoo of his late grandfather’s initials.
“He was the guy I talked to after every single round. Still text him after every round.”
An emotional @KnappTime_LTD discusses his tattoo which features his late grandfather's initials. pic.twitter.com/tRR4MP5RIf
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 25, 2024
Shout out to my ex-colleague Dan Rapaport for this succinct summation of what else makes Knapp such an interesting player to follow.
Jake Knapp might be the most interesting man in professional golf. pic.twitter.com/OSkg6rHxDq
— Fore Play (@ForePlayPod) February 24, 2024
As for what’s next for Knapp, well, there are at least some statistical similarities to himself and a certain reigning U.S. Open champion.
Jake Knapp led the field in strokes gained approach and did not miss a putt from 5 feet and in this week.
The last player to get his 1st PGA Tour win doing both of those things was Wyndham Clark last year at the Wells Fargo. He went on to have a pretty strong summer.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) February 25, 2024
That bodes well. You might think it’s a stretch, but if you’re inclined to scoff and dismiss these numerical parallels, you must not know Justin Ray. Long story short, best not doubt him!
One guy I'm really interested in following tomorrow: Jake Knapp, T-5 and 3 back.
*4th on KFT last season in final round scoring
*Led KFT in par 5 scoring & birdie/better rate
*4th in SG Off Tee, 11th in SG Approach this week on South CourseBombs it and makes a ton of birdies.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) January 27, 2024
It’ll be dope to see Jake Knapp at Augusta National for The Masters in April. Will he keep this momentum going and become the breakout first-year star on Tour? Given the game he’s flexed thus far, I wouldn’t put it past him. There’s a world in which Knapp Time is a far more frequent occurrence throughout the rest of the season.
