The Cognizant Classic, a prestigious tournament on the PGA Tour, is witnessing an unprecedented start to its season in sunny Florida. Jake Knapp, a one-time champion on the tour, kicked off the competition with a groundbreaking 59, making a significant impression on the first day.
Knapp took the scenic PGA National, Jupiter by storm, lighting up the course with a record-setting performance. His day started with an explosive streak of five consecutive birdies, which catapulted him into an early lead. He concluded the front nine with another birdie, posting a half-way score of 29.
As the day unfolded, Knapp continued his extraordinary run, making birdies on the 10th, 11th, 13th, 14th, and 15th holes. This put him in a prime position to possibly make a 58 – a feat accomplished only once in Tour history by Jim Furyk at the 2016 Traveler’s Championship. The last 59 on the tour was achieved by Cameron Young.
The conditions on Thursday played into Knapp’s hands. The absence of wind at the Cognizant Classic, coupled with recent changes to the course, set the stage for his remarkable achievement. The PGA National has recently started overseeding the grass, leading to a softer course that is easier to navigate. Knapp’s exemplary putting skills, combined with these favourable conditions, brought the elusive 58 within his reach.
Before this change, the Cognizant Classic was notorious for being one of the most challenging tournaments on the PGA Tour. Knapp’s first-round score of 12-under par puts his performance into perspective, as this score would have either tied or beaten the winning score in 17 of the last 24 Honda Classics, as noted by Monday Q Info on social media.
In recent years, the Cognizant Classic has suffered due to the shifting PGA Tour schedule, causing many top-tier players to opt-out of the competition in favor of back-to-back signature events. Despite these changes, the tournament continues to draw attention, especially with performances like Knapp’s.
The PGA Tour now looks towards Orlando for the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, followed by The Players Championship in Jacksonville. However, all eyes are currently on Jake Knapp as spectators eagerly wait to see if he can maintain his momentum at the Cognizant Classic this week.
The Cognizant Classic’s start is undoubtedly one for the books, with Jake Knapp etching his name in the annals of golfing history with his exceptional performance. The tournament’s trajectory this season is one to watch, with the promise of more exciting plays.