The Cognizant Classic’s inaugural day was marked by a remarkable performance from Jake Knapp who logged a course record at the infamous PGA National course, but not without raising eyebrows and sparking criticisms from fellow players and observers.
Knapp’s spectacular 12-under par 59 earned him the top spot in the clubhouse, simultaneously etching his name in the PGA National course record books. Not far behind, commendable rounds of 63 were carded by Daniel Berger and Russell Henley. Even at the 20th position, players were hitting a respectable five under par.
Nonetheless, while Knapp’s performance surely deserves applause, the conditions of the course itself, which largely played to the advantage of PGA stars, have come under scrutiny. Mild weather, coupled with the state of the PGA National course, raised questions about the legitimacy of the scores.
In the lead-up to the Cognizant Classic, the PGA National course underwent extensive modifications. However, the course management and green-keepers seem to have overstepped in their seeding process, inadvertently creating a playground for PGA Tour players to shoot low scores.
An anonymous PGA Tour player, as reported by journalist Dan Rappaport, didn’t mince words in describing the situation, calling it ‘dumb’. The player cited the heavy overseed as a key factor in making the PGA National course far too easy.
Previously, the course record stood at 61, held by Brian Harman. Hence, Knapp’s score has ignited a wave of reactions from fellow players.
PGA player Joel Dahmen voiced his discontent, reminiscing about the challenging nature of the old PGA National course. Similarly, Michael Kim, who finished the day at six under, commented on how the excessive rye overseed and lack of wind had taken the bite out of the course. Echoing these sentiments, seasoned player Thomas Bjorn lamented the transformation of what used to be a formidable golf course.
Historically, the average winning score at this course over the past two decades rounds to about 10-under par. If the current trend persists, Hideki Matsuyama’s PGA record of 35-under par at The Sentry could potentially be in jeopardy.
In this light, the Cognizant Classic has unveiled not only a new course record but also a controversy regarding course conditions that can’t be ignored. The aftermath of the tournament will surely demand an introspection into the maintenance of the PGA National course to preserve the essence of the game and its challenges.