Knapp two-putted the 18th green for birdie and a 59 during the first round of the Cognizant Classic at PGA National‘s historically brawny Champion course. And he did so with two new clubs in the bag this week.
The long-hitting Knapp played Thursday with his third new driver in as many events. Knapp broke out a six-year-old TaylorMade M5 driver at the Genesis Invitational two weeks ago and then switched again to last year’s TaylorMade Qi10.
But this week, Knapp has stayed with a TaylorMade big stick, this time calling on a Qi35 and he obliterated it around PGA National, including a 335-yard poke on 18 that set up the final of his 12 birdies on the day.
Knapp also made a change to the other end of the bag, swapping out a TaylorMade Spider with a new Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.2 Circle T mallet putter. Knapp said he didn’t think he was putting all that terribly (54th in putting coming into the week), but was more because he just wanted a feel change.
“Just felt like I needed to feel something a little different, whether it’s for — in my head sometimes it’s for a couple days or a couple weeks or whatever it might be,” Knapp said. “But it was more like strategic based on how I feel like my misses have been lately with the putter. I don’t think I’ve been putting terribly, just something feel-wise that I just felt like I needed to feel something different.
Knapp’s new Cameron features a plumber’s neck design which offers more toe hang than the Spider he was using, which had a double bend shaft.
“I’ve always stayed with the same head shape for the most part, and then I just change between that plumber’s neck and then a double bend, so a little bit of toe hang versus face balanced,” he said. “But yeah, just something that kind of felt right for me and worked on it the last couple days, and it worked pretty well today.”
Clearly both changes worked as Knapp gained more than 2 shots both off the tee and putting in round 1. His 2.2 strokes gained: off-the-tee was tops in the field after the morning wave.
Keep reading below for specs of Knapp’s full bag of PXG, TaylorMade and Titleist gear.
Jake Knapp’s bag at the Cognizant Classic
Driver: TaylorMade Qi35 (9@8.25, 1 click lower, 15 g weight front, 5 g weight back, 7 g hotmelt neutral forward), Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7-X (45.375″ EOG, Tipped 1″) D6
NEW FOR 2022! Introducing a new profile to the lineup, VENTUS TR. Born from the continuous quest for improvement and backed by enso®–driven analytics and Tour feedback, VENTUS TR builds upon one of the most trusted and best-selling wood shafts in Fujikura history.
Jockey Tip: The TR Black is the stiffest VENTUS profile to date. Ultra-stiff tip and handle sections work in unison to support players with Tour-like speeds that prefer the feeling of minimal to no flex during the swing. As a shaft designed for players with a fast transition, spread tow fabric reinforces the mid/handle section even further, holding up to even the most aggressive moves to the golf ball.
Mini Driver: PXG Secret Weapon (13˚), Project X HZRDUS T1100 95 6.5
PXG Secret Weapon Mini Driver
Unleash precision and power with the PXG Secret Weapon—a mini driver designed to deliver exceptional off-the-tee performance and remarkable versatility from the fairway. Engineered for advanced players who demand both accuracy and distance.
High MOI Design for Unmatched Stability
The Secret Weapon is built with a high MOI design for outstanding stability and forgiveness. Its lightweight composite crown inserts are crafted from high-grade carbon fiber using an advanced compression molding process. This strong yet light material enables our engineers to strategically redistribute weight within the clubhead, increasing MOI and shifting the center of gravity lower and further back. The result is enhanced distance, improved launch, and greater forgiveness on off-center hits.
Versatility for Off-the-Deck Performance
The Secret Weapon is designed for versatility, featuring a tighter leading edge that makes it easier to hit from the turf, enhancing playability across all surfaces and no matter the playing conditions.
Optimized Distance for Maximum Performance
Featuring a thin titanium face that maximizes ball speed and energy transfer, the Secret Weapon is built for distance. Its design promotes a high launch with low spin, resulting in a powerful, penetrating ball flight. By pushing the USGA’s limits on ball speed (CT), the Secret Weapon delivers top-tier performance. Testing shows a 3 mph increase in ball speed and a 300rpm reduction in spin compared to the Black Ops 3-Fairway, further enhancing distance and control.
5-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (18°), Project X HZRDUS T1100 95 6.5
TaylorMade Qi10 Custom Fairway Wood
Introducing the Qi10 fairways. Experience TaylorMade speed with Qi10 forgiveness…off the tee and off the deck.
TOUR PROVEN PERFORMANCE
The model most popular with both Tour players and amateurs, the Qi10 Fairway is the ideal blend of distance and forgiveness, while the precision CG location delivers a combo of high launch and low spin.
NEW INFINITY CARBON CROWN
An Infinity Crown provides a clean, uninterrupted view at address while also optimizing performance. Engineers relied on this new design to reshape the club, shifting more weight lower in the clubhead to maintain high inertia with an enlarged face profile to inspire confidence and generate ball speed.
Irons: (4) PXG 0311 GEN4 X, (5-PW) PXG 0317 ST Irons, KBS C-Taper 130 X
PXG 0317 T Custom Irons
Meet the ultimate tour performance players iron. PXG 0317 T Irons are built for highly skilled golfers craving workability with a boost of forgiveness. With a hollow-bodied design and stabilizing S COR™ polymer core, these irons increase spin performance, improve distance control and overall consistency. The compact head shape has a slightly larger profile for enhanced MOI and mishit forgiveness.
XTREME SHOT MAKING
Small workable club head design increases the player’s control over the clubface.
HIGH SPIN PERFORMANCE
Proprietary S COR™ material increases stability and limits face movement during impact which produces higher spin rate performance.
SUPERIOR DISTANCE CONTROL
Thin face hollow bodied construction delivers very consistent distance control for highly skilled players.
EXCELLENT SOUND AND FEEL
3X Forged 8620 soft carbon steel
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (52.12F, 56.12D, WedgeWorks 60T), KBS C-Taper 130 X (52, 56), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 125 WV Tour Only (60)
Titleist Vokey SM10 Raw Custom Wedge
For every shot, every lie, every course, there’s a grind fit for your swing. Finding the right grind to match your swing and playing conditions will give you the best turf interaction, contact and shot performance. Master Craftsman Bob Vokey has spent decades crafting, developing and improving his tour proven grinds to fit players of all levels.
Anyone can manufacture a wedge, but it takes a master to turn a piece of high-performance technology into an instrument of creative control. Bob’s six tour-proven grinds are designed to offer maximum creativity, versatility and consistency, all meticulously developed through years of working with the best players in the world.
PROGRESSIVE CENTER OF GRAVITY
SM9 features a progressive center of gravity (CG) throughout the lofts, which optimizes ball flight, accuracy and forgiveness. Using tapered top lines and varied hosel lengths, the Vokey R&D team has raised the height of the CG in the higher lofts, which promotes a lower, more controlled flight.
The CG is also forward of the face, resulting in increased MOI, exceptional feel and a club face that simply wants to square up at impact.
SPIN MILLED GROOVES
SM9’s patented Spin Milled grooves are meticulously engineered through a new cutting process to maximize spin and durability. The process starts by cutting the face perfectly flat with a high-speed saw. Then every groove is individually cut based on loft and finish; low lofts (46°-54°) are designed with narrower, deeper grooves, while higher lofts (56°-62°) have wider, shallower grooves.
Micro-grooves are individually cut in between grooves, which maximize spin on partial shots. A proprietary heat treatment is applied to the impact area which doubles the durability of the groove without impacting feel, making it the most durable groove in golf. The process is only complete when every Vokey wedge is 100% inspected for utmost quality and performance.
Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.2 Circle T
Scotty Cameron 2024 Phantom 9 Custom Putter
The Phantom 9 features a mid-bend shaft and a completely re-designed shape that offers long sight lines for improved alignment along with an angular, “ring-weighted” profile to deliver forgiveness and feel with high MOI.
Jack Hirsh is the Associate Equipment Editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his high school golf team and recently returned to the program to serve as head coach. Jack also still *tries* to remain competitive in local amateurs. Before joining GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but also producing, anchoring and even presenting the weather. He can be reached at jack.hirsh@golf.com.
