The 2024 Mexico Open champion and 15th PGA Tour player to fire a sub-60 round joined me for a scoop of cookie dough ice cream to discuss his journey to the PGA Tour, how to increase swing speed and why fitness is such a pivotal part of his life.
Jake Knapp: 59 (-12); 15th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history. First ever sub-60 PGA Tour score shot in state of Florida.
I also made sure to ask Knapp what it feels like to win a Tour event, because let’s face it: It’s a feat most of us will never accomplish.
“It’s a bit surreal,” he said. “I’m not a very emotional person, but I just wanted to get emotional, because you know that everything, like, the years and everything leading up to that, it’s all been leading up to that point. And it wasn’t one of those, where you win and you’re like, ‘Oh, this is it’ sort of thing. It was just definitely one of those where it’s like a big exhale almost when it’s done.”
As for what he would change? Taking some time off afterward to soak it all in.
“That’s probably the only thing I would take back, maybe, or if I could redo, it would have been nice to be able to soak it in, go see my family, celebrate a little bit,” he said. “Because I flew that night, I played in a pro-am the next morning. I then went and prepared for the next golf tournament start on Thursday. And then I played the Arnold Palmer the next week, played the Players the next week. I didn’t get a week off until after that. So it was a lot of golf in a short stint. Probably would’ve been good to take a break.”
So, folks: If you ever find yourself winning a PGA Tour event (or, more likely, the net division of your local member-guest), make sure to soak it all in. Take a day off work. Celebrate with the people you love. Work will always be waiting for you.
