Tour rookie Jake Knapp is playing with the Sunday lead for the first time in his pro career.
Getty Images
On the strength of a course-record setting front-nine 28, PGA Tour rookie Jake Knapp fired a seven-under 63 on Saturday to seize a four-shot lead heading into the final round of the Mexico Open. Knapp, 29, has been around the development-tour block, but this is his first time playing as a front-runner on Sunday.
His closest pursuer — and playing partner — is another rookie, Finland’s Sami Valimaki, who, like Knapp, is seeking his first Tour win.
The event, at Vidanta, in Puerto Vallarta, does not feature the season’s most sparkling field, but there’s plenty to play for, including a Masters invite, a two-year Tour exemption and a slot in the remaining five $20 million signature events as well as the PGA Championship.
And then there’s the money: an $8.1 million purse. You can check out the entire payout breakdown for the 2024 Mexico Open below.
A golf, food and travel writer, Josh Sens has been a GOLF Magazine contributor since 2004 and now contributes across all of GOLF’s platforms. His work has been anthologized in The Best American Sportswriting. He is also the co-author, with Sammy Hagar, of Are We Having Any Fun Yet: the Cooking and Partying Handbook.