Knapp shoots 59 to lead Cognizant Classic by four
Jake Knapp delivered a sensational performance at the Cognizant Classic in Florida, becoming only the 15th player in PGA Tour history to record a sub-60 round. The American fired a 12-under-par 59 at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, setting the pace after the first round.
Knapp’s Near-Record Round
Knapp, ranked 99th in the world, made a blistering start with five consecutive birdies and maintained his momentum, adding seven more birdies throughout the round. The 30-year-old had a chance to tie the all-time lowest round in PGA Tour history (58), but his 19-foot eagle attempt on the 18th hole slid just wide.
“I knew I had it going really early, but that can happen and then it can fizzle out pretty quickly,” Knapp said.
“I thought I did a good job of just trying to focus on shot by shot and not letting what happened or what could happen affect anything.”
Knapp’s sub-60 round is only the fifth to be recorded in the first round of a PGA Tour event, and history suggests his chances of winning are strong—two of the previous four players who started a tournament with a 59 went on to lift the trophy.
The world No. 45 during his rookie season in 2024, Knapp already has one PGA Tour title to his name, having won the Mexico Open. He also finished in a tie for fourth at last year’s Cognizant Classic, making him a strong contender for this week’s tournament.
First-Round Leaderboard
-12 J Knapp (US)
-8 D Berger (US), R Henley (US), S Valimaki (Fin)
-7 R Fowler (US), K Mitchell (US), D Riley (US), S Ryder (US), JJ Spaun (US), J Svensson (Swe)
Selected others: -6 J Spieth (US), -5 S Lowry (Ire), -4 D Skinns (Eng)
Chasing Pack Includes Berger, Henley, and Valimaki
Four strokes behind Knapp, Daniel Berger, Russell Henley, and Finland’s Sami Valimaki sit in a tie for second place at 8-under-par.
Rickie Fowler, a former Cognizant Classic champion, is among a large group at 7-under, which also includes Keith Mitchell, Davis Riley, Sam Ryder, JJ Spaun, and Sweden’s Adam Svensson.
Jordan Spieth, who has been in good form in 2024, is one shot further back at 6-under, while Ireland’s Shane Lowry (5-under) and England’s David Skinns (4-under) remain within striking distance.
Billy Horschel’s Encounter with an Alligator
One of the more bizarre moments of the day came when Billy Horschel had to move an alligator off the fairway with his club while playing the seventh hole.
Horschel, who shot a 5-under 65, showed no fear of the reptile, calmly nudging it back into the water.
“Yeah, I’m not afraid of ‘gators,” Horschel said afterward.
“They’re more afraid of you. The majority of the time they’re only going to come after you during mating season when they’re a little aggressive or if you’re near their nest.
Horschel added that his father used to grab alligators by the tail to move them back into the water—a skill he has yet to try himself but has successfully replicated using his club.
What’s Next?
With three rounds to go, all eyes will be on whether Knapp can maintain his lead and convert his red-hot start into a tournament victory. However, with several big names in pursuit, including Fowler, Spieth, and Berger, the competition is wide open heading into the second round.