Jake Knapp sets course record with 61 at Rocket Classic in Detroit
June 27 - Jake Knapp's latest record day resulted in a course record at the Rocket Classic on Friday.
Knapp went 7-under par over an eight hole stretch to propel him to a course record 11-under 61 at the Detroit Golf Club on Friday. Knapp, who began the day tied for 120th at the Rocket Classic, poured in an eagle and nine birdies on a bogey-free card that vaulted him from the cutline into contention.
Knapp, 31, has established a reputation for being an extremely streaky player.
In February, he recorded the 15th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history in the first round of the Cognizant Classic. He eventually tied for sixth after stumbling to a final round 72.
Knapp fired an opening-round 63 in his most recent start at the RBC Canadian Open. He again posted a final round 72 to settle for a T27.
Ranked 98th in the world, Knapp has one career victory on tour. That came at the 2024 Mexico Open, where he also posted a 63 in the first round and held on for a two-shot victory with a 71 on Sunday.
"I'm definitely not afraid of shooting a low number," Knapp said. "I feel like when I start making birdies, I want to make more. I was even kind of thinking about 59 when I stuck it close on my third to last for eagle and figured I could maybe eagle that and birdie the last two.
"I think when you're playing well just try to stay out of my own way and just kind of keep doing what I'm doing and making more birdies."
Friday's course record came just a day after Knapp struggled to an even par 72 on a course that yielded a pair of 10-under 62s on the day. During the opening round, he managed just a lone birdie against one bogey.
That changed quickly on Friday as Knapp took advantage of a hot putter. Following three consecutive pars to open his round on the back nine, Knapp poured in three birdies over a four-hole stretch. He reached the par-5 17th hole in two and then drained a 34-foot eagle putt.
After making his turn in 5-under 31, Knapp birdied six of his first eight holes on his inward nine to reach 11 under for the round and complete an 11-shot improvement from Thursday.
"I was just kind of bummed last night because I felt like in the practice rounds and everything felt like I was hitting it pretty nice, and I know this course sets up well for me," he said. "So to shoot even par the first day just feels like you're shooting yourself in the foot, but feels nice to bounce back with 61.
"I just tried to play a little bit more aggressive, and for the most part we just went in with the mindset today that every pin was a green light so just tried to hit it at everything."
--Field Level Media
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
Ryder Cup legend in furious argument over golf etiquette with respected TV reporter at US Senior Open
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PADRAIG HARRINGTON was caught in a furious argument with a TV reporter over golf etiquette. The heated row occurred midway through the US Senior Open on Friday at the Broadmoor Golf Club. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Padraig Harrington had a heated argument with Roger Maltbie Credit: X @brettforrestTV 3 The Irishman was irritated as he looked for a lost ball Credit: X @brettforrestTV Harrington, 53, was left fuming as NBC analyst Roger Maltbie after he lost his golf ball. The Ryder Cup legend appeared to be disgruntled with the former PGA star for not helping him search for it. A video caught the heated moment in which Harrington hit out at Maltbie's course etiquette. He said: "Never on a golf course stand and look at somebody looking for a golf ball." READ MORE IN SPORT I'VE GOT LEW Hamilton gives F1 rival lift on his private jet after he was booked on EasyJet Maltbie responded: That's a hard position to take there." They then stepped closer to each other as the argument as tensions continued to boil over. Harrington added: "You've played gold all your life. You understand." But Maltbie did not step down as he replied: "I'm not a player." JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS The Irish star's caddie, Ronan Flood, tried to step in to calm the situation with little avail. Eventually, the arguing pair walked off from each other as Harrington was asked for an autograph. I played golf with Tiger Woods but he was a ghost behind the scenes - his romance with Vanessa Trump surprised me Fans had their own opinions on the row as they took to social media. One posted: "Just when you thought golf couldn't get any less interesting." A second wrote: "If the player can see him, he's in the wrong place." A third commented: "That is a weird flex for Maltbie." A fourth said: "The relationship between golf and old media is dying in front of our eyes." 3 Harrington still finished the day tied for the lead Credit: Getty A fifth joked: "Seeing mom and dad fight like this is insanely depressing." Another added: "What is going on?" Harrington's round was not affected by the rogue moment as he still managed to finish his round with an impressive 67. He reached six under par and was tied for the lead alongside Stewart Cink. Maltbie switched from pro golf to broadcasting back in 1991, having spent 20 years on the course. He won five tournaments during his time on the PGA Tour.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Tiger Woods looks almost unrecognizable as golf legend is spotted in rare public appearance watching son Charlie
The golfing great was on hand to watch his son in action down in Florida WOOD YOU BELIEVE IT WOOD YOU BELIEVE IT Tiger Woods looks almost unrecognizable as golf legend is spotted in rare public appearance watching son Charlie Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) GOLF legend Tiger Woods looked almost unrecognizable in a rare public appearance. The Masters legend was spotted watching son Charlie in a tournament earlier this week. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Tiger Woods during a tournament in 2024, where he smiled on the course Credit: Getty 4 Woods looked a lot different earlier this week, with fans spotting his tiny legs Credit: GREG LOVETT/PALM BEACH POST 4 Woods, who is fighting back to fitness after a ruptured Achilles, was watching his son Credit: GREG LOVETT/PALM BEACH POST The 49-year-old has suffered a number of health and injury issues in recent years. And fans were left concerned by his latest look at the 41st annual Nicklaus Junior Championship. That was at the Tequesta Country Club in Florida. Woods was in full dad mode looking to see his 16-year-old son qualify for the US Junior Amateur earlier this month. That was at the Eagle Trace Golf Club qualifier in Coral Springs, Florida. However, the former world number one looked quite frail as his heads into his veteran years this week. He was seen in shades and a hat with a grey beard, and a lot different to his playing days. And fans took to social media after spotting the 15-time major winner, particularly his legs. "Sad to see Tiger," one said. Another added: "His lower body looks old." I played golf with Tiger Woods but he was a ghost behind the scenes - his romance with Vanessa Trump surprised me A third commented: "Nice to see Tiger out walking and watching Charlie play." A fourth noted: "Both of his legs look like twigs compared to the rest of his body. "Don't think he'll be able to fully come back anymore to playing PGA Tour events and contending." And one said: "Achilles rupture is no joke." 4 Charlie went on to finish 6th in the 122-man field at the tournament. Woods hasn't played in a PGA Tour event since missing the cut at The Open in July 2024. However, he did play in his and Rory McIlroy's indoor TMRW Golf League earlier this year. He has been dealing with a number of medical setbacks. In March, he announced he had ruptured his left Achilles. Woods, now dating Vanessa Trump, also had his sixth back surgery in 2024. And in 2021, he almost lost his right leg after a car crash.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
PGA Tour ace back in the lucky Airbnb as Trophy House secret behind stars that can't stop winning revealed
Chris Kirk has a spot secured in the amazing accommodation which spills victors Chris Kirk reckons he'd be foolish not to bag a bed back into specially-dubbed Trophy House which can't stop guesting PGA Tour winners. The American star posted a second-straight 65 at the Rocket Classic to surge to the top of the boards at tis week's event in Detriot. However, looking ahead to next week and the John Deere Classic, Kirk is banking on a room at the specially-named digs near to venue TPD Deere Run. Incredibly, the six-bedroom location shared by stars during that week in Illinois has seen the winner of the tournament emerge for three-straight years. Twelve months ago, Davis Thompson stormed to success having stayed in the accommodation with JT Poston, Denny McCarthy, Ben Kohles, Greyson Sigg and Patton Kizzire. In 2022, it was Poston who came out of that specific front door every day to win the title and, in 2023, it was Sepp Straka who secured victory. Ironically, Thompson only get into the pad last year when the European Ryder Cup hero opted to move into a hotel room with his wife and new baby. It seems Kirk was the found who located the house in the first place and he's dead-set on getting a bed back for next week's tournament. After his second round at the Rocket, he explained an imminent attempt to extend the sequence as he said: 'I'm going to do my best, yeah. I'd be foolish not to stay there, that's for sure. I haven't played the John Deere the last couple of years. But I originally found that house, I guess on Airbnb, probably four years ago, something like that. 'Then I think it's JT that's gotten to know the owners of the house and has just kind of had a set booking for the year. So three years in a row the winner has stayed there. Hopefully I can make it a fourth.' Thompson knew all about it a year ago as he said: 'It's kind of crazy. I stayed in Sepp's room. Me and him may be fighting for that room next year!' Poston gave an insight to the pad and said: 'There's like six of us in there and it's fun because you come back and you're playing cards or throwing football in the backyard. It's a good way to decompress and get away from golf because the hard part of the hotel thing is you get back to the hotel and, if you're alone, you're probably thinking about golf.' Kirk may well already have a trophy to take to Illinois if he maintains his flying Rocket opening over the weekend. Slow play didn't slow his scoring and he said: 'It took us a lot longer to play. I think it was like two hours and 10 minutes to play the front and two hours and 50 minutes to play the back. So it's a little bit tough to kind of stay in a good flow and rhythm when it backs up like that. But really proud of the way I hung in there and kept hitting good shots. 'The last few days, everything has been pretty solid. I played pretty bad all year to the point where I was kind of thinking about not playing the US Open just because I was really struggling and didn't know what I was doing. But I really love Oakmont, so that was kind of why I was like: Alright, I'm going to go play and see what I can do. And I played really solid. 'I drove the ball the best I had all year that week and everything was pretty good. I think it's just one of those things where you're never as far off as you feel like you are when you're not playing very well. It's such a fine line out here. 'All the players on this tour are so good that, you miss a cut by one or two and you feel like it's the end of the world and you feel like you're the worst golfer ever and you're really not as far off as you think. I definitely feel comfortable here. It's a golf course that I like. I don't have really a great reason why.'
