Latest news with #ChampionCourse
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Rocket Classic: PXG's Jake Knapp Climbs 124 Spots with New Scoring Record
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Rocket Classic got off to a hot start with Min Woo Lee tying the course record at Detroit Golf Club with a 63, but that record didn't last long. Two other players came in later and posted 62s. Well, it looks like there's something in the Michigan air, because less than a day later, we have a new course record. PKG ambassador Jake Knapp lit it up with an 11-under 61, which is even crazier when you realize he shaved 11 strokes off his score from the day before. That round launched him 124 spots up the leaderboard, landing him in a tie for sixth, with the round still in progress. Knapp went bogey-free, carding an eagle and nine birdies. One of the standout moments? A 34-foot eagle putt on the par-5 17th. Jake Knapp of the United States prepares to play a shot on the 18th hole during the second round of the Rocket Classic 2025 at Detroit Golf Club on June 27, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. Jake Knapp of the United States prepares to play a shot on the 18th hole during the second round of the Rocket Classic 2025 at Detroit Golf Club on June 27, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan."It was a good day. I mean, yesterday I felt like I was doing everything OK, not great, and then just kind of did everything a little bit better today," he said after his second round performance. "Putting was tough yesterday, I didn't make anything. In the afternoon a little bit bumpier greens, it's just sometimes how it goes." "Was able to definitely hit it a little bit closer today, and I drove it a lot better, which was nice, so had a lot more chances." This is his second course record of the season. You might remember Knapp fired a first-round 59 during the Cognizant Classic at the Champion Course at PGA National. The 31-year-old talked about it after wrapping up his second round in Detroit. "I'm definitely not afraid of shooting a low number, I feel like when I start making birdies, I want to make more," he said. "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." Jake Knapp's achieved 25 rounds in the 60s so far this season, including that insane 59 and this Friday's 61. But he hasn't quite been able to string those performances together. So far, he's only got two top-10 finishes: a tied for sixth at the Cognizant Classic and a tied for third at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. More Golf: Pair of Surprising PGA Tour Pros Set Course Record at Rocket Classic
USA Today
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
PETA weighs in on Billy Horschel's treatment of alligator at PGA Tour's Cognizant Classic
PETA weighs in on Billy Horschel's treatment of alligator at PGA Tour's Cognizant Classic PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — After his viral moment at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches in which he redirected a gator from the course and back into a lake, Billy Horschel was rewarded with a box of chocolates. In the shape of gators. The gift comes from PETA, who is recognizing the Gator for the way he treated the gator, calling him the "coolest clubber on the course" after he "gently shooed a wandering gator" off the Champion Course. 'Billy Horschel's kindness toward one of the most misunderstood and maligned animals on the planet is empathy in action and deserves a round of polite, restrained applause,' PETA senior vice president Lisa Lange said. 'PETA urges everyone to follow in his cleats by always treating wildlife with respect." Horschel, 38, comes from a long line of great Gators. Not gators. The 2009 University of Florida graduate is part of the school's golf royalty that has produces a litany of golfers who have combined to win more than 120 times on the PGA Tour. Horschel has eight of those, including accepting the trophy from Jack Nicklaus at the 2022 Memorial. And the 2014 FedEx Cup championship and you have a solid career. But aside from winning a major, this is the time of year Horschel would most enjoy hoisting a trophy. Having been born and raised in Brevard County and now making his home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Horschel is Florida through and through. And while gently redirecting a 6-foot gator back to a lake with a 60-degree wedge is a cool viral moment for a Florida Man on a Florida golf course, Horschel knows how to top that. "Being able to win in the state of Florida and say, 'Hey, I won in my home state,' would be really cool,'" he said. Horschel was inside the top 10 with three holes to play Saturday before bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes, the final two of the Bear Trap. He finished with a birdie on No. 18 giving him a 67 and 10-under for the tournament. But on the kinder, gentler Champion Course he was one of 28 golfers at 10-under or better when his round ended. Runner-up at API closest he's come to winning in Florida Horschel calls winning in his home state a "pride factor." The closest he's come in 40 starts in Florida is tied for second at the 2022 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, one shot behind Scottie Scheffler. Horschel was the 54-hole co-leader but fell back after playing his first 10 holes in 5 over. He battled back with two birdies and had a 33-foot putt on No. 18 that would have forced a playoff. "When you look back like, 'gosh, I let that one slip away,'" Horschel said. "Sometimes you need some breaks go your way. So, yeah, it sucks when you when you let one slip." What Horschel was most looking forward to was celebrating with his wife, Brittany, and their three children, Skylar, Colbie and Axel. That came three months later at the Memorial when one of golf goals was checked off. To win in front of his entire family. "Awesome," he said about the moment. But superseding winning in Florida would be adding a major championship to his resume. Horschel was the 54-hole leader at last year's British Open at Royal Troon and shot 68 Sunday, which at most majors would be enough for the leader after three rounds. But Xander Schauffele topped that with a 65, which gave him a shot victory over Horschel and Justin Rose. Horschel understands what winning a major would do for his career and how he could be judged differently if that does not happen. And he's OK with that. "That is something our career is defined off of," he said. "But there's a lot of great players that didn't win majors." Among the three golfers with at least 20 PGA Tour wins without a major is the Florida Gator who has won more than any other, Doug Sanders with 20 titles. "I think if I can add a major, get the 10-plus wins on tour, then I can look at myself and say, 'In my generation, my time I played, I was one of the best players for that time span,'" Horschel said. "Which is a pretty cool thing." Billy Horschel making a difference off the course Horschel is proud of what he's accomplished, which has resulted in about $41 million in career PGA Tour prize money. That has afforded him a lifestyle that allows him to own two houses on the water, one in Melbourne and one he's having built in the Jacksonville area. That gives him and his family easy access when they take out the Grady-White Boat. And his priorities have changed from when he first started his career. He now spends more time with the family, a lot of that on the boat. Which means less time practicing. "Hopefully I practice more efficiently," he said. Even if that does not happen, Horschel impacted the game off the course, too. His contributions, along with those of his wife, Brittany, have been rewarded. Billy and Brittany recently were honored with the Deane Beman Award, given each year by the Jacksonville Area Golf Association to those who make a difference through golf. And Billy was the recipient of the Charlie Bartlett Award, given annually to a pro golfer for 'unselfish contributions for the betterment of society.' Billy and Brittany run the Horschel Family Foundation, created in 2023 to support mental health, addiction assistance and K9s for Warriors. He also lends his name to Feeding Northeast Florida and support to the Advocates Professional Golf Tour and the American Junior Golf Association. 'You look at the names on the list that have received the award, the hall-of-famers, the great players,' Horschel said in a statement for the Charlie Bartlett Award. 'They've been just as successful on the golf course as they have been off the course making a difference in this world. To be able to add my name to that list, I could have never imagined. "When our time is done in this world, if we can make a difference in one person's life, then we've lived a really good life,." Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@
