A PGA Tour pro reportedly told Dan Rapaport of Skratch it was ‘so dumb’ for tournament staff at PGA National to overseed after Jake Knapp carded a bogey-free 12-under 59 at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches.
Knapp tore round the Tom Fazio-designed layout in round one of the PGA Tour event on Thursday.
The 30-year-old pro – tipped by Rory McIlroy for future stardom – came racing out of the blocks and made five consecutive birdies.
After making the turn in 29, more circles on his scorecard followed at 10, 11, 13 and 14.
Knapp then played the treacherously difficult Bear Trap in 1-under par before reaching the par-5 18th.
The American split the fairway with his tee shot and found the green with his approach.
But he missed out on becoming the second man in PGA Tour history to card a 58 after missing his 18ft eagle putt low.
Jim Furyk carded a 58 during the final round of the 2016 Travelers Championship.
Skratch’s Rapaport wrote on X: “Overseed has made PGA National way softer and easier.
“From one tour player: ‘It’s so dumb’.”
Daniel Berger was tied for second after round one on 8-under.
Berger said: “I thought I played well, but then someone shot 59.
“Clearly the course was not the old Bear Trap that we’re used to.”
Sub-60 rounds in PGA Tour history
PLAYER
SCORE
RD.
EVENT
FINISH
Jim Furyk
58 (-12)
Final
2016 Travelers Championship
T-5
Al Geiberger
59 (-13)
2
1977 Memphis Classic
Won
Chip Beck
59 (-13)
3
1991 Las Vegas Invitational
T-3
David Duval
59 (-13)
Final
1999 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic
Won
Paul Goydos
59 (-12)
1
2010 John Deere Classic
2
Stuart Appleby
59 (-11)
Final
2010 Greenbrier Classic
Won
Jim Furyk
59 (-12)
2
2013 BMW Championship
3
Justin Thomas
59 (-11)
1
2017 Sony Open
Won
Adam Hadwin
59 (-13)
3
2017 CareerBuilder Challenge
2
Brandt Snedeker
59 (-11)
1
2018 Wyndham Championship
Won
Kevin Chappell
59 (-11)
2
2019 A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier
T-47
Scottie Scheffler
59 (-12)
2
2020 The Northern Trust
T-4
Cameron Young
59 (-11)
3
2024 Travelers Championship
T-9
Hayden Springer
59 (-12)
1
2024 John Deere Classic
T-7
Jake Knapp
59 (-12)
1
2025 Cognizant Classic at The Palm Beaches
?
PGA National is widely regarded as one of the toughest courses on Tour.
Former Open champion Brian Harman was the course record holder before Knapp obliterated it.
Harman carded a 61 at PGA National in 2012.
Australian Matt Jones – now a LIV Golf League player – equalled Harman’s record in 2021.
Knapp said he knew he ‘had it going’ early but it didn’t dawn on him until later on in the round that he was close.
But he added: “I didn’t really think about it, to be honest with you.
“I think you start thinking about it too much, you’re just going to add pressure to something that’s very unnecessary.
“At the same time, if it was Sunday and the tournament was coming down to the line, it might be different, but at the same time it’s Thursday morning and I’m doing my best to just put myself in position going into the weekend.”
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