Jake Knapp spent four seasons on the Canadian tour and two on the Korn Ferry Tour until finally getting a PGA Tour card. He once worked as a bouncer when he needed daytime hours to practice and cash to pay entry fees. Now he is Masters bound after winning Mexico Open, $1.45 million
The PGA Tour rookie from UCLA and Estancia High in Costa Mesa won in his ninth career start Sunday at the Mexico Open near Puerto Vallarta, taking home $1.458 million, moving into the top 10 in the FedEx Cup standings, and earning invitations to the Masters, the PGA Championship and the remaining five $20-million signature events.
Jake Knapp of the United States is showered with water bottles as he celebrates after winning the Mexico Open golf tournament in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024.
“Bumpy to say the last,” Knapp said about his career path. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way. If I look back on my career as a whole, I always struggle the first jump on. Now that I feel my feet are under me, I know myself and what I’m doing, it feels like the right time.”
Tour rookies went head-to-head late Sunday at the Mexico Open at Vidanta, Jake Knapp topping Sami Valimaki to take home his first victory in just his ninth start. After starting the final round four shots ahead, the Korn Ferry Tour graduate started off nervy with bogeys on two of the first three holes. He made two birdies to even it out and shot even-par 71 to finish at 19-under-par 265 total to earn $1.458 million from an $8.1 million overall purse. He qualified for the Masters.
Here is the prize money breakdown for every golfer who made the cut.
WIN: Jake Knapp, -19/265, $1.458 million
2: Sami Valimaki, -17/267, $882,900
T-3: Stephan Jaeger, -14/270, $429,300
T-3: C.T. Pan, -14/270, $429,300
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Mexico Open at Vidanta 2024 Experience
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Interview with Jake Knapp Winner of the Mexico Open at Vidanta
Q. There are still 18 holes and 24 more hours left. Wonderful! What a way to do it
Today, you made 11 birdies including the last two holes.
JAKE KNAPP: Yeah, my swing was very similar to how I hit it the last couple of days when I was able to make several putts. I would like to correct some of those bogeys on the back nine, but it was a great day.
Q. Golf is never a perfect game, but how is your game on the Par 3s? Five Holes
Par 3, you played them at 4 under par, you signed four deuces on the card.
JAKE KNAPP: Yeah, I had them in mind this morning after looking at the locations of
the flags and I just felt that depending on where the exit was, they were going to
They match up pretty well for me and I thought they were going to be very achievable. So I wanted to make sure to keep in mind that ultimately there were going to be some good opportunities there.
Q. Are you satisfied with this week’s Par 5s? It’s peculiar, thinking about the
distance you achieve from the tee, from where you are so precise. You really haven’t
dominated the Par 4s, or rather the Par 5s, as a person who goes 19 under would do
pair.
JAKE KNAPP: No, I don’t think I played the Par 5s very well, but I didn’t execute very well. my chip As we mentioned before, I feel like every time I missed the green this week, I ended up in a strange lie or making a strange chip. I’m not super worried about it, I feel like I’m hitting good shots, I just don’t I have ended up exactly where I would like. But yes, we will do our best to improve it tomorrow.
Q. You have the opportunity to enter the final round with the advantage to win by
first time on the PGA TOUR. What will the next 24 hours be like for you as you
do you prepare?
JAKE KNAPP: More of the same. Come back, take a bath, go to the gym tonight, do
my preparation for tomorrow morning and being ready to go out into the field in the afternoon.
Q. You started the day at 8 under par, with a good first nine holes with 28 hits. How was sharing the lead during part of the round?
JAKE KNAPP: Obviously I can’t complain. I feel like I hit the ball just like the last two days. I did very well, I drove it well. I was able to hole a few more putts. Once I could see a couple of shots go in at the start, it looked like it was almost going to stay that way. For a while.
Q. What was it like playing in Mexico with the favorite? You were leading the tournament, many They encouraged Ortiz.
JAKE KNAPP: Yeah, I think as soon as I hit my approach on Hole 2 after he hit his, everyone moved on and no one paid any attention to me. I just thought, “Well,
We’re going to have to deal with it, you’re not going to try to stop everyone, are you?” It was incredible. It was great to see the support he received. He’s a great kid, he’s fun to play with.
Q. Curt Byrum said on the broadcast that on Friday he saw you on the putting green. That Have you found that particular stick that worked for you today?
JAKE KNAPP: I wouldn’t say I necessarily found anything. I felt that yesterday afternoon ball was not rolling as well as it could. Late afternoon there was going to be a bit of a bounce. The practice green was trimmed and smooth, so I wanted to roll the ball a little and making sure I start right with my lines. I practiced my putts for about 10 minutes, I gained a little confidence to make sure what I was doing was right and Today I trusted it.
Q. We are in the era of long shots, but you have a very fluid swing. As did that happen? How did you work on your swing and movement?
JAKE KNAPP: It just happened. I have always had the same coach, John Ortega,
and now I work a little with Dana Dahlquist. Johnny O. has never wanted to change anything, he just lets me swing according to the natural movement of my body and I just try to make the best of it. I do everything I can to continue like this.
Q. Today I spoke with one of your college teammates who says that you throw the ball a mile. How much would you say you keep in reserve? Maybe not do you necessarily hit 100%?
JAKE KNAPP: I would say quite a bit. I’ve always tried… I shouldn’t say too much.
I move pretty fast or at least I still try to be aggressive with the ball. Like Other players, we can all exert more power. There are some holes here where we can go with everything.
In recent years and especially this year, I have realized that the fairways are
valuable, so I tend to hit that sliced shot with spin a lot. Especially when I’m hitting the ball well, I know that if I can put it in play off the tee, I can hit the ball well.
a lot of opportunities.
Q. You finish with 28 shots on the front nine, you use iron off the tee on the hole
10, not the shot you wanted. Tell us about the shot off the tee and also about that great
bogey save.
JAKE KNAPP: Yeah, I told my caddie, I think that tee shot was the only shot with the one I was half engaged in all week. I felt like I was trying to point to the left side and I just wanted to do my normal little cut, but I also did not I wanted to cut more because I felt a slight gust of wind. I should have backed off. Yes, it was a bad swing. All the way until the next hit We agreed that we should readjust and give ourselves a chance for bogey. I did not run a good chip, I was able to make the putt and I think that 5 was a great help to keep my momentum.
Q. Twenty-nine is a little old for a rookie on the PGA TOUR. Your path has been different, you were a security guard at The Country Club in Costa Mesa.
What did you learn from those experiences now that you are trying to win for the first time in the PGA TOUR?
JAKE KNAPP: I feel a lot of gratitude for what I do. I think when you’re standing there 1:00 in the morning every Friday and Saturday night, you realize how good it is
being able to travel and play golf for a living. Yes, I think that and it also has to do with having determination. Ideally I would prefer not go back to that point in my life.
Yes, I think it was a lot of different things, but everything helps to make you stronger and that It allowed me to get to where I am now.
Q. How do you simplify things and face this Sunday?
JAKE KNAPP: Overall, it’s a lot of the same. I fulfill my duties tonight, I go to the gym, I have dinner, I go to bed very early, I get up and prepare for tomorrow.
Q. I noticed they were using the graphic from when you won your PGA TOUR card and showed your tattoo.
JAKE KNAPP: That’s right.
Q. What does your tattoo say and what does it mean?
JAKE KNAPP: Those are my grandfather’s initials. He passed away early last season.
Q. When did you get the tattoo?
JAKE KNAPP: My cousin and I got the same tattoo, I think it was right at the end
of last season or in the middle of last season. No, it was in the middle of the last season. My intention was for it to be seen. It was a part I wanted to keep… Sorry… I know it’s an area you see in all the golf photos, I wanted to make sure it was always see that the round ends.
Q. What was your relationship with your grandfather like?
JAKE KNAPP: It was very special. I’m sorry.
Q. Okay, take your time.
JAKE KNAPP: I’ve never been asked that. Yes, it was indeed something very special. We had dinner as a family every Sunday night. Was who I spoke to after each round. He still texted her after every round. Sorry. Yes, it is very special for me and my entire family. I know that he is with me in the field and that he is watching me.
Q. What are you going to write to him after today’s round?
JAKE KNAPP: I just miss him, I miss talking to him, I wish he could see him.
It was always my dream and his dream was also to see me get here. Sorry.
Q. Everything is fine.
JAKE KNAPP: My family and I talk about him a lot. I am very grateful to have had a
grandfather so close and so involved in my professional life, and in our lives in general.
We provide information and resources for visitors to Puerto Vallarta, areas of The Riviera Nayarit and other destinations in both states of Jalisco and Nayarit . You will find variety of content, including articles, blog posts, videos, photos, descriptions and interviews, all of which are designed to help visitors plan their trip, including attractions, restaurants, and events. https://promovisionpv.com/
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