Jake Knapp Stuns Golf World: Inside the Rookie’s Dramatic Mexico Open Win and Meteoric Rise

DETROIT — The PGA Tour’s Rocket Classic has erupted into “Knapp Time.” American golfer Jake Knapp vaulted up the leaderboard Friday with a blistering 11-under-par 61 at Detroit Golf Club, erasing the 24-hour-old course record of 62 and inserting himself squarely into the weekend hunt. Knapp’s new benchmark arrived less than a day after fellow pros briefly christened the Donald Ross-designed track with matching 62s, underscoring just how dialed-in the Californian’s irons and putter were during Round 2. He hit 17 greens in regulation and needed only 26 putts, posting birdies on six of his first eight holes before adding an eagle at the par-5 14th. The 29-year-old entered the week on the back of a mixed campaign that already featured a historic sub-60 (a 59 at February’s Coastal Open) and several missed cuts, highlighting the high-ceiling, high-variance profile that makes Knapp one of 2025’s most watchable talents. Friday’s round, however, was fueled as much by frustration as freedom: Knapp opened the tournament with a lukewarm 72 and admitted he was “upset and a little bummed” before committing to an aggressive, swing-loose mindset. Key numbers from Knapp’s 61 • 11 birdies, 1 eagle, 0 bogeys • Front-nine 29, tying the tournament’s nine-hole mark • 186.2 feet of made putts, including a 42-footer on the 8th green • Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green +5.9; Strokes Gained: Putting +3.4 What it means for the Rocket Classic leaderboard Knapp surged from outside the top-60 into a tie for fourth at ‑11, just one shot behind halfway co-leaders Chris Kirk, Andrew Putnam and Philip Knowles. With wet Michigan conditions turning the 7,370-yard layout into a dartboard, expect weekend scoring to stay red-hot; nevertheless, Knapp’s 61 resets the psychological bar for anyone chasing the $9.6 million purse. Why Knapp’s run matters 1. FedExCup push: Currently 87th in the standings, Knapp can vault inside the playoff bubble with a top-5 finish. 2. Rookie-of-the-Year angle: Though technically a second-year member, a victory would thrust him into the conversation with breakout names like Aldrich Potgieter. 3. Equipment/storyline synergy: Knapp switched to a 43-inch driver shaft on Monday, and his 335-yard average off the tee Friday suggests the experiment is sticking. Quotable “I told my caddie on the range this morning, ‘We’re going nuclear or we’re going home.’ Luckily we went nuclear,” Knapp said, laughing in the scorer’s tent as his 8-under back nine flashed on the boards. Weekend outlook Weather forecasts call for sun and mild wind, ideal for another low round. Knapp tees off in Saturday’s penultimate pairing, armed with momentum, a confidence-spiking flatstick and a fresh slice of PGA Tour history. If he sustains anything close to Friday’s precision, Detroit could witness not only its first Rocket Classic champion named Jake Knapp but also one of the season’s most electrifying victory marches. Search-friendly takeaway With “Jake Knapp 61,” “Rocket Classic course record,” and “PGA Tour Detroit Golf Club” now trending among golf fans and casual Googlers alike, expect queries to spike throughout the weekend as the 29-year-old chases his maiden PGA Tour title—and possibly another record—in Motor City.