It was simply a spectacular Thursday for Jake Knapp of Costa Mesa, California. The 30-year-old shot a score of -12 in the first round of the 2025 Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. In the process, this was the 15th time in PGA Tour history a player shot in the 50s, as Knapp posted a score of 59.
Knapp had 12 birdies and zero bogeys. He birdied the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, ninth, 10th, 11th, 13th, 14th, and 15th, and 18th holes. Knapp’s most impressive birdies came on the second hole (61 feet, 11 inches), and the 15th hole (31 feet and two inches).
After the first round, Knapp is in control of the tournament. He has a four stroke lead over Americans Russell Henley and Daniel Berger, and Finland’s Sami Valimaki. Henley, Berger, Valimaki are tied for second place at -8.
The last time a player on the PGA Tour posted a score of 59 was Hayden Springer of Trophy Club, Texas. That came in the first round of the 2024 John Deere Classic. Springer posted a first round score of -12, as like the Cognizant Classic, a score of par was 71. He finished up in a tie for seventh place at -21. The eventual champion was Davis Thompson of Atlanta, Georgia at -28.
Knapp has won once on the PGA Tour himself. That win came at the 2024 Mexico Open as he posted a four round score of -19.
It should be noted that one player in golf history has been under 60 twice. That is Jim Furyk, who shot 58 at the 2016 Travelers Championship and 59 at the 2013 BMW Championship.
