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PGA Tour rookie Jake Knapp improbably won the Mexico Open over the weekend, dominating the field for his first career victory. The golfer celebrated in epic fashion on the course.
Not so long ago, his dream of going pro seemed like a longshot. Now, things have come full circle.
Knapp, 29, had been trying to land a spot on the Tour for some time before finally making the cut ahead of the ’24 season. He’d previously needed some cash flow to continue chasing that goal, resulting in a side hustle to keep the hope alive.
That second job? Bouncer at a nightclub.
More from an interview with the PGA Tour:
I worked as a nightclub bouncer. After losing status and missing at Q-School in 2021, out of funds, I needed to be away from golf. I needed some responsibility and some perspective on things. I wasn’t aware that (The Country Club, a restaurant in Costa Mesa) turned into a nightclub; I went there to be a barback. They needed a security guy, and I was like, “I don’t know if I’m big enough, but I can stand there and look tough.” I was there for eight months or so; it was crazier than I thought … Halloween was my second weekend, and then it’s New Year’s Eve and the holidays, so people are going nuts. Our head of security was a drummer in a band, and he was like, “I have a gig on New Year’s Eve. Are you OK running everything?” I was only three months in and had no idea what I was doing, but it ended up working out; try not to let people hurt other people inside the bar, and if they want to, push them into the parking lot.
I’d work Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights and special events, which allowed me to practice until 5 or 6 on Friday, and then go to the gym and eat dinner and go straight there, work until 2 or 3 a.m., come straight home, go to sleep, wake up at 10, course at 11, practice until 5, do it again. I was thankful I wasn’t living off that job; it helped fund mini-tour stuff and Canada that summer. It made me work a little bit harder and not take golf for granted.
Knapp pulled double duty while pursuing that professional golf ambition, and it paid off in a major way!
He landed his Tour card thanks to his season-long standings on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2023. Now, just five tournaments into his PGA Tour career, he has a win!
Jake Knapp dominated at the Mexico Open.
He finished two shots ahead of the event’s runner-up, posting a final score of -19.
That included shooting a 64 on Friday, then following it up with a 63 on Saturday. His final round was a bit rocky as he struggled to keep the ball on the fairway from the tee, but still he shot par to wrap up win.
Knapp celebrated in the best possible way.
It’s officially Knapp time.@KnappTime_LTD | @KornFerryTour pic.twitter.com/OVpX3p2PdV
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 25, 2024
Knapp is sponsored by Anaheim Ducks president Tim Ryan, who happened to be a member of his home country club. Ryan apparently played a round with the golfer without knowing his background and was impressed enough to support him upon learning about the PGA Tour dream.
And he’s glad he did!
With the win, Knapp landed a $1.45M payday. He also qualified for the Masters.
The stories you absolutely love to hear.