In an opposite way, it was a Perfect Storm of events – no wind, soft greens and little Bermuda rough – that had the leaderboards dripping with red numbers.
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PALMBEACHGARDENS—Therewasatime–andnotverylongago–whentheChampionCoursewasoneofthemostfearedamongthenon-majorlayoutsonthePGATour.
Likeeverythingelseingolflately,timeshavechanged.
Second-yearproJakeKnappbecamethe14th person(and15th ofalltime)toshootgolf’smagicalnumber–a59–whenhetappedinforhis12th birdieofthefirstroundoftheCognizantClassicinthePalmBeachesonthepar-5finishingholeatPGANational.
A59?Onthepar-71Champ?WhatturnedtheBearTrapintotheTeddyBearTrap?(Holes15through17eachplayedunderparinthemorning.)
UsedtobeanythingunderparwouldbecauseforcelebrationontheJackNicklaus-redesignedcourse.NotThursday.Notwiththewindazephyr,thegreensaswelcomingasgrandparentsandanover-seedthatmadetheBermudagrasspredictable.
“IknewIwashittingitwell,sotriedtojustbirdieeverythingtoday,”saidKnapp,whobetteredthetournamentrecordof61sharedbyBrianHarmanand2021champ
