PGA Tour Rookie Wins First Title

Former nightclub bouncer Jake Knapp won a first PGA Tour event, and earns 500 FedExCup points, moves to No. 8 in the FedExCup standings and is fully exempt through the 2026 PGA Tour season.

Knapp only managed to hit two of 13 fairways in the final round, becoming the first player since 1983 to hit two or less fairways in the final round and go on to win.

 
Despite almost letting his lead slip, the performance spotlighted Knapp’s recent results, which have vaulted him to 11th on the PGA Tour: Tee to Green (+1.235) and No. 8 in the FedExCup standings. He has played his last three events (216 holes) on Tour in 38 under par, including his T3 finish at the WM Phoenix Open. 

"Didn't necessarily have my best stuff today, that's for sure," Knapp said.

"Knew it was going to be nerve-wracking. Knew it was going to be tough," the American rookie added.

"But I was super pumped on how I played the finishing stretch."

The win comes just three years after Knapp failed to win a tour card and took a bar job at a restaurant which turned into a nightclub in the evenings.

"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'," he said.

As winner of the Mexico Open at Vidanta, Jake Knapp earns a spot in all five remaining Signature Events, which will be a massive relief for the rookie.