Jake Nap, This Time Achieves the 'Dream 59'

Jake Knapp (USA) recorded a "dream 59."

On the 27th (local time), at the PGA National Resort Champions Course (par 71, 7,167 yards) in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA, during the first round of the PGA Tour Cognizant Classic (total prize money $9.2 million), he shot 12-under-par 59 to take the top spot on the leaderboard.

Jake Knapp is holding up his scorecard and smiling brightly after shooting a 'dream 59' in the first round of the Cognizant Classic. Palm Beach Gardens=Photo by AFP·Yonhap News

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He made 12 birdies, including five consecutive birdies from holes 1 to 5. This is the 15th sub-60 score in PGA Tour history. It is the first 59 ever recorded at the PGA National Resort Champions Course in tournament history. Knapp said, "I just focused on my shots and tried to trust the way I play," adding, "Whether I shoot 89 or 59, I will go out tomorrow and play my game again."

Knapp won his first PGA Tour title last year at the Mexico Open. Before that, he played on the Canadian and PGA Tour Canada (Korn Ferry) tours. Struggling to make a living, he worked as a nightclub security guard at night. He achieved his first win in his ninth PGA Tour start, and this year, he set a major record early in the season with the "dream 59."

Russell Henley and Daniel Berger are tied for second place (8-under-par 63), Rickie Fowler is tied for fifth (7-under-par 64), and Jordan Spieth and Michael Kim (both USA) are tied for 11th (6-under-par 65). Among Koreans, Im Sung-jae posted the best score, tied for 48th place (3-under-par 68). An Byeong-hun is tied for 76th (2-under-par 69), and Lee Kyung-hoon is tied for 97th (1-under-par 70).

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