Jake Knapp Holds Narrow Lead Entering Moving Day at Cognizant Classic

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Jake Knapp followed his record-setting opening round with a solid performance, shooting a 1-under 70 at the Cognizant Classic to maintain a one-shot lead on Friday. Knapp, who previously recorded a 59, faced a tougher outing but managed to sink a crucial 15-foot birdie putt on his final hole, bringing his total to 13-under 129 for the tournament.

Knapp’s journey to the top has seen its ups and downs. After making 12 birdies in the first round, he struggled through 10 holes of the second round without a birdie. A double bogey on the par-4 sixth, where he found the water with his tee shot, was a notable hurdle.

“I’ve never had to follow up a 59 at a tournament before. It’s all new to me,” Knapp said. “Yesterday, everything was just clicking ball-striking wise; distance control felt really good.” The windy conditions at PGA National posed additional challenges, causing even well-aimed putts to veer off target.

Matthieu Pavon, who competed closely with Knapp, finished with a 64 and was at 12-under 130 after narrowly missing a birdie on his final hole. Pavon, a past winner at Torrey Pines, had initially taken the lead before Knapp’s late birdie.

Florida State junior Luke Clanton also shined, carding a 5-under 66 to secure his place in the tournament and earning a PGA Tour card for the upcoming season after the NCAA Championships in May. Clanton has made a strong impression with two runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour already.

More players fell into contention behind Knapp. Daniel Berger, who grew up near the course, shot a 68 to sit at 11-under 131, sharing the spot with Michael Kim, Doug Ghim, and rookie Jesper Svensson.

Berger expressed disappointment despite a strong start, attributing his struggle on the back nine to fatigue. “I just kind of lost a little steam,” he said. “A bad 9-iron plugged it in the hazard, but I got away with one just to make a bogey there.”

Veteran golfer Zach Johnson and Rickie Fowler both posted 68s, joining the fray at 132. Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth, who had earlier birdied all three holes of the challenging ‘Bear Trap,’ stumbled on the par-3 17th, resulting in a triple bogey. Despite finishing with a birdie on 18 for a 70, he found himself six shots behind the leader.

Spieth revealed that he made the decision to compete in this tournament after the Arnold Palmer Invitational declined to offer him a sponsor exemption earlier this month.

As Knapp prepares for moving day, he reflects on his inconsistent play. “While everything was perfect yesterday, today wasn’t as great. I’ll go out and practice a bit to clean up a few things, but this course doesn’t allow for overpowering. You need to take what it gives you,” he said.