“It’s really only the piece of sports memorabilia that I have that I really cherish.”
Tucked in Jake Knapp’s personal bio in the PGA Tour online media guide are a few assorted personal nuggets meant to give a bit of flavor for his personality: he can solve a Rubik’s Cube, if he didn’t play golf he would pursue a career in the fitness industry, and he spent roughly nine months as a security guard at a night club in fall 2021 through spring 2022.
And then there’s this: His earliest golf memory is watching Tiger Woods beat Stephen Ames, 9 and 8, at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and having Woods’ caddie, Steve Williams, toss him one of the balls Woods used during the match.
As Knapp recalled, his dad took him and his brother to the WGC Match Play at La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, California, about an hour from his home in Costa Mesa, and they followed Tiger and Williams, his former caddie.
“I was just hounding Stevie all day to give me a ball, give me a ball, give me a ball, and he kept on telling me after the round,” Knapp said. “Then Tiger finally closed out Stephen Ames 9 and 8 on the 10th hole. I was standing back by the 10th tee. They walked right by and I asked him for a ball and neither of them really did anything. They walked into the locker room and I was like, dang, like there they go.
“Then 10 seconds later Stevie walked out and he was like, ‘Hey, kid,’ tossed me his ball. It was pretty awesome. It’s really only the piece of sports memorabilia that I have that I really cherish.”
The 29-year-old rookie from California won the 2024 Mexico Open at Vidanta in Vallarta, Mexico, after an even-par 71 on Sunday to claim his first PGA Tour victory at 19 under in just his ninth start. For his efforts, Knapp will take home the top prize of $1,458,000.
Sami Valimaki, who was aiming to become the first player from Finland to win on the Tour, finished two shots back at 17 under and earned $882,900 as a consolation prize. Stephan Jaeger, Justin Lower and C.T. Pan finished T-3 at 14 under and each bagged $429,300.
With $8.1 million up for grabs, check out how much money each PGA Tour player earned this week at the 2024 Mexico Open at Vidanta.
Just a few years separated from working as a bouncer and doing security at weddings, Knapp is headed to the Masters.
When Jake Knapp texts his grandfather, as he does after every round, he can report that he did it, holding on to win his first PGA Tour title at the Mexico Open at Vidanta at Vallarta, Mexico.
It wasn’t always pretty in the final round on Sunday at Vidanta Vallarta as Knapp closed with an even-par 71 for a two-stroke victory over Sami Valimaki.
Knapp’s grandfather, Gordon Bowley, died of colon cancer in April after a two-year battle, and Knapp and his cousin both got matching tattoos with the initials GSFB – for their grandpa’s full name of Gordon Sydney Frederick Bowley – just below his left bicep so that it would be visible during his swing. Asked what his grandfather would think of his victory, Knapp said, “He would be pumped. He’d probably say, ‘Yo, dude, good playing. Winner, winner, chicken dinner.’ So, Papa, thank you.”
Knapp appeared to put a sleeper hold on the tournament in the third round with birdies on seven of his first nine holes on Saturday en route to shooting 63 and grabbing a four-stroke lead entering the final round.
Jake Knapp plays a shot on the 12th hole during the final round of the Mexico Open at Vidanta. (Photo: Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
But Sundays are payday and Knapp, a 29-year-old rookie who played his college golf at UCLA, had never held the lead on the Tour let alone the Korn Ferry Tour, where he graduated to the big leagues after recording 10 top-10s last season. Knapp is a late bloomer, having turned pro in 2016 but lost Korn Ferry Tour status in 2021 and was mired outside the top thousand in the world as recently as May of 2022 (No. 1476).
Two years ago, he was out of money and worked as a bouncer for roughly nine months at a restaurant/bar in his hometown of Costa Mesa, and also did a stint as security at weddings, which is where he met his sports psychologist.
He was making just his ninth career Tour start and fifth this season, which included a T-3 at the Farmers Insurance Open last month.
The final round turned into a two-man race between a pair of rookies and fellow hockey fans seeking their first Tour title. Knapp sports the logo of the Anaheim Ducks on the right sleeve of his shirt while Finland’s Sami Valimaki has a cousin, Juuso, who is a defenseman for the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes, and when asked to describe his skating skills, claimed, “I think still better than him.”
On Sunday, Knapp struggled off the tee, hitting just two fairways, the fewest fairways hit by a Tour winner in the last 40 years. That included snap-hooking his drive into the water at the third, leading to his second bogey in his first three holes. After shooting 28 on the front nine on Saturday, he shot eight strokes higher a day later. After making 23 birdies in the first three rounds, he’d make just two on Sunday.
Fewest fairways hit in final round of PGA Tour win, last 40 years:
When Valimaki, 25 and already a two-time winner on the DP World Tour, drove the seventh green to 6 feet and rolled in the eagle putt, Knapp’s overnight advantage, the largest 54-hole lead of the season, was gone. Knapp noted that his grandpa never would let him get down.
“He would just kind of whack me on the back of the head and be like, ‘C’mon, get to work,'” Knapp said.
That he did. It didn’t hurt that Valimaki made two bogeys on the final nine and managed just one birdie while Knapp followed his own advice, settling in and pitching to 2 feet for birdie at the par-5 14th and keeping his card clean to finish with a 72-hole total of 19-under 265.
“I feel like I have the game to win over here, it just wasn’t this Sunday,” said Valimaki, who closed with 69. “I mean, I was four behind, yesterday was Jake’s day and he kept it going on the back nine so I feel like I didn’t lose it today.”
Knapp choked up recounting how he spent family Sunday dinners with his grandfather and that he was the person he talked to after every single round. Asked what he would be texting him after Saturday’s stellar performance that sent him on his way to victory, Knapp said, “Wish he could see it. It was always like my dream and his dream as well for me to get out here.”
But there was no doubting the response on Sunday after becoming a Tour champion: Winner, winner, chicken dinner.
Knapp had a historic start Saturday during the third round of the 2024 Mexico Open at Vidanta, making seven birdies on the front nine for a 7-under 28, the lowest nine-hole score in course history. He shot 63, tied for the lowest round of the week, on Moving Day and leads by four heading to Sunday at Vidanta Vallarta in search of his first PGA Tour win in only his ninth start.
“Struck it very similar to how I did the last couple days when I was able to get some more putts to fall,” Knapp said. “Would like to clean up a few of those bogeys on the back nine, but it was a great day.”
Knapp started with birdies on Nos. 1-2, and after a par at 3 made four straight from 4-7. Another par at 8, then Knapp added a seventh circle to the card on the ninth for a 7-under front nine.
The back nine had plenty more excitement, most of it thanks to some struggles around the greens. Knapp had three bogeys but offset that with four birdies, including on his final two holes. He sits at 19 under with 18 holes to play.
For the week, Knapp is first in Strokes Gained: Approach, gaining nearly nine shots on the field. He’s fourth Off the Tee. But around the green, he’s losing more than a stroke.
However, his power off the tee and accuracy from the fairway is making up for the couple of shortcomings around the putting surfaces. And he’s 18 holes away from a life-changing victory.
“Just a lot of the same,” Knapp said of his routine Saturday night. “Go back, shower, go to the gym tonight, do my preparation for tomorrow morning and get ready to go for tomorrow afternoon.”
Here are four more things to know about the third round of the Mexico Open at Vidanta.
Everything you need to know for the final round at Vidanta Vallarta.
It’s Knapp time, but don’t fall asleep.
Jake Knapp had a stellar Saturday, shooting 8-under 63 to take a four-shot lead heading into the final round at the 2024 Mexico Open at Vidanta. He sits at 19 under with fellow Tour rookie Sami Valimaki sitting at 15 under and trying to chase Knapp.
The purse at the Mexico Open is $8.1 million with $1.458 million going to the winner. The winner will also receive 500 FedEx Cup points.
This week’s live, four-feed coverage of PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will include a Spanish-language channel. Commentary for that will include host Marco Farias with Carlos de Corral and Sara Diaz as analysts, and John Sutcliffe reporting on the course.
The Mexico Open dates to 1944 and is considered the country’s national championship. This is the third year it has been a PGA Tour event.
From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s everything you need to know for the final round of the 2024 Mexico Open at Vidanta. All times listed are ET.
Jake Knapp got off to a record start Saturday in Mexico.
Knapp started the day tied for the lead then went out in 7-under 28, a course record at Vidanta Vallarta, host of the 2024 Mexico Open at Vidanta. His quick start is just the latest in what is becoming one of the best stories this season on the PGA Tour.
Knapp, 29, went to college at UCLA and finished T-3 last month at the Farmers Insurance Open, his best finish on Tour. Now in Mexico, he has a chance to better that.
Here are five things to know about Knapp as he seeks his first PGA Tour title.
Everything you need to know for the third round at Vidanta Vallarta.
Heading to the weekend at the 2024 Mexico Open at Vidanta, there’s a log jam at the top with the defending champion in hot pursuit.
There’s a four-way tie for the lead at 11-under 131, with Matt Wallace, Sami Valimaki, Alvaro Ortiz and Jake Knapp sharing pole position after 36 holes. Ortiz,a native of Mexico, won the Mexico Open in 2021 before it was an official PGA Tour event.
Defending champion Tony Finau made two eagles on Friday and sits T-9, five shots behind.
Vidanta Vallarta is a par-71 Greg Norman design measuring 7,456 yards. The purse at the Mexico Open is $8.1 million with $1.458 million going to the winner. The winner will also receive 500 FedEx Cup points. However, the are 67 golfers who missed the cut.
This week’s live, four-feed coverage of PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will include a Spanish-language channel. Commentary for that will include host Marco Farias with Carlos de Corral and Sara Diaz as analysts, and John Sutcliffe reporting on the course.
The Mexico Open dates to 1944 and is considered the country’s national championship.
From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s everything you need to know for the third round of the 2024 Mexico Open at Vidanta. All times listed are ET.
Ortiz, who won the Mexico Open in 2021 when it was a PGA Tour Latinoamerica event, shot 7-under 64, a career best, on Friday to move into a share of first at Vidanta Vallarta alongside Englishman Matt Wallace, Finland’s Sami Valimaki and American Jake Knapp. Ortiz is a member of the Korn Ferry Tour and is making his 10th PGA Tour start this week. It’s his fourth made cut, however, the 28-year-old who played collegiately at Arkansas would have a historic and breakthrough win if he were to claim the Mexico Open title for the second time in four years.
The tournament is the national open of Mexico, but it’s only the third year it has been a PGA Tour event. Like when Nick Taylor won the Canadian Open last summer, it just means more when a national is able to capture their home open. The same can be said for Ortiz if he were to capitalize this weekend. He would become only the second Mexican ever to win his national open twice, joining Ernesto Perez Acosta.
“From tee to green it was as good as it could be,” Ortiz said. “I hit the ball very well and just felt very comfortable out there. It was very clean, very stress free and I was glad to be able to make that eagle on 6. I feel like I was losing a little bit of momentum leaving a couple putts go, but it was good to get that one back. Happy to be in the position you I’m in.”
Ortiz birdied every other hole on his first nine, the back nine at Vidanta Vallarta, going out in 5-under 31. Then on the back nine, he had a clean card with eight pars and an eagle coming on the par-5 sixth hole to sign for his 64.
As far as any added pressure this weekend?
“No, it’s more fun, it’s more fun,” he said. “I don’t get to do that often. As many people, the yelling, it’s fun. I don’t get that much in the States, but it’s pretty cool to see how many people are coming and hopefully it will be packed this weekend.”
Santiago De La Fuente of Mexico putts on the second green during the second round of the Mexico Open at Vidanta at Vidanta Vallarta on February 23, 2024 in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
The duo has plenty of similarities. They’ve both won the LAAC, with Ortiz placing in the top five four times in five appearances at the event. Ortiz and his brother, Carlos of the LIV Golf League, are the last two Mexican players to tee it up in the Masters (Ortiz in 2019, Carlos in 2021) since Victor Regalado in 1979. De la Fuente will add his name to the list this April.
Here are four more things to know from the second round of the 2024 Mexico Open at Vidanta:
The leaderboard may not be stocked with big names, but there are plenty of storylines to follow.
Tony Finau, the defending champion, is the highest-ranked golfer in the field. He’s in the afternoon wave Friday. Meanwhile, sponsor exemption MJ Daffue opened with a 65 and started the second round two shots off the lead.
Vidanta Vallarta is a par-71 Greg Norman design measuring 7,456 yards. The purse at the Mexico Open is $8.1 million with $1.458 million going to the winner. The winner will also receive 500 FedEx Cup points.
This week’s live, four-feed coverage of PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will include a Spanish-language channel. Commentary for that will include host Marco Farias with Carlos de Corral and Sara Diaz as analysts, and John Sutcliffe reporting on the course.
The Mexico Open dates back to 1944 and is considered the country’s national championship.
From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s everything you need to know for the second round of the 2024 Mexico Open at Vidanta. All times listed are ET.
Friday tee times
1st tee
Tee times
Players
8:30 a.m.
Jhonattan Vegas, Patrick Rodgers, Stephan Jaeger
8:41 a.m.
Matt NeSmith, Vince Whaley, Carson Young
8:52 a.m.
Ryan Moore, Callum Tarren, Tyson Alexander
9:03 a.m.
J.J. Spaun, Chad Ramey, Ryan Brehm
9:14 a.m.
Patton Kizzire, Davis Thompson, Matti Schmid
9:25 a.m.
Ryan Palmer, Thomas Detry, Roger Sloan
9:36 a.m.
Bronson Burgoon, MJ Daffue, Sebastian Vazquez
9:47 a.m.
Sami Valimaki, Philip Knowles, Max Greyserman
9:58 a.m.
Parker Coody, Joe Highsmith, Roberto Diaz
10:09 a.m.
Ben Silverman, Rico Hoey, Adrien Dumont de Chassart
10:20 a.m.
Kevin Dougherty, Patrick Fishburn, Santiago De la Fuente
1:15 p.m.
Kevin Chappell, Doug Ghim, Andrew Novak
1:26 p.m.
Maverick McNealy, Ben Taylor, Ryan Fox
1:37 p.m.
Keith Mitchell, Charley Hoffman, S.H. Kim
1:48 p.m.
Tony Finau, Mackenzie Hughes, Nicolai Hogjaard
1:59 p.m.
Chez Reavie, Cameron Champ, Brandt Snedeker
2:10 p.m.
Francesco Molinari, Peter Malnati, Padraig Harrington
2:21 p.m.
Tyler Duncan, Troy Merritt, Thorbjorn Oleson
2:32 p.m.
Pierceson Coody, Raul Pereda, Fred Biondi
2:43 p.m.
Jake Knapp, Wilson Furr, Cristobal Del Solar
2:54 p.m.
Chris Gotterup, Ryan McCormick, Austin Wylie
3:05 p.m.
Jorge Campillo, Blaine Hale, Jr., Jose Antonio Safa
