Jake Knapp reacts to tying the course record in the final round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open
· Yahoo Sports
Jake Knapp ended his week at the Texas Children’s Houston Open on a real high with the American tying the course record with a round of 62 on Sunday.
Knapp set the clubhouse target early on Sunday at Memorial Park after a stunning final round.
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He went into Sunday with too much to do to put himself in genuine contention, but Knapp did ensure that he could take real confidence from the event as he made six birdies and one eagle to move into the top five.
With that, Knapp tied the course record at Memorial Park. However, things could have easily been even better for the 2024 Mexico Open winner, with a putt on the last for a 61 lipping out.
Jake Knapp reacts to his stunning final round at the Texas Children’s Houston Open
It has been such an impressive start to the season for Knapp, with Sunday seeing him register his fifth top 10 of the year.
It bodes extremely well for The Masters next month. But when asked about his run of matching or breaking course records – he has previously done similar at PGA National and Detroit Golf Club – Knapp admitted that he is a little frustrated not to get across the line and add to his tally of victories.
Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images“It was good. I still didn’t drive it necessarily amazing, but was able to control distances and hit it pretty well into the greens to give myself a bunch of looks,” he said. “Tried to play aggressive. You kind of got nothing to lose. Getting ready for Augusta in a couple weeks, just tried to hit the shots that were kind of called for on most holes. Yeah, did a good job of just trusting that and just knowing that I’ve been hitting it well and playing well and try to give myself some chances.
“It’s always cool anytime going around a course knowing how many guys have played here and knowing you shot the lowest of anybody coming through. At the same time, I’d take no course records and more wins, but it’s still a cool accomplishment. I wish I did it in one of the last groups on Sunday, but we’ll take it.”
Why Knapp is a serious contender to spring a surprise at The Masters
Many will be looking at Knapp as a potential outsider to contend at Augusta National.
He is unfortunate in that so many of the biggest names are playing so well at the moment. It is hard to see how one of the heavyweights does not win the first major of the year.
But Knapp went into the Houston Open as the second best putter on the PGA Tour. Meanwhile, he was eighth for driving distance.
His only previous visit to The Masters saw Knapp finish in a tie for 55th. But he will probably be stronger because of that experience.
It would certainly be no surprise to see him catch fire at some stage during his time at Augusta National.