Jake Knapp had a great Saturday at the Mexico Open at Vidanta, with the former UCLA Bruin waltzing around the golf course with little trouble.
He shot an 8-under 63 the day after signing a 64 and is now 19 under after 54 holes. The rookie currently holds a four-shot lead heading into Sunday’s final round as he seeks his first PGA Tour title.
But no matter what he shoots on the PGA Tour, no matter where he plays or who he plays with, Knapp has established a special ritual he does after every round.
He texts his deceased grandfather.
“He’s a very special person to me and my entire family, so I know he’s with me and watching over me,” Knapp said afterward, fighting back tears.
“[I text him] I miss him, I miss talking to him, I wish I could meet him. For me, it was always my dream and his dream to get out of here. ”
Knapp’s grandfather, whose initials are tattooed on his left bicep, passed away early last year.
A few months later, he and his cousin got matching tattoos, paying homage to their grandfather, who had a conversation with Knapp after a round.
“My family and I talk about it a lot,” Knapp added.
“I am so grateful to have grandparents who were very close to me and involved in my professional life and our lives in general.”
No doubt his grandfather watched his grandson with a big smile on Saturday as Knapp set a nine-hole scoring record on the opening side.
He got birdies on holes other than the 2nd and 8th (both par 4s) and finished with a score of 7 under par, 28.
It must have been “nap time”. This is the nickname he uses in his work. social media handles.
“Obviously, I can’t complain. I feel like I hit the ball pretty much the same as I have the last few days,” Knapp said of the strong start.
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“Just hit it really well and drive it well. I was able to make some more putts. Once I was able to see a couple get in early, I felt like everything was going to fall into place for a little while there. .”
Knapp leads the field in overall strokes gained, distance and greens in regulation. He averaged 328.4 yards off the tee this week.
But Knapp, who finished 12th on the Korn Ferry Tour last season, learned that finding the fairway is more important than bombing the tee ball.
“I’ve found over the last few years, especially this year, that the fairway is at a premium, so I tend to hit a lot of spinny-cut shots to get into play,” Knapp said.
“I know that if I can get the ball into play off the tee, especially when I’m hitting the ball well, I’m going to give myself a lot of opportunities from there.”
On Saturday, he gave himself more than he deserved, which must have pleased his grandfather in heaven.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
