Jake Knapp makes unprecedented PGA Tour history with record round at Rocket Classic

Back on February 27, Jake Knapp recorded just the 15th sub-60 score in PGA Tour history, firing a 12-under 59 during the opening round of the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches, thus setting a new record at The Champion Course at PGA National Resort.

And on Friday, exactly four months to the day after his historic round in the Sunshine State, the 31-year-old set his second course record of the season, carding an 11-under 61 at Detroit Golf Club to vault himself into contention at the Rocket Classic.

As such, the record-setting 62s shot by 18-hole co-leaders Aldrich Potgieter and Kevin Roy on Thursday lasted all of one day and now sit in a tie for second.

But breaking yet another course record isn't the only history Knapp made on Friday, as he became the first player in PGA Tour history to record a sub-60 score and a score of 61 or lower in the same season.

Knowing he needed to go low just to make the cut following an opening-round 72, which left him in 130th place, Knapp, starting his second round on the back nine, opened his day with three consecutive pars but then birdied three of his next four holes before making an eagle at the par-5 17th.

Making the turn at 5-under on his day after a par at the 18th, the one-time PGA Tour winner kept things rolling with birdies on four of his first five holes to kick off his second nine to get to 9-under on the day.

After a par at the sixth, Knapp made back-to-back birdies at Nos. 7 and 8, and after hitting his tee shot into the right rough on the par-3 ninth, he nearly holed out for 60, as his chip slid just past the cup, leaving him a tap-in par for an 11-under 61.

Following his round, Knapp admitted that the thought of another 59 crossed his mind.

"I was even kind of thinking about 59 when I stuck it close on my third to last for eagle," he said. "Figured I could maybe eagle that and birdie the last two."

As mentioned, Knapp opened his second round in 130th place but vaulted 122 spots up the leaderboard on Friday and will head to the weekend in a tie for eighth at 11-under, trailing 36-hole co-leaders Chris Kirk, Philip Knowles, and Andrew Putnam by just three shots.

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