Jake Knapp was 11 photographs worse than his opening spherical on the Cognizant Traditional however nonetheless stayed in entrance with a one-shot lead over Matthieu Pavon.
Knapp set a course report on the Champion Course in Florida’s Palm Seashore Gardens with a spherical of 59 to turn into simply the fifteenth participant to report a sub-60 spherical in PGA Tour historical past.
Nonetheless, he went 10 holes with out a birdie in Friday’s second spherical and had a double bogey when his tee shot discovered the water. One in all his higher photographs hit a sprinkler cap and bounced 40 yards away.
“I’ve never had to follow up a 59 at a tournament before. It’s all new to me,” Knapp stated after his one-under 70.
“Yesterday, everything was just clicking ball-striking wise, distance control felt really good, was able to control flight and windows. All that was perfect.”
Pavon, the Frenchman who gained at Torrey Pines final yr, shot a 64 and briefly had the lead till narrowly lacking a birdie on his final gap to complete one behind.
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World No 99 Jake Knapp turned solely the fifteenth participant in PGA Tour historical past to shoot a sub-60 spherical with a bogey-free 59 in Thursday’s first spherical
Daniel Berger, who grew up close to PGA Nationwide, went out in 31 to share the lead however did not make one other birdie the remainder of the best way. He fell again with a bogey wherein he gouged one shot out of the muck and weeds on No 11 and did effectively to restrict the injury.
Berger had a 68 and was at 11-under total, together with Michael Kim (66), Doug Ghim (63) and Jesper Svensson (67), to sit down two photographs off the lead in third.
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“I just kind of lost a little steam on the back nine,” Berger stated. “I don’t know if I didn’t eat enough food and started to feel a little bit off there. But hit a bad nine-iron, plugged it in the hazard, and I actually got away with one just to make a bogey there.”
Former Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson confirmed sufficient sport aged 49 to submit a 66 and joined Rickie Fowler (68) and Taylor Montgomery in tied-seventh, three photographs off chief Knapp.
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One participant who had motive to rejoice, together with shedding a number of tears, was Florida State junior Luke Clanton.
Clanton simply made the minimize with a five-under 66, giving him sufficient factors for the 21-year-old to get a PGA Tour card after the NCAA Championships on the finish of Could.
He already has two runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour and a pair of different prime 10s, so is used to the large stage, and he has one other alternative this weekend.
Watch the Cognizant Traditional all through the weekend reside on Sky Sports activities Golf. Dwell protection continues on Saturday from 3pm. Get Sky Sports activities or stream with no contract on NOW.
