Jake Knapp, a 29-year-old rookie, won his first PGA Tour title at the Mexico Open at the Vidanta course in Puerto Vallartra last weekend.
Knapp shot an even par 71 for a two-stroke victory over Sami Valimaki of Finland. Thanks to the increased prize money on the tour this year as a result of the threat posed by the rival LIV Tour, Knapp pocketed a whopping $US1.45 million first prize. In his first four starts as a PGA Tour rookie, Knapp had made three cuts and earned US$546,932. The Mexico Open was only his ninth ever PGA Tour start. The turn around in his life has been incredible. Two years ago, he was out of work and employed as a bouncer for nine months at a restaurant/bar in his hometown of Costa Mesa.