PGA Tour rookie Jake Knapp enjoys playing with Rory McIlroy, Chris Kirk at Cognizant Classic
PALM BEACH GARDENS — Coming off his maiden victory last week in the Mexico Open, PGA Tour rookie Jake Knapp showed that he belonged in a marquee threesome during Thursday’s opening round of the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches.
Paired with Rory McIlroy and defending champion Chris Kirk, Knapp shot a 3-under-par 68. McIlroy and Kirk both shot 67s.
The thought of teeing it up with the world’s second-ranked golfer was almost as unnerving as hanging on to win in Mexico despite not having his best stuff in the final round. But Knapp looked right at home playing in front of the large gallery following McIlroy.
“It was not nearly as nerve-wracking as I thought it was going to be, to be honest,” Knapp said. “Rory’s a super, super nice guy. So is Chris. It was just a good easy morning."
“He could definitely be a star,” McIlroy said of Knapp. “It looks like he’s got the full package. He hit some beautiful shots out there today.”
Knapp started strong, as he birdied three of his first four holes, beginning on the back nine of the Champion Course at PGA National. He got to 5 under before bogeys on the fourth and fifth holes dropped him back to 3 under. Knapp was followed by his own cheering section, including his girlfriend, Makena White, who were wearing white T-shirts that read, “Knapp Time.”
“My dad’s friends just came down for the tournament and they made them," White said. "So it wasn’t a planned thing. I had no idea.”
In addition to getting off to a solid start in the tournament, Knapp said that being able to chat with McIlroy was a highlight of the round.
“(We were) just talking about what you do in your off weeks or how often you go home and how is the family and all that kind of stuff,” Knapp said. “I tried to pick his brain about a few things for the next few weeks, and hopefully the rest of my career, and he was really generous on giving very thoughtful answers and we just had great conversation all day.
“I asked what his plans were for the Masters. I was curious what he does, weeks off and whether he plays the week before or not. So right now I’m just trying to be a sponge and take in what everybody else is doing.”
Ryan Palmer's milestone start
Ryan Palmer has a long history at the Cognizant Classic, so it’s fitting that the Texan made his 500th career PGA Tour start here Thursday.
Palmer, 47, got his PGA Tour card in 2004 and won his first tournament that year at Disney World.
“It’s hard to believe in ’04 I would be sitting here talking about this, playing 500 PGA Tour golf tournaments,” he said Wednesday when he was presented with an engraved silver plaque and a cake commemorating his 500th start. “What a riot and what a blessing.”
Palmer won three more times since 2004 and lost three playoffs. That includes a four-man playoff won by Russell Henley at PGA National in 2014 at what was then the Honda Classic. Palmer tied for fourth here in 2019. He also has the distinction of hitting the most balls into the water on the Champion Course’s Bear Trap, which comprises holes 15, 16 and 17.
“I’ve spent a lot of time here in this area. I think this is my 17th year out of 21,” said Palmer, who is playing on a sponsor exemption. “I’ve spent a lot of time here, had some success. I couldn’t have thought of a better place to spend my 500th event on tour than the Cognizant Classic this week.
“I’ve always circled this event on my calendar. I love the golf course. This golf course is unique because it’s so demanding. It takes every aspect of your game. You’ve got to play golf here.”
He shot a 2-over 73 Thursday with two birdies and two double bogeys. One of those doubles came on the par-3 15th hole, where he hit his tee shot in the water.
Palmer has won more than $33 million in 21 consecutive seasons on the PGA Tour. When he teed off in his first tournament in 2004, the Sony Open in Hawaii, his goal was to simply keep his tour card for the following year.
“That was the No. 1 goal — finish top 125 on the money list,” Palmer said. “Obviously, every year your goal is to win, but when you’re a rookie on tour, all you want to do is keep your card.
“I never would have thought in a million years I’d win a golf tournament and play my first Masters in ’05. My career fast-forwarded, took a pretty big leap early, and I’m very fortunate it happened that way. But all that mattered back then was let’s just try to be back here next year.”
Tom Whitney takes advantage of Vegas' withdrawal
First alternate Tom Whitney got into the tournament when Jhonattan Vegas withdrew because of illness Wednesday and he made the most of the opportunity.
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Whitney, 34, a graduate of the Air Force Academy who served four years as a nuclear missile operator, shot a 4-under 67 with six birdies and two bogeys. He advanced to the PGA Tour this year by finishing 21st in the Korn Ferry Tour point standings.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: PGA Tour rookie Jake Knapp enjoys playing with Rory McIlroy, Chris Kirk at Cognizant Classic
