Jake Knapp made headlines at the Rocket Classic, formerly known as the Rocket Mortgage Classic, by shooting an impressive 11-under 61, setting a new 18-hole scoring record at the Detroit Golf Club. His remarkable performance comes just a day after Kevin Roy and Aldrich Potgieter had previously set the course record with a 10-under during Thursday’s opening round. Prior to this event, the course record was 9-under 63, held by ten different golfers.
The rainy conditions earlier in the week seemed to benefit players, making pin placements more appealing to the pros. Knapp’s stellar round significantly improved his position on the leaderboard, moving him from 130th place after an even-par 72 on Thursday up to tied for fifth, though he later settled into sixth as the tournament progressed.
Knapp expressed his eagerness to capitalize on his birdie opportunities, even mentioning thoughts of aiming for a rare round of 59 during his late holes. This is not the first time he’s made waves this season; earlier, he shot a remarkable 59 at the Cognizant Classic, marking just the 15th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history.
Despite a slight regression this season compared to his breakout year in 2024, where he recorded two top-10 finishes, Knapp remains optimistic about his performance trajectory. He emphasized his belief in improving his game and the importance of this tournament for his potential second career win.
As the tournament unfolds, Knapp’s enthusiastic outlook and record-breaking performance could fuel his drive for success, making him a player to watch in the remaining rounds of the Rocket Classic.