Jake Knapp hangs on to lead at Cognizant Classic
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Jake Knapp of the United States lines up a putt on the second green during the second round of the Cognizant Classic.
PHOTO: AFP
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MIAMI – Jake Knapp came down to earth after his stunning opening-round 59, with his lead at the PGA Tour’s Cognizant Classic cut to a single stroke following a one-under 70 on Feb 28.
Playing the back nine at PGA National first, the American reached the turn even par but, after birdies on the third and fourth holes, he made a double bogey on the par-four sixth.
Knapp drove into the water and then hit his third shot into the rough. Nevertheless, he ended the second round with a birdie on the ninth for a one-stroke advantage over France’s Matthieu Pavon, who shot a 64 for a 12-under 130 total.
“I’ve never had to follow up a 59 at a tournament before. It’s all new to me. Yesterday everything was just clicking ball-striking wise, distance control felt really good, was able to control flight and windows. All that was perfect,” he said.
“Today I think the winds were kind of stop-and-go and (I) just kind of misjudged a few things, but overall I felt like I was still making good passes at it. A couple wayward shots but nothing too concerning.”
The 30-year-old had 12 birdies in a bogey-free first round and heads into the weekend hoping he can remain on top.
“Obviously today wasn’t as great. I’ll go out and practise a little bit and make sure a few things are cleaned up,” he added. “But for the most part you can’t really overdo it on this course. You can’t overpower it or anything like that. Just got to take what it gives you.”
Pavon started in blistering form with an eagle on his first hole, the par-five 10th. He reached the green in two and sank a 15-foot putt.
The Frenchman followed up that perfect start with successive birdies and reached the turn at five under. He had three birdies coming in, his excellent second nine only slightly undone by a bogey on the tricky sixth hole, where he missed a five-foot putt for par.
“Tenth hole was the dream start. We had a great read with my caddie. We saw pretty easily the line, and I just made a super stroke to start with a three,” Pavon said.
“I feel like my game is getting better and better after the few weeks I struggled early on this season.”
Americans Michael Kim (66), Daniel Berger (68) and Doug Ghim (63), sat a further shot back on 131, alongside Swede Jesper Svensson (67). AFP
