Monday, February 26th, 2024 Edition
Two years ago Jake Knapp was a nightclub bouncer. Now he’s a PGA Tour winner in the fifth start of his rookie season
– by Dave Shedloski / Golf Digest
Per Dave: One unavoidable fact about a void: it affords opportunity. Someone is going to fill it. The only hope is that it’s someone cool or deserving. Or both…”
B&B POV: Knapp won the Mexico Open Sunday thanks to a brilliant display of short-game magic. Why the need to bring out his Potteresque wedge wands all day? He managed to only anxiously hit two fairways and nine greens while playing in the final group with the lead. Let’s just say that Nick Faldo never won a tourney hitting so few targets.
But a win is a win and this was a huge win for the 29-year-old tour rookie. Knapp, whose swing resembles the supple action of a young Freddy Couples, and his bicep tattoos of a hip Rickie Fowler, earned this victory the hard way. If he can keep up this level of play throughout the year, he’ll become a fan favorite. Because he’s a chill dude who hits mile-long rippers.
Report: Anthony Kim will make his return to professional golf at LIV Golf Jeddah
– Cameron Jourdan / Golfweek
Per Cameron: “A.K. could be back, after all…”
B&B POV: For those of you who don’t know who Anthony Kim is, let’s just say that he is a modern day golf deity. His swing, sublime. His putting stroke, Tigeresque. He’s more handsome than Thor, his short game puts Lefty’s to shame, and had he not gotten hurt in his mid-twenties, the now 38-year-old with Kelce’ish machismo would have by now easily amassed 50+ tour victories and hoisted countless major trophies. The man. The myth. The legend is returning to GOLF. And thanks to LIV, he doesn’t even have to make a cut. Woot.
WITB Winner’s Bag: Jake Knapp, 2024 Mexico Open at Vidanta
– Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys
Per Thomas: Jake Knapp is an unheralded rookie on the PGA TOUR. Or at least he was until he won the Mexico Open yesterday. Since he’s a tour newbie with limited awareness with fans, he isn’t a manufacturer “staffer.” Good news – he doesn’t have to pay for any of his equipment, clothes or gear. Bad news – unlike some of his peers, he’s not getting rich off any endorsement deals. He goes about his craft as an equipment free agent…
FEATURED GOLF DEAL OF THE WEEK
15% OFF Orange Whip, Code: BALLS15OFF
PAYDAY! The 2024 Mexico Open at Vidanta Prize Money Payout
– by Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys
Per Thomas: A small(er) purse along with having to travel to Mexico at an awkward point in the season’s calendar led to the weakest PGA TOUR field we’ve ever seen assembled. And thanks to LIV and how the new PGA TOUR schedule works, this won’t be the last tournament of the year that will resemble a glorified KFT event. Good golf was played. Just not by players the average fan of golf would recognize.
Long-driving rookie and victor Jake Knapp lifted a Big-A Trophy along with a Big-A Check with $1,458,000 written on it. That’s a nice number. Coming in second was Finish big boy Sami Valimaki who pocketed $882,900 and collected enough FedEx points to likely guarantee himself another year on tour no matter how the rest of his season plays out…
Tour Confidential: Anthony Kim’s return? The Charlie Woods dilemma and more
– by GOLF Editors
Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week we discuss Anthony Kim’s return to competitive golf, the public attention surrounding Charlie Woods, tweaks to Augusta National, and more.
What does B&B think?
- Is LIV the right place for mystical Anthony Kim to return to professional golf? Sure. Kim might inspire die-hard fans of pro golf to find LIV’s YouTube channel for the 1st time. Because nothing else right now is driving eyeballs. Not Rahm. Brooksie. Bryson. Etc.
- Will Kim move the needle and help flip LIV’s popularity? No. But once a year even I take the kids to the circus/Cirque. This player addition feels like LIV is rolling out a new trapeze act.
- Charlie Woods? Is he worth all of the attention? Yes. He’s Tiger’s 15-year-old son, swings like his dad, carries himself like his dad, and is chock-full of his feline father’s GOAT DNA. Will he ever become a world-beater? Odds are against him, like they were for Jordan’s kids. However, his current talent level is adequate to at least warrant a $20 bet on him to one day win on the PGA TOUR. But only on 100/1 odds.
- LIV’s Joaquin Neimann earned a special Masters invite, but his bio in the press release didn’t list any LIV accomplishments. Left out on purpose? Yep. Traditionalists hate everything LIV stands for. The Masters and ANGC are rooted in tradition to their core.
- The newest incarnation of The Match is tonight. Will you watch it and what do you hope to see? Yes, we will watch the highlights. But only if we don’t have to go hunting for them; and, we hear in advance that the ladies whoop on the boys.
- Augusta National lengthened its 2nd hole, the right-to-left downhill par-5. Will we notice the change? No. But we promise to watch 32 hours of glorious golf between April 11-14
FEATURED CURATED LESSON
‘Rickie “BDR” Fowler Shares a Few Tips to Drive the Ball Further’
Rickie’s most important tip: To hit bombs, don’t swing harder, swing smooooother.
FEATURED GIVEAWAYS
Tee it up with a PGA TOUR Champions Professional in the Galleri Classic Pro-Am
Play Wednesday, March 27th on the famed Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club
The winner’s Pro-Am prize includes:
- An invitation to the Pairings Party on Tuesday, March 26th
- Valet parking
- Food and Beverages
- A premium tee prize package
- Two weekly clubhouse tickets March 29-31, 2024
Two Grand Prize Winners – Enter to Win the 2024 Los Angeles LPGA Inside-the-Ropes Experiences
One grand prize winner & guest will walk inside the ropes at Palos Verdes Golf Club during the FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship with an LPGA professional pairing. And, will enjoy a round of golf for two at Palos Verdes Golf Club.
One grand prize winner & guest will walk inside the ropes at the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro with an LPGA professional pairing. And, will enjoy a round of golf for two at Wilshire Country Club.
WHEN YOU HAVE A MINUTE…
Things you just can’t make up. Don’t miss these random nuggets of gold we found on the interwebs. You’re welcome.