Jake Knapp was recently at the center of his own little universe when he found himself standing in Vidanta Vallarta’s airport. The defending champion of the Mexico Open was surrounded by larger-than-life images of himself everywhere. When asked about this experience during his pre-tournament press conference, Knapp couldn’t help but marvel at its dreamlike nature. “A bit surreal,” he called it. “Usually, you know who won the year before at most of the tournaments you go to because you’ll see something, a banner or something like that, but out here, it just seems to be everywhere,” he shared, clearly moved by seeing his face “blown up in that size just all over the place.”

The golf world had been quick to embrace Knapp’s story—a former nightclub bouncer who fought his way through the Korn Ferry Tour to claim his first PGA Tour victory. The excitement around his potential reached such heights that even Rory McIlroy was being asked at the Cognizant Classic about Knapp’s game and whether he thought the rookie was a star in the making. But while Knapp was basking in the glow of his breakthrough victory, a stark reality check was brewing. An insider from The Shotgun Start podcast wasn’t buying into the hype, armed with a devastating statistical breakdown that raises serious questions about Knapp’s trajectory in the game’s elite circles.

Jake Knapp’s elite tournament struggles tell the real story

The golf insider on the podcast didn’t mince words when addressing what he saw as a premature coronation. “I am alarmed, alarmed, shocked in awe,” Andy Johnson said, pointing to the growing narrative of Knapp as golf’s next breakthrough star despite limited evidence of sustained success.

Since his breakthrough Mexico Open victory, Knapp’s performance in signature events has been particularly telling. At the Farmers Insurance Open, he managed only a T32 finish. The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am saw him slide to T33, while the WM Phoenix Open resulted in a T44 showing. His recent T17 at the Genesis Invitational, while his best result in a premium field, still falls short of the expectations placed upon a supposed rising star. “When he’s played against Elite competition, the best finish he’s ever had is 17th,” the insider pointed out. 

The major championships painted an even bleaker picture: a T55 at the Masters, a missed cut at the PGA Championship, another missed cut at the U.S. Open, and a T45 finish at THE PLAYERS Championship. These results prompted the host’s brutal conclusion: “We need to have some limits before we call people Superstars or stars in the making… there has to be some body of work other than just a win.”

As Knapp returns to defend his title, a closer look at Vidanta Vallarta reveals why this venue might have been the perfect storm for his breakthrough moment.

Mexico Open’s history of crowning champions

The Greg Norman signature course at Vidanta Vallarta has its own story to tell about creating champions. Stretching 7,456 yards along Mexico’s Pacific coast, this par-71 layout features a distinctive combination of generous fairways (averaging over 40 yards wide) and strategic hazards across 13 water-affected holes.

Since becoming the Mexico Open’s home in 2022, the course has crowned an impressive roster of champions. Jon Rahm claimed the inaugural edition with a masterful 17-under-par performance, fending off Tony Finau and Kurt Kitayama. Finau would have his revenge the following year, posting a blistering 24-under par to win by three strokes over Rahm.

The course’s unique Platinum Paspalum grass across tees, fairways, and greens creates specific challenges, particularly in how it reduces roll and emphasizes carry distance. Combined with the wide fairways and minimal rough (just 2.5 inches), it’s a setup that has historically rewarded aggressive play and power-hitting, with over 60% of approach shots coming from the 175-250-yard range.

So, what’s your take on how the course setup influences the creation of champions on tour? Let us know in the comments section below if you think certain venues play too big a role in determining who lifts the trophy.