Just a few years ago, Jake Knapp was working the nightclub scene, guiding intoxicated partygoers toward the exit. Fast forward to February 2024, and the 29-year-old had steered a clutch putt into the hole, securing a massive $1.46 million at the Mexico Open. In only his ninth start on the PGA Tour, Knapp claimed his first victory, holding off fellow rookie Sami Valimaki to win by two strokes at Vidanta Vallarta.

Despite watching his four-shot lead disappear early in the final round, Knapp kept his composure, shooting an even-par 71 to finish at 19-under par and make his dream a reality. However, that remains the only victory the 30 YO has been able to clinch on the PGA Tour. After his win, Knapp appeared In a total of 26 events, except for the Grant Thornton Invitational, where he won. He missed the cut in four of them and also withdrew from the 3M Open. Not just that, he landed in the top 10 only in four three of the events. He has not been able to maintain his form since then.

Jake Knapp recently appeared on The Scoop and was asked what it felt like after his breakthrough victory. When asked if he felt like he had time to soak it all in or if it was straight back to business, he responded, “Pretty surreal for sure.” But his emotions didn’t stop there. He shared how he wished he had given himself a moment to truly savor the win, reflecting on what could have been. “That’s probably the only thing I would take back, maybe, or if I could redo, I probably would have taken the week off after I won,” he said. “Even though I played well the next week and finished top five, that was in my head like, ‘Well, I’m playing well, why wouldn’t I keep on playing?’ I try to play as many weeks as I can because I enjoy it. But at the same time, it would have been nice to just soak it in, go see my family, you know, celebrate a little bit.”

Knapp’s whirlwind schedule after his victory left him feeling like he missed the chance to truly process his achievement. “I flew that night, played in a pro-am the next morning, and then went and prepared for the next golf tournament to start on Thursday. Then, you know, I played the Arnold Palmer the next week, played the Players the next week, and I didn’t get a week off until after that. So, my God, it was a lot of golf in a short stint.” The 29-year-old had to rush straight from the high of winning to the grind of preparing for back-to-back tournaments, but he didn’t hesitate to admit that he might have overdone it. “Probably would have been good to take a break, but, you know, now you know that for the next win. Exactly, 100%.”

Despite securing a life-changing victory and a hefty $1.46 million paycheck at the Mexico Open, Jake Knapp’s win wasn’t without its challenges. His unorthodox route to the top was highlighted by an astonishing stat: Knapp won the tournament despite hitting just two fairways during the final round, the fewest ever made by a PGA Tour event winner since tracking began in 1983. For a player who defied the odds to get to the top, it was a fitting, yet unexpected conclusion to his journey.

Jake Knapp credited his work after the win

Knapp’s story doesn’t just end with his triumph on the PGA Tour. The UCLA alumnus faced a significant career setback in 2021 when he lost his Korn Ferry Tour card. Struggling financially, he found himself back at square one, taking a job at The Country Club, a restaurant and nightclub in his hometown of Costa Mesa. “I needed responsibility and perspective,” Knapp said, and he found both in his time working security at the restaurant, even though it wasn’t the job he originally sought. “They needed a security guy, and I was like, ‘I don’t know if I’m big enough, but I can stand there and look tough,’” he laughed.

Working Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights until the early hours of the morning, Knapp found himself balancing long hours with his commitment to golf. His days were filled with intense practice, gym sessions, and late-night shifts that left him with little sleep. “I was thankful I wasn’t living off that job; it helped fund mini-tour stuff and [PGA Tour] Canada that summer. It made me work a little bit harder and not take golf for granted,” he explained. That experience, grinding through those tough nights, played a huge role in shaping his mindset. The evening before his historic victory that secured him a spot at The Masters, Knapp reflected on the lessons he learned while working security.

“Standing there at 1 in the morning every Friday and Saturday night, you kind of realize how good you have it when you get to travel and play golf for a living,” he shared with reporters. “Then also a bit of grittiness – the fact that I don’t want to, necessarily, have to go back to that… I think it just kind of gave me some thicker skin and allowed me to get to where I am now.” It was in those grueling moments, standing at the club in the middle of the night, that Jake Knapp learned resilience, hard work, and the value of persistence. Now, with his Masters ticket in hand and his future looking brighter than ever, he’s not only a PGA Tour winner but a symbol of the perseverance it takes to succeed against all odds.