PGA Tour rookie Jake Knapp opened 64-64, becoming the third player to shoot 64 or better in first two rounds of THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, the others were Scottie Scheffler in 2023 and Tiger Woods in 1997. He leads by one shot at 14-under.
“I feel like still hit some not-so-great shots over the last two days,” said Knapp. “For the most part hitting it pretty solid and keeping in the right areas. Made it relatively easy on myself. Never really felt like I had to scramble or anything like that.
“Keep doing the same [over the weekend]. Scores are going to be low. Course is pure. Unless the wind really starts blowing, numbers are going to keep going up.
“So, yeah, just got to keep the pedal down and keep trying to make birdies.”
Knapp won the Mexico Open at Vidanta earlier this year and aims to become the first rookie to win twice on Tour in the same season since Xander Schauffele at the 2017 Greenbrier Classic and TOUR Championship.
128 marks his career-best opening 36-hole score, his previous best at the Mexico Open was 131. Other than his win he has had two top-five finishes in eleven prior starts this season.
Fellow American Troy Merritt carded a 9-under 62 during the second round, his lowest round on Tour since 2019, and moved into a share of second place at 13-under with overnight leader Matt Wallace of England who shot a 66.
“I felt the conditions kind of got a little bit tricky to an extent, and I think some of the pins were tougher today, especially the par-3s,” said Wallace. “You couldn’t really get close to the one on 15. You can’t get close to that pin downwind.
“And then the front one on 7? Yeah, the front pin on 7 is just you can’t really get close to that. So I hit two really good 6-irons into those two holes, but putting from outside 35 feet on the 7th is tough.
“Apart from that, really happy with today. Really stuck in there well. Hitting the ball great off the tee. My long iron play can improve a little bit, but I still hit some really nice shots.”
At 16 years, 7 months, 3 days, Kris Kim of England is the youngest player to make a cut on the PGA Tour since Kyle Suppa at the 2015 Sony Open in Hawaii. He is tied in 36th place at 7-under.
