Former nightclub bouncer wins Mexico Open and scoops £1.2 million prize money
Former nightclub bouncer-turned PGA Tour star Jake Knapp was crowned Mexico Open champion on Sunday, earning a cool £1.2 million ($1.5m) in prize money at Vidanta Vallarta.
Knapp was competing in just his ninth event on the PGA Tour, but headed to Mexico in solid form, after a recent run that saw him finished in a tie for third at the Farmers Insurance Open last month. Just under four weeks on though, the 29-year-old finally got himself over the line winning his title on Sunday by two shots.
The American star headed into the final round in Mexico as the man the catch, and whilst he was unable to replicate his remarkable eight-under-par 63 he carded on Saturday, a level-par 71 proved enough to get his hands on the title.
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Knapp held his nerve to see off Sami Valimaki, whose final round, two-under 69, saw him finish two shots behind the eventual champion. Knapp's victory caps off a remarkable turnaround, after the 29-year-old had been working as a bouncer outside of a nightclub just two years earlier.
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The Mexico Open champion was forced to turn to security work in 2022, and failing to bank a Tour card. Describing his journey to become a PGA Tour winner, he said post-tournament: "In terms of the rollercoaster of my career, yeah, I jokingly talk about it with Mike and my family when all these people ask me for autographs and pictures and questions and podcasts and all that stuff.
"It's hilarious to think two years ago I was working security at a bar and it was a much different scenario in my life.I'm very appreciative of being out here, being able to play golf professionally and just this entire atmosphere. It's what I practice and work for every single day."
Jake Knapp was working as a bouncer two years ago (Getty Images)Not only did Knapp bank the biggest payout, but the victory also comes with some added playing privileges too. The former security guard will now have the opportunity to play in the remaining Signature Events on the PGA Tour this season, which offer a £15.8 million ($20m) purse at each tournament.
Arguably the most important invite of all for Knapp though will be that from Augusta National, as his win also banked him a spot at this April's Masters for the very first time. Looking ahead at what is to come, he commented: "Everybody wants to win out here.
There's a lot of guys who have played out here for a longtime who have never won. It's just one of those things where now all of a sudden there's a lot of doors open.The Masters part hasn't even begun to sink in yet, that's going to be surreal stepping on the grounds there.
"Mike and I just keep talking about it, it's like just keep putting in good work, keep putting ourself in positions in these tournaments, put our head down, go to work and good things are going to happen and sure enough this week it worked out."
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