Jake Knapp stole the headlines on day one of the 2025 Cognizant Classic after becoming the 15th player to shoot a sub-60 round on the PGA Tour.
Knapp’s 59 came on a day when PGA National was unusually forgiving, and 22 golfers shot 66 or lower.
In fact, some were critical of the course’s set-up.
Billy Horschel was disappointed with PGA National’s condition, and Michael Kim wrote about the overseed in his post-round social media update. It wasn’t just the players who were critical.
Golf fans slammed PGA National’s set-up on day one, with many expecting a sterner test of the world’s best players.
Typically, the Florida course has been one of the most demanding venues on Tour and produced some comparably high winning scores.
Highest winning score at PGA National
PGA National began hosting the Honda Classic in 2007. Mark Wilson’s win that year came after the American finished at five under, the highest winning score in both iterations of the event.
Wilson rolled home a ten-foot putt on the par-three 17th to beat Jose Coceres on the third playoff hole. Wilson’s win at the Honda Classic was his first PGA Tour victory in his 111th start.
Wilson took home $990,000 in prize money and earned Tour exemption right through until the 2009 season.
Lowest winning score at PGA National
The lowest winning score at PGA National came 12 months ago when Austin Eckroat finished four shots clear at 17 under.
Eckroat posted four sub-68 rounds to secure his first Tour victory. The American would win again in 2024 at the WWT Championship.
Chris Kirk’s 14-under victory in 2023 was the previous low winning score at PGA National.
What’s more, Tiger Woods’ lowest-ever final round came at the Florida venue in 2012 when he finished runner-up to Rory McIlroy.
With Knapp already at 12 under and several players under par, a new 72-hole scoring record will likely be set again in 2025.
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