2024 Mexico Open leaderboard, scores: Jake Knapp takes four-stroke lead into

In just his ninth PGA Tour start, Jake Knapp will take his first 54-hole lead into the final day of the 2024 Mexico Open. Among the quartet of leaders at the halfway point, the 29-year-old rookie raced ahead of his counterparts early in the third round with seven birdies across his first nine holes to turn in 28. Knapp ultimately signed for an 8-under 63 to stand at 19 under for the tournament and four clear of fellow rookie Sami Valimaki. In addition to Valimaki, only three other players are within seven of the lead.

Knapp’s front nine 7-under 28 marked the lowest nine-hole score in tournament history and tied Wyndham Clark from the third round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am for the lowest nine hole score on the PGA Tour this season. His 11 birdies are also a personal best.

While Knapp’s scorecard was littered with circles, it was a square which proved to be the most pivotal. Fresh off a birdie on the par-3 9th, Knapp went to the tee of the par-4 10th looking to hold serve on one of the most difficult holes on all the PGA Tour.

Finding the hazard left of the fairway with a long iron in hand, Knapp did well to play his third in front of the green. His fourth settled just inside 10 feet and his bogey-putt settled in the bottom of the cup maintaining what momentum he had. 

Knapp quickly righted the wrong — a common theme on his back side — with a birdie on the 11th and another on the 12th. Sloppy dropped shots on the par-5 14th and par-4 16th were offset with birdies on the two closing holes and gave Knapp a four-stroke edge heading into the final round. 

Known in a past life as a bouncer at a nightclub, Knapp understands what is on the line Sunday. Two years of job security, access to signature events and major championships, 500 FedEx Cup points and a whole lot of money. One more day of quality play will change the trajectory of his career forever.

The leader

1. Jake Knapp (-19)

Knapp ranks first in strokes gained tee to green, third in strokes gained off the tee and first in strokes gained approach through three rounds. It has been a clinic with his full swing, however, as strong as his ball striking has been, his short game has left plenty to be desired. His putting hid some deficiencies around the greens early in his third round, but they ultimately reared their ugly heads on the back nine. 

Knapp hit poor chip after poor chip on his inward half and missed an opportunity to put together a truly special 18 and slam the door shut on this tournament. There will be sweaty moments Sunday where his short game will need to answer the bell and if it does, Knapp will become a PGA Tour winner. If it doesn’t, Knapp might welcome some players back into this thing.

Other contenders

2. Sami Valimaki (-15)
T3. Ben Silverman, Henrik Norlander, Chan Kim (-12)
T6. Robert MacIntyre, Justin Lower, Erik Van Rooyen, Matt Wallace (-11)

Valimaki’s career has been…