PGA Tour: Mexico Open Reigning Champ Makes Cut After 2-Stroke Penalty Reversed

Jake Knapp won the 2024 Mexico Open thanks in large part to a spectacular performance in the second and third rounds. One year later, the defending champion has been unable to match his level of play from the previous edition. In fact, he only made the cut on the number and a penalty kept him out of the weekend for several minutes.

Fortunately for him, tournament officials reviewed the video and overturned the two-stroke penalty. This brought his score to 3-under after 36 holes and allowed him to put his name in for the weekend.

The situation that led to the initial penalty occurred on the 169-yard par-3 9th hole, the 18th for Jake Knapp. Knapp sent his tee shot into the left bunker, then tried to wedge his way to the green, but his shot was poor and the ball landed back in the sand.

In frustration, Knapp hit his club into the sand. Although this was far from the new lie of the ball, the officials found a violation of Rule 12.2b, which reads as follows:

“Before making a stroke at your ball in a bunker, you must not: ‘Deliberately touch sand in the bunker with your hand, a club or rake or any other object to test the condition of the sand and learn information for your next stroke.'”

This added two penalty strokes to his card. However, the officials subsequently reviewed the video and found grounds to overturn the penalty. The issue is that Rule 12.2b provides for certain exceptions in its application, allowing the player to touch the sand if he does so in the midst of his annoyance at a bad shot.

“Digging in with the feet to take a stance for a practice swing or the stroke,” the exceptions read, “smoothing the bunker to care for the course, placing clubs, equipment or other objects in the bunker (whether by throwing or setting them down), measuring, marking, lifting, replacing or taking other actions under a Rule, leaning on a club to rest, stay balanced or prevent a fall, or striking the sand in frustration or anger.'”

The correction allowed the defending champion to advance to the final two rounds.

Jake Knapp carded seven birdies and three bogeys in the first round (4-under), but struggled on Friday.

He rebounded nicely during Saturday’s third round, posting a 3-under 68. He has followed that up with a solid performance thus far on Sunday.

Despite opening his day with a double on 10, Knapp has since carded five birdies and climbed to 9-under, tied for 34th.

He will not be able to repeat as Mexico Open champion, but he is still performing well and continues to climb the rankings on the PGA Tour.

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