The Rocket Classic has been a fireworks show from the start. First came Min Woo Lee’s sizzling 63, matched by two others to tie the early course record.
Then, in a jaw-dropping eight-minute span, Kevin Roy and Aldrich Potgieter each carded 62s to reset the number. Jake Knapp followed with a blistering 61 to break it again.
But perhaps the most remarkable moment of the week belonged to a lesser-known name, Philip Knowles, who pulled off a feat so rare, it’s only happened a handful of times in PGA Tour history.
On Friday, Knowles holed out for eagle not once, not twice, but three times! All were from off the green, all on par-5s. He chipped in from 27 yards at the 17th, 37 yards at the 4th, and 40 yards at the 7th to shoot an 8-under.
Currently, Knowles holds a share of the 14-under lead alongside Chris Kirk, who fired 9 birdies in Round 2, and Andrew Putnam, who added 4 birdies and an eagle to his card.
“I got pretty lucky a couple times,” Knowles said after the round. “I hit quality shots that ended up going in the hole, but I can’t imagine chipping in three times for eagle ever again in my life.”
What makes this even more special is Knowles’ story behind it. The 28-year-old is playing on a medical exemption after a brutal stretch of injuries and illness.
Since 2022, he’s battled a severed thumb nerve, shingles in his right eye, and a bout of mononucleosis. He’s made just two cuts in 11 starts this season and earned $75,665, a far cry from the $1.728 million winner’s check up for grabs this weekend.
“I’ve got two little girls, I’ve got a wife who needs me to help,” he expressed. “It’s not like I can spend my days just ‘woe is me’”.
9 birdies any day is ridiculous but to do it in 30MPH steady winds and to qualify for your hometown event is amazing. Philip Knowles of @UNFGolf via Bradenton post 66 and leads by 2 with only a few groups left. Shoutout to his coach of 10 years @jimraglandgolf @acaseofthegolf1 pic.twitter.com/kHQAu3hAPQ
— chris timmerman (@ctimmerman35) March 17, 2025
Knowles entered the week ranked 195th in FedExCup points and 519th in the world. To retain his PGA Tour card, he must finish inside the top 100 by season’s end. A win in Detroit would all but seal it!
Despite the pressure, Knowles looked composed. “Though I haven’t been in this position, it doesn’t feel unfamiliar,” he said. “We’ve all been here at some level, college, junior golf, early pro golf.”
Going into Sunday’s final round, Knowles will tee alongside co-leaders Chris Kirk and Andrew Putnam. With 18 holes to play and his career hanging in the balance, Knowles’ aim is crystal clear.
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