Defending Mexico Open Champion Makes Cut On The Number After Rules Penalty Reversed
Jake Knapp made the cut on the number at Vidanta Vallarta, but almost missed the weekend until a penalty was reversed on his final hole on Friday


A number of players endured lengthy waits on Friday to see whether they had made the cut at the Mexico Open, with one of those being defending champion Jake Knapp.
The American, who won on his ninth PGA Tour start at Vidanta Vallarta in 2024, finished his second day three-under for the tournament, which just so happened to be the cutline number.
However, after his one-over-par second round, Knapp was reportedly handed a two-shot penalty before it was then reversed by officials after they had reviewed the footage.
Knapp is defending his title this week in Mexico
Playing the back nine first, Knapp came to the par 3 ninth on Friday, his 18th, at four-under. However, after finding the bunker with his tee shot, Knapp needed to get up-and-down to definitely confirm his participation for the weekend.
Knapp, though, left his second in the bunker and, after gently tapping the ground in frustration and smoothing it over, he managed to make bogey from the same bunker to drop back to three-under.
Enduring a nervy wait, it was then revealed that, because Knapp had touched the sand with his wedge following his second shot, he had broken Rule 12.2b, which states: "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.'"
Initially, Knapp was handed a two-stroke penalty on the ninth hole by the officials, but it ended up being revoked, with the PGA Tour's Rules Official, Ken Tackett, and the Rules Committee, re-watching the footage and determining that he should not have received a penalty.
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Reversed.. Back to -3 for the defending champ and inside the projected cut line https://t.co/2dolhLxsGAFebruary 21, 2025
For those confused as to why the 30-year-old wasn't assessed a penalty, it's due to the fact that Rule 12.2b goes on to add: "When touching sand does not result in penalty - Except as covered by (1), this Rule does not prohibit the player from touching sand in the bunker in any other way.
"(These) include: 'Digging in with the feet to take a stance for a practice swing or the stroke, 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.'"
Essentially, players can touch the sand when striking in frustration or anger without penalty, which is why the penalty was reportedly reversed.
Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.
Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.
Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?
Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°
Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°
Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°
Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°
Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
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