'He's The Full Package' - Rory McIlroy On The Player Who 'Could Be A Superstar' On the PGA Tour

After playing the first round alongside Jake Knapp, Rory McIlroy says the PGA Tour rookie has the game to be a superstar

Rory McIlroy and Jake Knapp at the Cognizant Classic
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Paul Higham
By Paul Higham
published

After playing one round together at the Cognizant Classic, Rory McIlroy was full of praise for Jake Knapp - who he says "could be a superstar" on the PGA Tour.

Knapp went from nightclub bouncer to PGA Tour winner when the 29-year-old rookie won the Mexico Open last week, and among his reward was a primetime pairing alongside McIlroy at the Cognizant Classic.

Knapp is known for his big hitting, but World No.2 McIlroy saw enough in the Californian's all round game to insist "he's got the full package" after their first round together at PGA National.

So much so, that McIlroy even feels Knapp has what it takes to become a superstar on the PGA Tour.

"Yeah, he could definitely be a star," said McIlroy. "It looks like he's got the full package. 

"He's obviously got the speed. He can control that speed pretty well. He hit some beautiful shots out there today. Looks like his short game is pretty good.

"He's got charisma and like we had a good chat out there for a lot of the round. He's in good shape, and he - if he keeps playing the way he is, he's the full package. 

"He could be a superstar out here for sure."

Jake Knapp with the Mexico Open trophy

Jake Knapp's Mexico Open win gets him into The Masters among other perks

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Knapp shot a three-under round of 68 on day one, just one shot worse than McIlroy's 67, and he thoroughly enjoyed playing with the four-time Major champion.

"I tried to pick his brain about a few things for the next few weeks, and hopefully the rest of my career, and he was really generous on giving very thoughtful answers, and we just had great conversation all day," Knapp said of McIlroy.

"I don't think he necessarily hit it his best today in terms of what he expected. He didn't hit a great shot into No. 1 and a couple others, but his short game is obviously great. 

"You don't get to be one of the best players in the world without a well-rounded game.

"Obviously he's a great driver of the golf ball. He rolls it well. He does everything very, very good and just keeps it all really tight."

Paul Higham
Paul Higham
Contributor

Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website.  Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush. 

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