Jake Knapp leads, 16-year-old makes history and more from Friday at CJ Cup Byron Nelson 2024

Photo: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
The first two rounds of the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch are in the books and there’s a fan-favorite atop the leaderboard. Jake Knapp, thanks to back-to-back 64s in McKinney, Texas, sits at 14 under for the tournament, one shot ahead of Matt Wallace and Troy Merritt.

However, the biggest story coming out of the Lone Star State is 16-year-old amateur Kris Kim making history by earning himself weekend tee times, but we’ll get to that in a minute.

If you missed any of the action Friday, no worries, we have you covered. Here’s everything you need to know from the second round, plus a few important notes for the weekend.

Don’t say it, don’t say it, don’t sa — it’s Knapp Time!

Jake Knapp plays his shot from the sixth tee during the second round of THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

Jake Knapp has quickly become a fan-favorite and one of the best players to watch on the PGA Tour – and he’s once again in the mix.

After back-to-back 7-under 64s, Knapp leads and will play in the final group alongside Troy Merritt Saturday afternoon at TPC Craig Ranch.

His second round began with four straight pars, but then he got it rolling. He made birdies on Nos. 14, 16, 17 and 18 to close out his opening nine the course’s back nine to make the turn with a 4-under 31. After a bogey on the par-4 third, Knapp added four more birdies to his scorecard coming home and signed for 64.

Outside of his win at the Mexico Open, Knapp finished T-3 at the Farmers Insurance Open and T-4 at the Cognizant Classic, so he’s no stranger to being in contention.

“Feel comfortable. You know, I’ve been there before,” he said when asked about how he feels being in this position heading into the weekend. “Even Farmers (I) was around the lead, and Cognizant was around the lead there. Courses like this where scores are going to be low you don’t worry too much about what other guys are doing. You try to make a bunch of birdies.

“You know, it’s a course that fits me well, so if I just keep doing the things I’m doing I’ll be in a good spot.”

Troy Merritt ends with a flurry

Troy Merritt of the United States lines up a putt on the seventh green during the second round of THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch on May 03, 2024 in McKinney, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Merritt got the birdie train rolling early Friday, putting three circles on his card in his first four holes (Nos. 10-13). A bogey on No. 12 and another birdie on No. 18 sent Merritt out with a 3-under 32.

After making the turn to the front side, Merritt played his final seven holes 5 under thanks to three birdies and a 16-foot eagle putt on the par-5 ninth.

“It’s fantastic, especially when you hit the ball solid and making a lot putts,” Merritt said when asked how it felt to be back in contention. “You’re not accidentally there. You’ve actually played well to get there. I haven’t done that. I’ve accidently back-doored a couple top 10s last fall. So far this week it’s just felt like really good golf all around.”

Merritt, who’s last win came at the 2018 Barbasol Championship, has made just five cuts in 12 starts in 2024, with his best finish coming at the Puerto Rico Open in March (T-23), an opposite-field event (Arnold Palmer Invitational).

What. A. Story.

Kris Kim of England looks on while playing /12during the first round of THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch on May 02, 2024 in McKinney, Texas. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images for The CJ Cup)

Kris Kim is 16 years old, and he did something that Jordan Spieth, Kevin Kisner, Matt Kuchar, Robert MacIntyre and Cameron Champ couldn’t at TPC Craig Ranch this week.

Make it to the weekend.

Kim, the 464th-ranked amateur in the world, is the youngest player to make the cut at a PGA Tour event since Guan Tianlang, 14, in 2013 (Masters). This comes just two weeks after Miles Russell, 15, became the youngest to ever make a cut on the Korn Ferry Tour.

After posting a 3-under 68 on Thursday, Kim got off to a great start on Day 2 with five birdies (and a bogey) on his opening nine holes to make the turn with a 4-under 32.

A bogey at the 13th pushed Kim back to 6 under, right on the cutline. However, he made four pars and a birdie at the last coming home and will play the weekend after a 67.

Quite an accomplishment for the 16-year-old.

Jason Day from deep!
After his layup found a penalty area on the par-5 18th, Day (6 under) needed to get up and down from 80 yards to make it to the weekend. His wedge shot barely covered the front greenside bunker, leaving the Aussie a breaking, uphill putt for par.

He drained it. Just a ho-hum five.

What a save from Mr. Day!

Best rounds of the day

Vince Whaley plays his shot from the eighth tee during the second round of the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch on May 03, 2024 in McKinney, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Troy Merritt: 9-under 62
Vince Whaley: 8-under 63
Jake Knapp: 7-under 64
S.H. Kim: 7-under 64
Ben Griffin: 7-under 64
Mackenzie Hughes: 7-under 64
Aaron Rai: 6-under 65
Si Woo Kim: 6-under 65
Jorge Campillo: 6-under 65
Adam Scott: 6-under 65
Brice Garnett: 6-under 65
Keith Mitchell: 6-under 65
Mark Hubbard: 6-under 65

Top 10 and betting odds to win
2024 CJ CUP Byron Nelson
Jake Knapp waits to putt on the ninth green during the second round of the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson. (Photo: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports)

1st, 14 under: Jake Knapp (+360)
T-2, 13 under: Troy Merritt (+1200), Matt Wallace (+750)
4th, 12 under: Kelly Kraft (+2200)
T-5, 11 under: Davis Riley (+1800), Taylor Pendrith (+1600), Keith Mitchell (+900), Ben Kohles (+3500)
T-9, 10 under: Aaron Rai (+2200), S.H. Kim (+3000), Taiga Semikawa (+5500), Alex Noren (+1400)

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