Coloradan Jim Knous Monday qualifies into Waste Management Phoenix Open, where he’ll make his first PGA Tour start in 18 months
By Gary Baines – 2/5/2024
A day after Wyndham Clark, the winner of a playoff at the 2010 CGA Amateur, claimed the title at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the runner-up in that 2010 event earned his first PGA Tour start in 18 months.
Jim Knous, a native of Aspen who played his college golf at the Colorado School of Mines, Monday qualified in Scottsdale, Ariz., for this week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open.
The 34-year-old Litltleton resident shared medalist honors with a 7-under-par 64 at Pinnacle Peak Country Club, then earned one of the three spots available via a four-man playoff. Knous parred the two extra holes and advanced when Jacob Bridgeman of Inman, S.C., failed to make par or better on the second playoff hole.
“I had my college coach (Tyler Kimble) on the bag (caddying) and we’re going to enjoy it this week,” Knous said in a video posted on Monday Q Info’s X account. “I’ve gone through a lot in the past couple of years. But, hey, we’re going to have a good week this week.”
Knous, who has been a pro for a dozen years, plans to begin a job with Ping later this month.
“This career path is a grind,” he said. “… This week is going to be amazing. We’re going to soak it all in.“
Joining Knous in landing a spot in the Phoenix Open field were two-time PGA Tour winner Patton Kizzire of St. Simons, Ga., and Nicolo Galletti of Phoenix. The Phoenix Open begins on Thursday at TPC Scottsdale.
Meanwhile, part-time Denver resident Kevin Stadler also will be in the Phoenix Open field — as a sponsor exemption as he won the Phoenix Open 10 years ago. Likewise teeing it up this week will be Clark, fresh off his third PGA Tour victory, Mark Hubbard (fourth at Pebble Beach) and Denver-area resident Martin Laird.
Knous has made 43 starts on the PGA Tour, with a best showing of 10th place. His first PGA Tour event was the Phoenix Open in 2017, where he missed the cut after Monday qualifying.
Knous was a regular on the PGA Tour as recently as the 2021-22 season, but he lost his card, then competed last year on the Korn Ferry Tour before also losing his status there as a wrist injury contributed to his competitive issues in recent years.
In his PGA Tour career, Knous has won $822,515.
For all the scores from Monday’s qualifier, CLICK HERE.
About the Writer: Gary Baines has covered golf in Colorado continuously since 1983. He was a sports writer at the Daily Camera newspaper in Boulder, then the sports editor there, and has written regularly for ColoradoGolf.org since 2009. He was inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 2022. He owns and operates ColoradoGolfJournal.com