PGA Tour winner worked as nightclub bouncer to keep golf dream alive before $1.5M payday

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

The origin story of Jake Knapp, the PGA Tour's most recent winner at the Mexico Open, is one of the more interesting on the way to earning a tour card.

For most golfers trying to reach the highest levels of play all over the world, it is common to work various jobs to help pay for travel and compete in various tournaments.  

Knapp, who was running out of funding for golf, worked as a nightclub bouncer to make the money necessary to keep that dream of going pro alive. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Jake Knapp of the United States celebrates on the 18th green after winning the Mexico Open at Vidanta Vallarta on Feb. 25, 2024 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. (Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

The story goes like this for Knapp. After losing his Korn Ferry Tour card in 2021, Knapp was looking for ways to make some quick cash. So, he decided to become a bouncer at a nightclub for nine months. 

While one may shake their head at this career choice, Knapp was able to work on his golf game during the day and get work done at night as well. He would use the money he made at night to participate in mini-tour events as well as PGA Tour Canada tournaments. 

Knapp did not want to be at the front of a nightclub checking IDs for patrons, but he always had golf on his mind. 

PAIGE SPIRANAC DEFENDS CHARLIE WOODS AFTER TIGER'S SON MISSES OUT ON PGA TOUR EVENT

"I was the one standing at the front door checking IDs and doing all that kind of stuff," he said on "The Smylie Show" with fellow PGA Tour winner Smylie Kaufman. "And it was like, ‘Man, what am I doing here?’ This isn’t what I’m supposed to be doing, but I had somebody give me a