Cognizant Classic leader Jake Knapp really did borrow nail clippers mid-round. Here’s why

The final round of the 2025 Cognizant Classic is shaping up to be a nail biter. Just ask 54-hole leader Jake Knapp.

The former UCLA Bruin, who shot 59 at PGA National’s Champion Course on Thursday in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and entered the final round nursing a one-stroke lead, asked a female security officer walking with his group if he could borrow a set of nail clippers while playing the ninth hole. Turns out Knapp, 30, had a hang nail.

The security officer happened to be packing a nail clipper and Knapp was able to tidy things up before making another birdie.

“I don’t know if a full manicure is involved here but it’s an interesting final-round scene,” NBC’s lead commentator Dan Hicks said.

“A little hang nail,” NBC’s lead analyst Kevin Kisner guessed correctly. “He probably picks his nails when he’s nervous, had a little hangnail, he didn’t have any clippers, I keep them in the bag.”

Who knew.

“You keep them in your bag?” fellow analyst Brad Faxon asked. “You know, Nick Faldo said once the week started, he never cut his nails. I thought that was really strange.”

Jim “Bones” Mackay, walking with Knapp in the final group, confirmed that Knapp did have a hang-nail issue.

“He had to do a little surgery on the way to the green,” Mackay said.

“That’s in-depth reporting, right there,” added NBC’s Terry Gannon.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Cognizant Classic: Jake Knapp used nail clippers mid-round