WM PHOENIX OPEN

February 11, 2024

Jim Knous

TPC Scottsdale

Quick Quotes

Q. Jim, what was it like to finish the way you did, kind of close out this chapter of your life with four birdies in the last six and family and friends all around?

JIM KNOUS: Yeah, got on a little heater there. That was fun. Birdie-birdie on the last, 4-under on the last six. I couldn't ask for much more, to be honest. I was hoping to birdie the 16th hole, get the crowd going, obviously, but yeah, what a finish to the tournament. Like I said, couldn't ask for anything more.

I really wanted to make that putt on the last hole, that six, seven-footer to say I went birdie-birdie to finish out there, and luckily I was able to roll it in.

Q. What were you thinking about as you were --

JIM KNOUS: It was tough. I hit a good tee ball, and then I was just chatting with the guys. I hit a good second shot in there, obviously, and then I saw my family off to the side and I started crying. I was like, I've got to snap back into it here, I've got to make a putt to finish out, but yeah, I'm going through all of the whole -- sad, thrilled, grateful, all the emotions. It's incredible.

Q. What has this week meant to you?

JIM KNOUS: It's meant a ton. To be honest, I wasn't really expecting to play well. I wasn't expecting to play well in the Monday qualifier. I just hadn't played a ton. Like I was telling you, I was hitting it well. I just needed the putter to heat up, and luckily it did this week.

The first 12, 14 holes today, it was not hot. The putter was not hot. That was kind of a bummer. I was still playing really well. But overall, yeah, what's the week meant for me? It's huge. Like I said, I didn't expect to play well. I played pretty well. I was happy with it. It was a great week.

Q. What will you take with you from this moving forward?

JIM KNOUS: What can I take from this moving on? I don't know. I'll keep playing. Obviously I'm going to try to play in the PGA section, the PGA of America, and go that route, keep the competitive itch that way, play all that, all those events once I transfer my membership.

I'm super excited to start a desk job at my cubicle, baby. Let's go.

Q. How memorable will this week be?

JIM KNOUS: Yeah, I'll never forget it, obviously. What a finish. That was a lot of fun, four birdies in the last six, birdie on 17 and 18, tap-in on 17 and made about a six-footer or seven-footer on 18 there. I was so happy and had all the family following along today. It was incredible. The bunker shot I made on round 2 on 18, that was awesome. It was on SportsCenter top 10. I couldn't believe it. Look at me. I'm just overjoyed. Had my coach on the bag, my college coach. We had an incredible week, and I was just so happy to be here, obviously to Monday qualify. What a fantastic venue, obviously. The crowds were incredible.

Q. A couple of weeks off and then you begin your first real job outside of playing professional job as an engineer for Ping. What will the adjustment be?

JIM KNOUS: I'm sure I'll get rocked. My friend sent me a picture; I have a cubicle. That's fun. I'm pretty psyched about that, to be honest. Yeah, I'll be sitting in front of a desk. I'll be working with players, working with engineers, fitters, so many different people. I love the people at Ping. I can't wait to go to work.

Professional golf is incredible. It's hectic, it's hard, it's trying at times, but what a great week this was.