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Iowa State University Athletics
Knutzon Prepares For British Open
07.05.2011 | Men's Golf
AMES, Iowa - Jason Knutzon has seen much of the world thanks to his job. In mid July, his chosen profession will take the former Iowa State standout golfer to the birthplace of golf. The former Cyclone will tee up on the sacred soil of Royal St. George's (Sandwich, Kent, England) at the 2011 Open Championship, July 14-17. He is one of just over 100 golfers who've earned the right to compete in the world's most prestigious golfing stage.
"I think it's really cool," Knutzon said about playing in the Open. "When you're in professional golf, you just have to go out and play well and try to move up the ranks. This year I'm just trying to get a full schedule in Europe, place in the top-five and maybe win one. I don't think it has sunk in yet how cool it is to be playing in the British Open."
A native of Eagle Grove, Iowa, Knutzon has carved out an impressive professional career where he currently has his card on both the Asian and European Tours. Knutzon has won twice (2004-Macau Open & 2007-Motorola International Bintan) on the Asian Tour, claiming just over $1 million in career earnings. He has 17 career top-10 finishes and ranks 36th on the Asian Tour all-time career money list.
Knutzon qualified to the Open through the International Final Qualifier in Chonburi, Thailand in February. He finished fourth and claimed the final spot at the qualifier with rounds of 69-67 (136). It came down to the wire. Knutzon was for sure a playoff was inevitable with his competitor eyeing a short putt on the final hole.
"I was certain I was headed for a playoff," Knutzon recalled. "There was a player who was having a great day. We knew he birdied 15 and 17 and then he knocked it close on 18. I wasn't there to see him putt, because I was already off to the range to get some practice in. Someone had to come tell me that he had missed the putt. You never wish that against your opponents, but I was pretty excited to get into the British Open."
Royal St. George's will play host to The Open for the 14th time in history. The legendary Walter Hagen won there twice (1922 & 1928). Greg Norman captured his second Open title at Royal St. George's in 1993, and Ben Curtis shocked the world the last time it was contested there, coming out of nowhere to claim the Claret Jug in 2003.
Knutzon has been in Europe for much of the season and is planning on playing in the Scottish Open this week before the Open to get acclimated to links style golf.
"It is a little different, but a lot of it is the same because it's all golf," Knutzon said. "There are reasons why some people play better on this type of course because they're used to it or used to playing a certain style of golf. Everyone adjusts pretty quickly and when you've got pretty good players out there, it makes it a bit easier to adjust. You wouldn't believe how far the ball bounces on those types of courses."
The 35-year-old Knutzon is looking forward to being a part of history.
"The British Open is so different than other majors," Knutzon said. "You never know what's going to happen with the weather and it can get pretty tough out there. I remember as a kid waking up early to watch the British Open and it's going to be an honor to be able to play in it."
The Open will not be the first "major" golf tournament in which Knutzon has competed. In 2003, Knutzon qualified for the U.S. Open at Olympia Fields in the suburbs of Chicago, becoming just the second Iowa Stater to compete in the nation's open championship for golf (Max Hall- 1949). Though he missed the cut, the experience was valuable.
"The U.S. Open was really cool with how many people were there and the experience of playing in it will help me this month," Knutzon said. "There were probably 10 times as many people than at a normal event. Just having that experience will definitely help, but you're never going to be that used to it unless you're playing in a major every year. I'm sure there will be some nerves, but I'm looking forward to it."
A 1999 graduate of Iowa State, Knutzon was an All-Big 12 performer in his brilliant career with the Cyclones. He posted a 72.71 stroke average during the 1996-97 season, a school record which stood for 11 years.
Knutzon tries to attend as many Cyclone sporting events he can in the off-season. He makes his residence in Des Moines along with his wife, Rustina and son, Landon. He's still a staunch supporter of the Cardinal and Gold.
"I had a great time in college and I'll always remember it as some of my most fun years," Knutzon said. "I'll always remember being a Cyclone. I live in Des Moines so I try to get up to as many games as possible. With my schedule, I usually can make it to more basketball games than football games, but I love it. It's fun to be around the athletics. When you get back to Ames, it gives you the chance to reminisce."
Will there be any Cyclone memorabilia on Knutzon's bag in England?
"I don't have any right now because my sponsor (Srixon) has most of the say in that," Knutzon said. "I used to have my Cy head cover for a lot of years, but now they're pretty stingy on making sure your sponsor's head cover is on there. I might have to think of something else to put on there from Iowa State, though. I had my Cy head cover with me in 2003 at the U.S. Open. That was when I could get away with it."
"I think it's really cool," Knutzon said about playing in the Open. "When you're in professional golf, you just have to go out and play well and try to move up the ranks. This year I'm just trying to get a full schedule in Europe, place in the top-five and maybe win one. I don't think it has sunk in yet how cool it is to be playing in the British Open."
A native of Eagle Grove, Iowa, Knutzon has carved out an impressive professional career where he currently has his card on both the Asian and European Tours. Knutzon has won twice (2004-Macau Open & 2007-Motorola International Bintan) on the Asian Tour, claiming just over $1 million in career earnings. He has 17 career top-10 finishes and ranks 36th on the Asian Tour all-time career money list.
Knutzon qualified to the Open through the International Final Qualifier in Chonburi, Thailand in February. He finished fourth and claimed the final spot at the qualifier with rounds of 69-67 (136). It came down to the wire. Knutzon was for sure a playoff was inevitable with his competitor eyeing a short putt on the final hole.
"I was certain I was headed for a playoff," Knutzon recalled. "There was a player who was having a great day. We knew he birdied 15 and 17 and then he knocked it close on 18. I wasn't there to see him putt, because I was already off to the range to get some practice in. Someone had to come tell me that he had missed the putt. You never wish that against your opponents, but I was pretty excited to get into the British Open."
Royal St. George's will play host to The Open for the 14th time in history. The legendary Walter Hagen won there twice (1922 & 1928). Greg Norman captured his second Open title at Royal St. George's in 1993, and Ben Curtis shocked the world the last time it was contested there, coming out of nowhere to claim the Claret Jug in 2003.
Knutzon has been in Europe for much of the season and is planning on playing in the Scottish Open this week before the Open to get acclimated to links style golf.
"It is a little different, but a lot of it is the same because it's all golf," Knutzon said. "There are reasons why some people play better on this type of course because they're used to it or used to playing a certain style of golf. Everyone adjusts pretty quickly and when you've got pretty good players out there, it makes it a bit easier to adjust. You wouldn't believe how far the ball bounces on those types of courses."
The 35-year-old Knutzon is looking forward to being a part of history.
"The British Open is so different than other majors," Knutzon said. "You never know what's going to happen with the weather and it can get pretty tough out there. I remember as a kid waking up early to watch the British Open and it's going to be an honor to be able to play in it."
The Open will not be the first "major" golf tournament in which Knutzon has competed. In 2003, Knutzon qualified for the U.S. Open at Olympia Fields in the suburbs of Chicago, becoming just the second Iowa Stater to compete in the nation's open championship for golf (Max Hall- 1949). Though he missed the cut, the experience was valuable.
"The U.S. Open was really cool with how many people were there and the experience of playing in it will help me this month," Knutzon said. "There were probably 10 times as many people than at a normal event. Just having that experience will definitely help, but you're never going to be that used to it unless you're playing in a major every year. I'm sure there will be some nerves, but I'm looking forward to it."
A 1999 graduate of Iowa State, Knutzon was an All-Big 12 performer in his brilliant career with the Cyclones. He posted a 72.71 stroke average during the 1996-97 season, a school record which stood for 11 years.
Knutzon tries to attend as many Cyclone sporting events he can in the off-season. He makes his residence in Des Moines along with his wife, Rustina and son, Landon. He's still a staunch supporter of the Cardinal and Gold.
"I had a great time in college and I'll always remember it as some of my most fun years," Knutzon said. "I'll always remember being a Cyclone. I live in Des Moines so I try to get up to as many games as possible. With my schedule, I usually can make it to more basketball games than football games, but I love it. It's fun to be around the athletics. When you get back to Ames, it gives you the chance to reminisce."
Will there be any Cyclone memorabilia on Knutzon's bag in England?
"I don't have any right now because my sponsor (Srixon) has most of the say in that," Knutzon said. "I used to have my Cy head cover for a lot of years, but now they're pretty stingy on making sure your sponsor's head cover is on there. I might have to think of something else to put on there from Iowa State, though. I had my Cy head cover with me in 2003 at the U.S. Open. That was when I could get away with it."
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