After moving out, PGA Tour pro Jake Knapp wasted little time making his mark. “When I first moved out, I don’t know how long I waited, but it was not very long, and I went out and got my first tattoo,” he admitted. The discreet thigh piece became his first act of independence from his family’s strict no-tattoo rule. But what really happened when he defied them in this daring move?

In an episode of Golf’s Subpar podcast, Jake Knapp joined Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz, when the conversation turned to Knapp’s first tattoo. Knapp didn’t shy away from laying bare the details. “My parents are not tattoo people. Nobody has any tattoos. So it was very like, you know, if I got one I was gonna be disowned,” Knapp shared the resistance from his family. “And so my dad was like, you know, as long as you live under this roof, that’s not happening.” Apparently, his parents opposed tattoos quite firmly, even though that might not have been religious necessarily. Jake Knapp’s father, Bob, has been a steady influence both on and off the course. While he works in real estate, he has always made time to support Jake’s golfing journey, from his early lessons with coach John Ortega to standing by his bold decision to leave UCLA early and turn pro. His grounding presence continues to shape Knapp’s fearless but disciplined approach to the game.

For Knapp, rebellion had to wait until he left home. Once he moved out, he wasted little time getting his first tattoo, choosing a discreet spot on his thigh. He explained on the Golf’s Subpar podcast that the design was inspired by a pattern wrapping around the gym he grew up going to, a personal nod to his roots. The placement was deliberate: “If I don’t like tattoos, or they suck, or they hurt too much, I need it in a place where it can at least be hidden for the rest of my life.”

That first session turned into a six-hour ordeal that Knapp described as equal parts terrifying and thrilling. “I had no idea what I was getting myself into,” he admitted, laughing about how his phone died midway through. The pain, especially on the inner thigh and hamstring, left him squirming. “It does not feel good to get like the inner thigh and your hamstring tattooed,” he confessed, prompting the hosts to joke about just how much he had really signed up for. Knapp kept it real. “I’ve definitely realized I have a pretty high pain tolerance based on that. I think certain areas like an eight or a nine, but it doesn’t last super long.”

However, the pain isn’t the worst part, as Knapp revealed. “It can get kind of warm. Like that’s kind of the thing — your body’s in fight or flight mode and you can’t move. So I think that’s the uncomfortable part.” Knapp admitted that it was a test tattoo. However, it grew on him as the he went on to get more tattoos.

When the host asked about his back tattoos, Knapp revealed, “Yeah, I got the left half of my back almost done. I got my chest pretty much done. This one on my leg.” Talking about ink balance, he remarked, “I’m just doing one side. Upper left half and lower right half is my balance — balance it out.” So what are his other tattoos about? Knapp has a skull tattoo right on his chest with a quote inked underneath. Apart from his that is initials ‘GSFB’, right below his left bicep. It was a tribute tattoo after his grandfather, Gordon Sydney Frederick Bowley, passed away. Jake isn’t the only one to turn to tattoos as a form of expression. Justin Thomas carries a signature tattoo on his arm that replicates his late grandfather’s handwriting, along with a simple “T” beneath his elbow; a lasting tribute to family legacy.

On the LPGA side, Lexi Thompson chose a more understated mark, commemorating her 2016 Rio Olympics appearance with the iconic rings tattooed beneath her palm. For both, as with Knapp, the ink symbolizes more than art; it reflects defining moments in their lives and careers. Even, Lydia Ko marked the moment with ink. She embraces her biggest achievements in the form of tattoos of Christ the Redeemer, Mount Fuji and the Eiffel Tower; each to reflect her silver, bronze and gold wins in these cities.

Just like meaningful tattoos tell stories of triumph and struggle, Jake’s path to the PGA Tour reflects a similar journey.

Jake Knapp’s rollercoaster ride to the PGA Tour

Back in 2016, while still completing his history degree, Jake Knapp committed his first act of rebellion. Deciding to leave UCLA a semester early, Knapp turned his full focus to golf, dreaming of turning pro. Competing in events like the US Amateurs and the Western Amateurs gave Knapp the confidence to propel forward. However, his path wasn’t smooth or easily laid out. He fell two strokes short of advancing to the third stage of Web.com (Korn Ferry) Q-School. However, his intent remained stronger than the stumbles. Knapp shared, “It’s important for me to understand this is the path I’ve chosen and it’s not a straight line to success. It’s a windy road.”

Heading to the PGA Tour Latinoamérica Q-School, Knapp eventually earned Korn Ferry Tour status in 2019. But he struggled to keep the tour card, slipping out in 2021. Never one to back down, Knapp started his grind as a nightclub bouncer in Costa Mesa, CA, to support himself while still practicing golf. That grind paid off. Knapp bounced back with two wins on PGA Tour Canada in 2022. Moreover, he strung together 10 top-10 finishes after gaining his Korn Ferry Tour card. That standout year propelled his way to the PGA Tour in 2024. A year later and Knapp proved his worth at the PGA National with a 59 that golf will remember for years to come.

His bumpy ride to the PGA Tour stands as a testimony to not only his fearless demeanor but also his resilience. Despite scrambling for stability multiple times, Knapp chose to go with what he loved instead of what was safe. From his relentless drive to his tattoo anecdote, Knapp is an inspiration for many.