ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Round 1 of the Ty Murray Invitational didn’t go exactly as Scottie Knapp had hoped it would.

There is, however, a silver lining: he gets to go home and sleep in his own bed to rest up for Round 2.

Knapp lives in Edgewood, New Mexico, a brief 40-minute drive – “over the mountain” – from The Pit on the campus of the University of New Mexico.

It’s the epitome of a hometown event, and one that Knapp has been looking forward to for quite some time. Unable to compete in Albuquerque in prior seasons, he was determined to make it for the first time in 2019.

“That was my goal: be on tour by Albuquerque,” Knapp said. “I was born in Albuquerque and grew up here a little bit. Last year, I was sidelined and told myself I was going to be riding here, and here I am today.”

In an ideal world, he would’ve made the 8 seconds in front of a raucous home crowd. In fact, he did make it to the whistle, hanging off the side of Wicked Dreams for 73 points. He was awarded and accepted a re-ride, however, and bucked off Midnight Rain in 3.79 seconds

It was a hardscrabble night for a guy familiar with the struggle, and one more speed bump in a rough few weeks.

“Tore some cartilage in my ribs, and last week I pulled some muscles in my back in the practice pen so I had to miss a Touring Pro,” he said.

“But I’m feeling good today, so all that’s in the past,” he added with a grin. “The last few weeks have been a little rough, but there’s only one way to go, and that’s up. Just got to keep having fun.”

There was no way he was going to let a few aches and pains keep him from riding in his hometown.

Ranked No. 33 in the world standings, Knapp had an untold number of family and friends in the crowd – including his wife, Callie, and 3-year-old daughter, Auburn, for the first time – and appreciated having a partisan crowd on his side.

“That always helps,” he said of having home-field advantage. “It also adds a little extra pressure if you let it, but it’s just another bull riding so you’ve got to go at it the same way as any other bull riding. One bull at a time, one ride at a time, and let it happen.”

While he insists that Albuquerque is just another bull riding, staying at home adds a bit of a different element.

“I’m staying at home. I like my bed,” he said, laughing. “It’s definitely different. You’re scrabbling in hotels and fast food. It’s a little different than usual, but I like it.”

Thus far, Knapp is in the midst of his most successful season in the PBR. The Ty Murray Invitational is his eighth Unleash The Beast event, a career high in a season, and he has three Top-10 finishes. His best placement came in Duluth, Georgia, in March, when he went 3-for-3, good for fourth place.

It’s a strong return after a lengthy struggle with injuries, one that had him off his game for a bit even when he was able to ride.

“It took a little while,” Knapp said of getting back into the swing of things. “The mental game, the physical game, you’ve got to test the waters a little bit and know you’re 120%. But once it starts clicking, it just depends on an everyday routine. I started riding sheep when I was 3 so it really shouldn’t be anything new to me.

“It feels good to be back, really.”

Knapp has drawn Skitso (3-1, UTB) for Round 2 (RidePass 8:30 p.m. ET).

Regardless of what happens the rest of the weekend, Knapp will be able to sleep easily knowing he has his state on his side.

“It’s huge,” he said. “I know that whether I win or lose, everybody here supports me.”