PGA Tour Brunch | Cognizant Classic
Final Round Coverage | Cognizant Classic | Palm Beaches
By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk
PALM BEACH GARDENS - Shane Lowry (T1/-13) carded his sixth 54-hole lead/co-lead on TOUR in his 208th career start (T2/2016 U.S. Open; Won/2019 Open Championship T4/2024 Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches; 3rd/2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard; T2/2025 Truist Championship).
Lowry leads the field in Strokes Gained: Approach The Green (9.090) and his bogey-free (63) marked his lowest score in 35 career rounds in the event (previous: 65/2023/R3).
Austin Smotherman (T1/-13) holds his first 54-hole lead/co-lead on TOUR in his 82nd career start. His previous career-best 54-hole position: 6th/2023 VidantaWorld Mexico Open (finished T5).
Smotherman leads all players with 19 total birdies this week; next best: 18/Shane Lowry (T1/-13). Smotherman’s (200) marked his second-lowest 54-hole score on TOUR (best: 199/2026 The American Express). He missed the cut in lone previous appearance at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches (2022).
Cognizant Classic | Leaderboard After 54 Holes
T1 Shane Lowry 70 67 63 200 (-13)
T1 Austin Smotherman 62 69 69 200 (-13)
T3 Nico Echavarria 63 72 66 201 (-12)
T3 Taylor Moore 67 67 67 201 (-12)
5 Jimmy Stanger 69 68 65 202 (-11)
Full Leaderboard: (link)
The Cog | Tournament Facts
COURSE: PGA National, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
YARDS/PAR: 7,223 yards/Par 71
ARCHITECTS: Tom Fazio
PRIZE Money - Purse/Winner: $9,600,000/$1,728,000
OVERVIEW: (link)
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Joe Highsmith
PAST RESULTS: (link)
FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 500
SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup
How to Watch: Visit (PGATourCom)
The Cog | The Basics
The Tee Times for final round are 8:05am to 1:45pm (EST).
Weather: Today’s forecast calls for cloudy skies, 68-76 degrees with possible T-Storms midday (Noon), then clearing. Winds 8-11 mph. A 31% chance of rain early afternoon. Leaders tee-off at 1:45pm, wet greens are likely.
Tournament Web Site: (link)
FedEx Cup Info: (link)
PGA Tour Brunch will post at Noon (ET) Monday.
How to Watch | Cognizant Classic at The Palm Beaches
Sunday, March 1, 2026 - (All Times Eastern)
8am - 6:00pm - ESPN+ Streaming
10:00am - 3:00pm - PGA Tour Radio on Sirius XM and Online at PGATour.com
1:00pm - 3:00pm - Golf Channel
3:00pm - 6:00pm - NBC and Peacock Network
How to Watch: (link)
Cognizant Classic | Adjusted Tee Times and Leaderboard
Tee Times: (link)
Tournament Leaderboard: (link)
Last Week’s Final Leaderboard: (link)
Last Year’s (2025) Cognizant Leaderboard: (link)
What They’re Saying
Lowry, Smotherman Showdown (PGATourCom)
Echavarria Stands Out (PGATourCom)
How to Watch - Final Round (PGATourCom)
On This Day in Golf History
March 1, 1992 - Freddie Couples recovered from hitting his opening tee shot out-of-bounds to win the Los Angeles Open at Riviera CC for the second time, defeating Davis Love III. Couples made a double-bogey (7) on that first hole, but rallied to card a (70). Couple won The Masters six weeks later. - (Courtesy of Randy Walker), Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE
Parting Putt
This Week
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