PGA Tour Brunch | Cognizant Classic
Third Round Coverage | 2026 Cognizant Classic | Palm Beaches
THE CUT: 67 players at even-par from a field of 123 professionals
By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk
PALM BEACH GARDENS - Austin Smotherman (1st/-11) holds his first 36-hole lead/co-lead on TOUR in his 82nd career start. His previous best 36-hole position: T2, 2022 Butterfield Bermuda Championship (finished T23).
Smotherman leads the field in Strokes Gained: Putting (4.888); has recorded 246’ 7” of made putts through 36 holes and leads all players with 14 total birdies this week.
Taylor Moore (2nd/-8) enters the weekend three shots back after carding back-to-back (67s). In 120 career PGA TOUR starts, Moore owns 12 Top-10 finishes and one win (2023 Valspar Championship). He leads the field in Strokes Gained: Around the Green (4.932) and ranks second in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green (6.778).
Keita Nakajima WD (back) prior to his second round.
Cognizant Classic | Leaderboard After 36 Holes
1 Austin Smotherman 62 69 131 (-11)
2 Taylor Moore 67 67 134 (-8)
T3 A.J. Ewart 71 64 135 (-7)
T3 Nico Echavarria 63 72 135 (-7)
5 Joel Dahmen 68 68 136 (-6)
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 were moved up to 7:40am to 9:40pm (EST).
Weather: Today’s forecast is not good with showers beginning around Noon. Temperatures 70-80 degrees and winds 3-to-8 mph. Tee Times were moved up in expectation of inclement afternoon weather.
Tournament Web Site: (link)
FedEx Cup Info: (link)
PGA Tour Brunch will post at 8:00am (ET) Sunday.
How to Watch | Cognizant Classic at The Palm Beaches
Saturday, February 28, 2026 - (All Times Eastern)
7:28am - 6:00pm - ESPN+ Streaming
10:00am - 3:00pm - PGA Tour Radio on Sirius XM and Online at PGATour.com
10:00pm - 3:00pm - Golf Channel
3:00pm - NBC and Peacock Network (Live until Play concludes; then Taped)
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
Five Things to Know About Smotherman (PGATourCom)
Putter Fix Sparks Koepka’s (66) (PGATourCom)
How to Watch (Ajusted for Inclement Weather) (PGATourCom)
On This Day in Golf History
February 28, 1971 - In the only staging of the PGA Championship in February, JackNicklaus won the first major of 1971 and his second PGA Championship at the original PGA National GC in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The Golden Bear won the title by two strokes over runner-up Billy Casper. - (Courtesy of Randy Walker), Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE
Parting Putt
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