With the Florida Swing taking the reins, the PGA TOUR arrives at the quarter pole of the season with this week’s Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches. This tournament marks the ninth of 36 events scheduled to determine the qualifiers for the prestigious FedExCup Playoffs.
The annual transition from the West Coast not only involves a literal migration but also introduces more challenging courses featuring the tough Bermudagrass. Historically, the Champion Course at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, has been a staple in the FedExCup Playoffs, consistently offering a rigorous test for the contenders.
Intriguing changes occurred when the PGA National debuted as a par 71 in 2024. Austin Eckroat clinched his first PGA TOUR victory, setting a new tournament course record at 17-under 267. However, this was just one stroke above Chris Kirk's previous record of 14-under 266. Each professional proudly holds his own trophy for mastering the infamous Bear Trap.
Last year, the 10th hole was transformed from a 508-yard par 4 to a 530-yard par 5, ranking as the sixth-easiest par 5 in 2024 with a scoring average of 4.232. Despite these changes, overall scoring at PGA National slightly decreased from 70.358 in 2023 to 70.097, showcasing the evolving challenge of the course.
In his three-stroke victory, Eckroat navigated The Bear Trap—comprising the 15th, 16th, and 17th holes—with precision, playing it in 1-under with two birdies, nine pars, and one bogey. The Bear Trap collectively averaged +0.435 strokes over par for the week.
This year, the par-5 10th is extended to 550 yards, contributing to the overall course yardage of 7,167 yards. With water hazards prevalent, players are opting for control over power, ensuring confidence from tee to green.
Notably, the Bermudagrass fairways are overseeded for the first time in 11 years, matching the overseeded rough trimmed to 2¼ inches. The Bermuda greens, larger than average at 7,000 square feet, are prepared to reach 12 feet on the Stimpmeter.
Weather conditions are expected to be favorable for most of the tournament, with only potentially breezy conditions on Friday. Temperatures will rise into the 70s, and rain is not forecasted, offering players scorable conditions.
As the Cognizant Classic concludes, attention will shift to next week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, where the field will expand with the first available players from both the Aon Next 10 and Aon Swing 5.
