2026 Cognizant Classic: Field<\/h4>\n\n- Field: 121 Players<\/li>\n
- Cut: Top 65 and Ties<\/li>\n
- Lineup Lock: Thursday, Feb. 29<\/li>\n
- Defending Champ: Joe Highsmith<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE MAYO MEDIA NEWSLETTER FOR MORE GOLF CONTENT<\/a><\/h4>\nThe unfortunate schedule placement was the end of Honda as the title sponsor. And things have gotten even worse for a once great event at PGA National with the way the schedule broke in 2026.<\/p>\n
The WM Phoenix Open always plays the week of the Super Bowl, and because of the way the calendar fell in 2026, WM got bumped up a week, and Pebble Beach got pushed to the week after Phoenix. Meaning, the last two weeks have been signature events. And the next two weeks are a signature even,t then THE PLAYERS (always ALL CAPS).<\/p>\n
Elite players look at the money for those \u2014 Bay Hill ($20M purse) and THE PLAYERS ($25M purse) \u2014 compared to the Cognizant (~$9.2M purse), and it\u2019s incentive enough to delay starting the Florida Swing a week late.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s gotten so bad that even locks to play this event a month ago, like Jake Knapp<\/a> and Pierceson Coody<\/a>, have decided not to enter after getting into the signature events with good early-season play.<\/p>\nI don\u2019t say this to complain. I say it to set expectations for what you may expect when tuning in this week. I personally love this break from the same field week-over-week. And it\u2019s not like it\u2019s completely<\/em> devoid of talent.<\/p>\nMr. Cognizant, despite never having won this event, Shane Lowry<\/a><\/span> returns for his seventh straight season. Lowry\u2019s joined by Ben Griffin<\/a><\/span>, Ryan Gerard<\/a><\/span>, Adam Scott<\/a><\/span>, Aaron Rai<\/a><\/span>, Jacob Bridgeman<\/a><\/span>, Michael Thorbjornsen<\/a><\/span>, Max Homa<\/a><\/span>, and about every Danish player you can name. Brooks Koepka<\/a><\/span> is making his third start of the season, too. Brooks has lost 1.18 strokes putting per round in his two starts since returning to the PGA TOUR.<\/p>\nIt\u2019s not only that the signature events have made this an obvious rest week for most of the TOUR\u2019s best players, but there was also another unintended (maybe) consequence. With so many international players making Florida their US home, PGA National was a magnet for bigger-name international players to make their first US start of the year after playing the first two months in other parts of the world. The inception of the SEs moved two before it, so it brought them all over to the USA already. No need to get in initial reps here. TGL has done that to a minor degree as well. Additionally, the past few seasons had the Mexico Open in between the West and East Coast events. That\u2019s been moved to the fall, starting this year, so the buffer bye-week is gone.<\/p>\n
After a spotty West Coast swing, Daniel Berger<\/a><\/span> was a late add to the field after missing the cut at Riviera. The FSU product has had a lot of high-end success at PGA National in his career with three finishes inside the Top 4, including a playoff loss to Paddy Harrington in his debut appearance in 2015. He had two solid starts out West (T6 at Sony; T14 at WMPO), but has continued to be plagued by the same problem, which has tanked his results the past 12 or so months. Berger can\u2019t chip anymore.<\/p>\nStats & Data Powered by the Rabbit Hole Tool at Betsperts Golf<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/$s_!YiKC!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fee88d648-2d41-4666-92eb-6279fdb5f627_1912x778.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThe ball striking is still encouraging, for the most part, and to spin some positivity: Berger has gained around the greens in his past three starts at PGA National.<\/p>\n
2026 Cognizant Classic: Key Stats<\/h4>\n\n- Strokes Gained: Approach<\/li>\n
- Par 4s Gained<\/li>\n
- Total Driving Gained (Spilt 70% DD + 30% DA)<\/li>\n
- Birdies or Better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Mayo\u2019s Key Stat Rankings Powered by the Rabbit Hole Tool<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/$s_!e6vc!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff1b1bee2-5107-43cb-93b9-98754491969f_558x766.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n2026 Cognizant Classic: Course<\/h4>\n\n- PGA National (Champion)<\/li>\n
- Par: 71<\/li>\n
- Yardage: 7,223<\/li>\n
- Greens: Bermuda<\/li>\n
- Average Green Size: 7,000 sq. ft.<\/li>\n
- Number of Sand Bunkers: 60<\/li>\n
- Number of Holes Water is in Play: 14<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Par 3\u2019s (4): Average Distance – 200 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- These are four of the six hardest holes on property, all have an over-par rate north of 15%.<\/li>\n
- Highsmith: Birdied a back-9 Par 3 in three of four rounds<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Par 4\u2019s (11): Average Distance – 430 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Four of the six most difficult Par 4s come on the back-9<\/li>\n
- Highsmith: Double bogeyed consecutive Par 4\u2019s (Holes 6 and 8) on Friday, and five of his six over-par instances for the week came on Par 4\u2019s<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Par 5\u2019s (3): Average Distance – 548 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- The three easiest holes all on the course, +10 has an eagle rate that is more than double the over-par rate (5% to 2.4%)<\/li>\n
- Highsmith: Played the Par 5\u2019s at -6 over the weekend (four birdies and an eagle)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2026 Cognizant Classic: Past Winners<\/h4>\n\n- 2025: Joe Highsmith<\/a><\/span> -19<\/li>\n
- 2024: Austin Eckroat<\/a><\/span> -17<\/li>\n
- 2023: Chris Kirk<\/a><\/span> -14<\/li>\n
- 2022: Sepp Straka<\/a><\/span> -10<\/li>\n
- 2021: Matt Jones<\/a><\/span> -12<\/li>\n
- 2020: Sungjae Im<\/a><\/span> -6<\/li>\n
- 2019: Keith Mitchell<\/a><\/span> -9<\/li>\n
- 2018: Justin Thomas<\/a><\/span> -8<\/li>\n
- 2017: Rickie Fowler<\/a><\/span> -12<\/li>\n
- 2016: Adam Scott<\/a><\/span> -9<\/li>\n
- 2015: Paddy Harrington -6<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2025: Joe Highsmith<\/a><\/span> (+10000) at -19, two strokes clear of JJ Spaun and Jacob Bridgeman<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n- The top 10 finishers all gained putting, four of them were top 10 putters for the week<\/li>\n
- Brice Garnett<\/a><\/span> was the only top 17 finisher to lose ground on the field in Par 4 450-500<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2024: Austin Eckroat<\/a><\/span> (+10000) at -17, three strokes clear of Min Woo Lee<\/a><\/span> and Erik van Rooyen<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Five of the top 8 finishers for the week LOST ground on the field around the green<\/li>\n
- 32 of the top 34 finishers for the week gained in approach (Shane Lowry<\/a><\/span> finished T-4 for the week behind the second-best APP performance of the tournament … he lost strokes OTT and ARG)<\/li>\n
- 2023 (Honda Classic): Chris Kirk<\/a><\/span> (+3000) at -14, playoff win over Eric Cole<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n
- 13 top 20 finishers lost Distance off the tee to the field (including three of the top four)<\/li>\n
- 7 of the top 9 finishers for the week picked up proximity from 175-200 yards and 200+<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2022 (Honda Classic): Sepp Straka<\/a><\/span> (+12500) at -10, one stroke clear of Shane Lowry<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n- The top 6 finishers all gained fairways on the field, with Straka being the best for the week<\/li>\n
- Three golfers picked up 5+ strokes in approach and were better than average with the putter: Lowry (2nd), Kurt Kitayama<\/a><\/span> (3rd), and Alex Noren<\/a><\/span> (T-5th)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2021 (Honda Classic): Matt Jones<\/a><\/span> (+8000) at -12, five strokes clear of Brandon Hagy<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n- 16 of the top 18 finishers gained strokes on the field in Par 3\u2019s<\/li>\n
- No short irons … 7 finished with at least a share of third place, and 4 of them were worse than the field on approach play from 75-100 yards AND 100-125.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2020 (Honda Classic): Sungjae Im<\/a><\/span> (+3000) at -6, one stroke clear of Mackenzie Hughes<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Five of the top six approach golfers for the week cashed a top-10 paycheck<\/li>\n
- Nine of the top 10 finishers for the week gained Prox 175-200 yards<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2019 <\/strong>Keith Mitchell<\/a><\/span> (-9, beat Rickie Fowler<\/a><\/span> and Brooks Koepka<\/a><\/span> by 1 stroke)<\/p>\n\n- His 66 on Friday was his best of the week, the third best of the day, and three better than Koepka (it was the only day Mitchell was better than Koepka)<\/li>\n
- Nothing spectacular, but Mitchell was no worse than 70 in all four rounds, with a final round of 67 being enough to hold off the field.<\/li>\n
- 14 of the top 15 finishers gained strokes off the tee (Jim Furyk<\/a><\/span> being the exception, and he just lost 0.1)<\/li>\n
- 18 of the top 19 finishers gained strokes to the field on the Par 3\u2019s<\/li>\n
- Four of the top six finishers gained on the field in Prox: 175-200 and Prox: 200+<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2018: Justin Thomas<\/a><\/span><\/strong> (-8, playoff win over Luke List<\/a><\/span>)<\/p>\n\n- He was just a shot back after Thursday, and his 65 on Saturday was the round of the day<\/li>\n
- The Top 12 finishers all gained strokes putting. In fact, of the Top 6 putters for the week, five finished the week T8 or better.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Chris Kirk<\/a><\/span> an outlier? The previous champions had a track record of sucking at this event (Kirk won after finishing 7th in 2022)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- 2025: Joe Highsmith<\/a><\/span> \u2014 Missed the cut in 2024<\/li>\n
- 2024: <\/strong>Austin Eckroat<\/a><\/span> \u2014 Missed the cut in 2023<\/li>\n
- 2022<\/strong>: Sepp Straka<\/a><\/span> – Never had a top 25 here prior, 33rd in 2021<\/li>\n
- 2021<\/strong>: Matt Jones<\/a><\/span> – No top 35\u2019s here in his previous 4 trips, 47th in 2020<\/li>\n
- 2020<\/strong>: Sungjae Im<\/a><\/span> – 51st at this event in 2019<\/li>\n
- 2019 <\/strong>Keith Mitchell<\/a><\/span> – Missed the cut here in 2018<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
FIRST ROUND LEADERS<\/h4>\n
2025<\/em><\/p>\n\n- 59 – Jake Knapp<\/a><\/span> (AM)<\/li>\n
- 63 – Russell Henley<\/a><\/span> (AM), Daniel Berger<\/a><\/span> (AM), Sami Valimaki<\/a><\/span> (AM)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2024<\/em><\/p>\n
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE MAYO MEDIA NEWSLETTER FOR MORE GOLF CONTENT<\/a><\/h4>\nThe unfortunate schedule placement was the end of Honda as the title sponsor. And things have gotten even worse for a once great event at PGA National with the way the schedule broke in 2026.<\/p>\n
The WM Phoenix Open always plays the week of the Super Bowl, and because of the way the calendar fell in 2026, WM got bumped up a week, and Pebble Beach got pushed to the week after Phoenix. Meaning, the last two weeks have been signature events. And the next two weeks are a signature even,t then THE PLAYERS (always ALL CAPS).<\/p>\n
Elite players look at the money for those \u2014 Bay Hill ($20M purse) and THE PLAYERS ($25M purse) \u2014 compared to the Cognizant (~$9.2M purse), and it\u2019s incentive enough to delay starting the Florida Swing a week late.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s gotten so bad that even locks to play this event a month ago, like Jake Knapp<\/a> and Pierceson Coody<\/a>, have decided not to enter after getting into the signature events with good early-season play.<\/p>\nI don\u2019t say this to complain. I say it to set expectations for what you may expect when tuning in this week. I personally love this break from the same field week-over-week. And it\u2019s not like it\u2019s completely<\/em> devoid of talent.<\/p>\nMr. Cognizant, despite never having won this event, Shane Lowry<\/a><\/span> returns for his seventh straight season. Lowry\u2019s joined by Ben Griffin<\/a><\/span>, Ryan Gerard<\/a><\/span>, Adam Scott<\/a><\/span>, Aaron Rai<\/a><\/span>, Jacob Bridgeman<\/a><\/span>, Michael Thorbjornsen<\/a><\/span>, Max Homa<\/a><\/span>, and about every Danish player you can name. Brooks Koepka<\/a><\/span> is making his third start of the season, too. Brooks has lost 1.18 strokes putting per round in his two starts since returning to the PGA TOUR.<\/p>\nIt\u2019s not only that the signature events have made this an obvious rest week for most of the TOUR\u2019s best players, but there was also another unintended (maybe) consequence. With so many international players making Florida their US home, PGA National was a magnet for bigger-name international players to make their first US start of the year after playing the first two months in other parts of the world. The inception of the SEs moved two before it, so it brought them all over to the USA already. No need to get in initial reps here. TGL has done that to a minor degree as well. Additionally, the past few seasons had the Mexico Open in between the West and East Coast events. That\u2019s been moved to the fall, starting this year, so the buffer bye-week is gone.<\/p>\n
After a spotty West Coast swing, Daniel Berger<\/a><\/span> was a late add to the field after missing the cut at Riviera. The FSU product has had a lot of high-end success at PGA National in his career with three finishes inside the Top 4, including a playoff loss to Paddy Harrington in his debut appearance in 2015. He had two solid starts out West (T6 at Sony; T14 at WMPO), but has continued to be plagued by the same problem, which has tanked his results the past 12 or so months. Berger can\u2019t chip anymore.<\/p>\nStats & Data Powered by the Rabbit Hole Tool at Betsperts Golf<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThe ball striking is still encouraging, for the most part, and to spin some positivity: Berger has gained around the greens in his past three starts at PGA National.<\/p>\n
2026 Cognizant Classic: Key Stats<\/h4>\n\n- Strokes Gained: Approach<\/li>\n
- Par 4s Gained<\/li>\n
- Total Driving Gained (Spilt 70% DD + 30% DA)<\/li>\n
- Birdies or Better<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Mayo\u2019s Key Stat Rankings Powered by the Rabbit Hole Tool<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n2026 Cognizant Classic: Course<\/h4>\n\n- PGA National (Champion)<\/li>\n
- Par: 71<\/li>\n
- Yardage: 7,223<\/li>\n
- Greens: Bermuda<\/li>\n
- Average Green Size: 7,000 sq. ft.<\/li>\n
- Number of Sand Bunkers: 60<\/li>\n
- Number of Holes Water is in Play: 14<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Par 3\u2019s (4): Average Distance – 200 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- These are four of the six hardest holes on property, all have an over-par rate north of 15%.<\/li>\n
- Highsmith: Birdied a back-9 Par 3 in three of four rounds<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Par 4\u2019s (11): Average Distance – 430 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Four of the six most difficult Par 4s come on the back-9<\/li>\n
- Highsmith: Double bogeyed consecutive Par 4\u2019s (Holes 6 and 8) on Friday, and five of his six over-par instances for the week came on Par 4\u2019s<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Par 5\u2019s (3): Average Distance – 548 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- The three easiest holes all on the course, +10 has an eagle rate that is more than double the over-par rate (5% to 2.4%)<\/li>\n
- Highsmith: Played the Par 5\u2019s at -6 over the weekend (four birdies and an eagle)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2026 Cognizant Classic: Past Winners<\/h4>\n\n- 2025: Joe Highsmith<\/a><\/span> -19<\/li>\n
- 2024: Austin Eckroat<\/a><\/span> -17<\/li>\n
- 2023: Chris Kirk<\/a><\/span> -14<\/li>\n
- 2022: Sepp Straka<\/a><\/span> -10<\/li>\n
- 2021: Matt Jones<\/a><\/span> -12<\/li>\n
- 2020: Sungjae Im<\/a><\/span> -6<\/li>\n
- 2019: Keith Mitchell<\/a><\/span> -9<\/li>\n
- 2018: Justin Thomas<\/a><\/span> -8<\/li>\n
- 2017: Rickie Fowler<\/a><\/span> -12<\/li>\n
- 2016: Adam Scott<\/a><\/span> -9<\/li>\n
- 2015: Paddy Harrington -6<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2025: Joe Highsmith<\/a><\/span> (+10000) at -19, two strokes clear of JJ Spaun and Jacob Bridgeman<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n- The top 10 finishers all gained putting, four of them were top 10 putters for the week<\/li>\n
- Brice Garnett<\/a><\/span> was the only top 17 finisher to lose ground on the field in Par 4 450-500<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2024: Austin Eckroat<\/a><\/span> (+10000) at -17, three strokes clear of Min Woo Lee<\/a><\/span> and Erik van Rooyen<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Five of the top 8 finishers for the week LOST ground on the field around the green<\/li>\n
- 32 of the top 34 finishers for the week gained in approach (Shane Lowry<\/a><\/span> finished T-4 for the week behind the second-best APP performance of the tournament … he lost strokes OTT and ARG)<\/li>\n
- 2023 (Honda Classic): Chris Kirk<\/a><\/span> (+3000) at -14, playoff win over Eric Cole<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n
- 13 top 20 finishers lost Distance off the tee to the field (including three of the top four)<\/li>\n
- 7 of the top 9 finishers for the week picked up proximity from 175-200 yards and 200+<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2022 (Honda Classic): Sepp Straka<\/a><\/span> (+12500) at -10, one stroke clear of Shane Lowry<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n- The top 6 finishers all gained fairways on the field, with Straka being the best for the week<\/li>\n
- Three golfers picked up 5+ strokes in approach and were better than average with the putter: Lowry (2nd), Kurt Kitayama<\/a><\/span> (3rd), and Alex Noren<\/a><\/span> (T-5th)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2021 (Honda Classic): Matt Jones<\/a><\/span> (+8000) at -12, five strokes clear of Brandon Hagy<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n- 16 of the top 18 finishers gained strokes on the field in Par 3\u2019s<\/li>\n
- No short irons … 7 finished with at least a share of third place, and 4 of them were worse than the field on approach play from 75-100 yards AND 100-125.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2020 (Honda Classic): Sungjae Im<\/a><\/span> (+3000) at -6, one stroke clear of Mackenzie Hughes<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Five of the top six approach golfers for the week cashed a top-10 paycheck<\/li>\n
- Nine of the top 10 finishers for the week gained Prox 175-200 yards<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2019 <\/strong>Keith Mitchell<\/a><\/span> (-9, beat Rickie Fowler<\/a><\/span> and Brooks Koepka<\/a><\/span> by 1 stroke)<\/p>\n\n- His 66 on Friday was his best of the week, the third best of the day, and three better than Koepka (it was the only day Mitchell was better than Koepka)<\/li>\n
- Nothing spectacular, but Mitchell was no worse than 70 in all four rounds, with a final round of 67 being enough to hold off the field.<\/li>\n
- 14 of the top 15 finishers gained strokes off the tee (Jim Furyk<\/a><\/span> being the exception, and he just lost 0.1)<\/li>\n
- 18 of the top 19 finishers gained strokes to the field on the Par 3\u2019s<\/li>\n
- Four of the top six finishers gained on the field in Prox: 175-200 and Prox: 200+<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2018: Justin Thomas<\/a><\/span><\/strong> (-8, playoff win over Luke List<\/a><\/span>)<\/p>\n\n- He was just a shot back after Thursday, and his 65 on Saturday was the round of the day<\/li>\n
- The Top 12 finishers all gained strokes putting. In fact, of the Top 6 putters for the week, five finished the week T8 or better.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Chris Kirk<\/a><\/span> an outlier? The previous champions had a track record of sucking at this event (Kirk won after finishing 7th in 2022)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- 2025: Joe Highsmith<\/a><\/span> \u2014 Missed the cut in 2024<\/li>\n
- 2024: <\/strong>Austin Eckroat<\/a><\/span> \u2014 Missed the cut in 2023<\/li>\n
- 2022<\/strong>: Sepp Straka<\/a><\/span> – Never had a top 25 here prior, 33rd in 2021<\/li>\n
- 2021<\/strong>: Matt Jones<\/a><\/span> – No top 35\u2019s here in his previous 4 trips, 47th in 2020<\/li>\n
- 2020<\/strong>: Sungjae Im<\/a><\/span> – 51st at this event in 2019<\/li>\n
- 2019 <\/strong>Keith Mitchell<\/a><\/span> – Missed the cut here in 2018<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
FIRST ROUND LEADERS<\/h4>\n
2025<\/em><\/p>\n\n- 59 – Jake Knapp<\/a><\/span> (AM)<\/li>\n
- 63 – Russell Henley<\/a><\/span> (AM), Daniel Berger<\/a><\/span> (AM), Sami Valimaki<\/a><\/span> (AM)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2024<\/em><\/p>\n
I don\u2019t say this to complain. I say it to set expectations for what you may expect when tuning in this week. I personally love this break from the same field week-over-week. And it\u2019s not like it\u2019s completely<\/em> devoid of talent.<\/p>\n Mr. Cognizant, despite never having won this event, Shane Lowry<\/a><\/span> returns for his seventh straight season. Lowry\u2019s joined by Ben Griffin<\/a><\/span>, Ryan Gerard<\/a><\/span>, Adam Scott<\/a><\/span>, Aaron Rai<\/a><\/span>, Jacob Bridgeman<\/a><\/span>, Michael Thorbjornsen<\/a><\/span>, Max Homa<\/a><\/span>, and about every Danish player you can name. Brooks Koepka<\/a><\/span> is making his third start of the season, too. Brooks has lost 1.18 strokes putting per round in his two starts since returning to the PGA TOUR.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not only that the signature events have made this an obvious rest week for most of the TOUR\u2019s best players, but there was also another unintended (maybe) consequence. With so many international players making Florida their US home, PGA National was a magnet for bigger-name international players to make their first US start of the year after playing the first two months in other parts of the world. The inception of the SEs moved two before it, so it brought them all over to the USA already. No need to get in initial reps here. TGL has done that to a minor degree as well. Additionally, the past few seasons had the Mexico Open in between the West and East Coast events. That\u2019s been moved to the fall, starting this year, so the buffer bye-week is gone.<\/p>\n After a spotty West Coast swing, Daniel Berger<\/a><\/span> was a late add to the field after missing the cut at Riviera. The FSU product has had a lot of high-end success at PGA National in his career with three finishes inside the Top 4, including a playoff loss to Paddy Harrington in his debut appearance in 2015. He had two solid starts out West (T6 at Sony; T14 at WMPO), but has continued to be plagued by the same problem, which has tanked his results the past 12 or so months. Berger can\u2019t chip anymore.<\/p>\n The ball striking is still encouraging, for the most part, and to spin some positivity: Berger has gained around the greens in his past three starts at PGA National.<\/p>\n Par 3\u2019s (4): Average Distance – 200 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n Par 4\u2019s (11): Average Distance – 430 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n Par 5\u2019s (3): Average Distance – 548 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n 2025: Joe Highsmith<\/a><\/span> (+10000) at -19, two strokes clear of JJ Spaun and Jacob Bridgeman<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n 2024: Austin Eckroat<\/a><\/span> (+10000) at -17, three strokes clear of Min Woo Lee<\/a><\/span> and Erik van Rooyen<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n 2022 (Honda Classic): Sepp Straka<\/a><\/span> (+12500) at -10, one stroke clear of Shane Lowry<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n 2021 (Honda Classic): Matt Jones<\/a><\/span> (+8000) at -12, five strokes clear of Brandon Hagy<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n 2020 (Honda Classic): Sungjae Im<\/a><\/span> (+3000) at -6, one stroke clear of Mackenzie Hughes<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n 2019 <\/strong>Keith Mitchell<\/a><\/span> (-9, beat Rickie Fowler<\/a><\/span> and Brooks Koepka<\/a><\/span> by 1 stroke)<\/p>\n 2018: Justin Thomas<\/a><\/span><\/strong> (-8, playoff win over Luke List<\/a><\/span>)<\/p>\n Chris Kirk<\/a><\/span> an outlier? The previous champions had a track record of sucking at this event (Kirk won after finishing 7th in 2022)<\/strong><\/p>\n 2025<\/em><\/p>\n 2024<\/em><\/p>\nStats & Data Powered by the Rabbit Hole Tool at Betsperts Golf<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/p>\n2026 Cognizant Classic: Key Stats<\/h4>\n
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Mayo\u2019s Key Stat Rankings Powered by the Rabbit Hole Tool<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/p>\n2026 Cognizant Classic: Course<\/h4>\n
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2026 Cognizant Classic: Past Winners<\/h4>\n
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FIRST ROUND LEADERS<\/h4>\n
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