Austin Smotherman shot a career-tying 9-under 62 to take the first-round lead at the 2026 Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches. Nico Echavarria sits one stroke back after an 8-under 63, while several players trail at 4 under. The event marks the start of the PGA Tour's Florida Swing at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
The 2026 Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches opened on Thursday, February 26, at PGA National's Champion Course, where calmer morning conditions allowed for low scores. Austin Smotherman, in his 82nd PGA Tour start, carded a bogey-free 9-under 62, matching his career best from the 2022 Butterfield Bermuda Championship. He began with birdies on holes 1, 4, and 5, then ignited with six consecutive birdies from Nos. 7 through 12, including a 28-foot putt on the par-3 seventh. A tap-in birdie on the par-5 18th secured the solo lead.
"It was a pretty easy round on a golf course that shouldn’t be this easy," Smotherman said, crediting his putting without a line on the ball for a freeing stroke. He made 132 feet of putts, including three over 22 feet.
Nico Echavarria posted the early low with an 8-under 63 in the morning wave, also bogey-free and gaining strokes on the greens. "The golf hasn't been that far off," Echavarria noted after recent struggles, highlighting patience as key. Tied for third at 4 under are Taylor Moore, Jackson Suber, Daniel Berger, Kevin Roy, Kristoffer Reitan, and Pontus Nyholm.
Afternoon starters faced firmer winds, contributing to higher scores. Brooks Koepka, returning from LIV Golf, finished 3 over with a 74, hampered by putting woes and a double bogey on the par-3 17th. "He can turn it around in an instant," said playing partner Daniel Berger. Shane Lowry shot 1-under 70, tying for 36th, while Aaron Rai sits at 3 under.
Will Zalatoris withdrew before his tee time due to a left ankle injury, replaced by Ben Silverman. Billy Horschel, at 2 under, commented on the course's overseeding with ryegrass, which has softened it for television appeal. "It’s a very fair golf course... when it’s benign like today, it’s gettable," Horschel said, noting changes like shorter rough.
Smotherman, preparing for his third child's arrival on March 23, tees off in the afternoon for Round 2 on Friday.
