Nico Echavarria secured his third PGA Tour victory at the Cognizant Classic by switching to a softer, spinnier golf ball. The change to Srixon's Z-Star Diamond from the Z-Star XV provided better control on firm greens. This adjustment, tested earlier in the season, contributed to his strong approach play.
Nico Echavarria won the Cognizant Classic, marking his third victory on the PGA Tour. In his post-tournament press conference, he credited a recent equipment change for aiding his performance. "I changed to a different model because the greens were firm, so I think that helped a lot with the control of coming into the green," Echavarria said. "I went from the XV to the diamond, which is a little softer and spinnier."
Echavarria signed with Srixon last offseason and initially tested both the Z-Star XV and Z-Star Diamond balls. Before joining Srixon, he used the Pro V1x. According to Srixon Director of Tour Operations Michael Jolly, the decision to start with the firmer XV stemmed from Echavarria's swing producing high spin rates last season. "At times last season, he was much steeper and generating a lot of spin," Jolly said. "With both balls, he’s seeing less curve and more stability in the wind, which ultimately were the key factors in his decision to make the switch to Srixon overall."
He trialed the Diamond at the WM Phoenix Open but missed the cut. Jolly noted that early-season testing can be challenging due to varying course conditions, such as low spin at Phoenix. The Cognizant Classic offered a reliable test in firmer Florida conditions. Off the tee, the balls perform similarly, but the Diamond adds about 300 RPMs of spin with irons, enhancing stopping power. "The biggest difference has really been with his irons throughout the bag, added stopping power combined with the ability to hit more shots in different windows," Jolly said. Echavarria added, "I’ve just realized I can really play when I have more spin."
He also appreciated the softer feel around the greens and finished fourth in strokes gained: approach. Following the win, Echavarria confirmed he will continue using the Z-Star Diamond. This marks the second instance this year of a player winning in their first week with a new ball, similar to Collin Morikawa's switch before Pebble Beach.
