The Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches has suffered significant blows with withdrawals from top-ranked players, including Adam Scott, Ben Griffin, and Jacob Bridgeman, just before the tournament's start. In contrast, the Valero Texas Open has bolstered its field with commitments from several high-profile golfers. These developments come amid discussions of broader PGA Tour schedule changes under new CEO Brian Rolapp.
The Cognizant Classic, set to begin on February 26 at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, entered the week with a relatively thin field, featuring only eight of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking. The situation worsened when No. 11 Ben Griffin and No. 20 Jacob Bridgeman withdrew on Monday, February 23, followed hours later by Adam Scott, a former Masters champion with over $70.9 million in career earnings. Additional withdrawals included Patrick Rodgers, while late additions to the field comprised Jackson Suber, Lanto Griffin, Brandt Snedeker, and Harry Higgs.
Scott, who recently impressed with his driving in the TGL competition, cited no specific reason for his withdrawal but had spoken positively about adjustments to his equipment. "Yeah, it seems I’ve gained a little bit of speed the last few weeks on Tour," he told reporters on February 24. "I delofted my driver by a degree and picked up some speed. Yeah, that’s been working well."
Meanwhile, the Valero Texas Open, scheduled for April 2-5 at TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course, announced commitments from six top players: World No. 7 Russell Henley, No. 8 Robert MacIntyre, No. 12 Hideki Matsuyama, No. 13 Sepp Straka, No. 23 Ludvig Aberg, and No. 25 Maverick McNealy. These additions, who collectively hold 25 PGA Tour victories, join an already strong lineup including Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa, J.J. Spaun, and defending champion Brian Harman.
These contrasting fortunes highlight ongoing PGA Tour transitions under new CEO Brian Rolapp. Potential changes include delaying the season start until after the Super Bowl, removing Hawaii events, and prioritizing major U.S. markets. Tiger Woods noted that reforms could begin as early as next season. "We may have to roll it out over a couple of years," Woods said. "We might not be able to implement everything in 2027, but there will definitely be elements introduced or changed from what it is now moving from ’26 to ’27."