Extended highlights from the opening round of the PGA Tour’s Cognizant Classic at PGA National, the first of four consecutive events on the Florida swing.
Will Zalatoris is the latest big name to withdraw from the 2026 Cognizant Classic. Zalatoris, who has had multiple surgeries on his back, is missing this week’s tournament with a left ankle injury. He is playing on Tour this year through a major medical exemption which means his starts are limited, Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard reports.
Nico Echavarria told Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard that his 2026 season on Tour has been “a lot of highlights and a lot of lowlights.” The first round at PGA National is among the former as the 31-year-old Colombian native sits one shot off the lead after firing an 8-under 63 on Thursday.
Brooks Koepka struggled with his short game during the first 18 holes at the 2026 Cognizant Classic. Koepka, who’s playing in front of a hometown crowd this week, had similar issues with the putter during two West Coast events earlier this year.
The first of four Florida stops on the PGA Tour continues Friday at the Cognizant Classic, where Austin Smotherman and Nico Echavarria have gained separation on the leaderboard from the rest of the field.
Unfazed by a quadruple bogey on the 17th hole, David Ford rallied with an incredible approach shot for eagle on PGA National’s second hole. He followed it up with an equally impressive eagle on 3, completely undoing the four strokes gained from his front nine. And if that wasn’t enough, Ford’s hole-out par save on 4 gave him three consecutive makes from off the green.
Daniel Berger has the best combined opening-round score of any player on Tour at PGA National since 2020. Berger, who shot a 4-under 67 on Thursday, sits comfortably inside the Cognizant Classic’s top 10 after 18 holes.
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After an opening 73, Scottie Scheffler shot 6-under 65 Friday at TPC Scottsdale. Brandel Chamblee and Paige Mackenzie break down his turnaround on “Golf Central Postgame” at the 2026 WM Phoenix Open.
Hideki Matsuyama provided plenty of early highlights, rattling off six consecutive birdies at TPC Scottsdale during Round 2 on Friday. Ryan Fox, Chris Gotterup and Scottie Scheffler were among the players capturing the camera’s attention in the afternoon.
After an opening 73 and subsequent spirited range session, Scheffler fixed his grip and then fired a 6-under 65 Friday at TPC Scottsdale.
Joel Dahmen and Keith Mitchell joined “Happy Hour with Smylie” during second round play at TPC Scottsdale. Dahmen spoke about wearing a Seattle Seahawks helmet before burying a chip shot to the crowd’s delight Thursday. Mitchell, dubbed “the best dressed on Tour,” laughed off digs about his five-button polo.
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Ryo Hisatsune chipped in for birdie after driving his ball in the water on the par-4 17th hole and shot a bogey-free 8-under 63 to surge into the lead in the second round of WM Phoenix Open.
Sahith Theegala continued to save himself strokes at TPC Scottsdale with a birdie hole-out on 17 on Friday. “Happy Hour with Smylie” noted how the shot was reminiscent of Theegala’s eagle last week at Torrey Pines.
Joel Dahmen and Keith Mitchell joined “Happy Hour with Smylie” just in time to watch Mark Hubbard’s tee shot in front of the Coliseum crowd at the WM Phoenix Open. Hubbard, a Colorado native, repped a Denver Broncos jersey and landed the drive within feet of the pin. A day prior, Dahmen donned a Seattle Seahawks helmet while walking 16 to show support of his hometown team.
The Auburn junior fired 10-under 62 for the second straight round Friday to move to 20 under through two rounds of the Amer Ari Invitational and best Woods’ NCAA 36-hole record.
Keith Mitchell, alongside Joel Dahmen and Smylie Kaufman during “Happy Hour with Smylie presented by Michelob Ultra,” shows of his style with the 5-button polo and cashmere putter cover,