BLOG#314CogA-Results of Cognizant Classic RDs1&2 Feb 26&Feb 27, 2026

BLOG#314CogA-Results of Cognizant Classic RDs1&2 Feb 26&Feb 27, 2026

ROUND1 Perfect weather 80’s, little wind in AM picked up in PM and higher scores.

Adam Scott 20/1 was 1 of my favorites withdrew and was replaced by Chan Kim who made the cut with RDs of 69&71 with a DB on #17 in RD2.

*1 Austin Smotherman-9 62 Bogie free with 9 birdies, hard to believe he is #67FedX.

He has missed 3 of 4 cuts this year and played on the Korn Ferry Tour last year.

2 Nico Echavarria-8 63 Bogie free 8 birdies, finished 8th Pebble Beach made $515K this year.

*3 Taylor Moore-4 67 One bogie 1 eagle 3 birdies, made $44K in 2 tournaments this year.

*3 Jackson Suber -4 67 Bogie free 31 front 9, all pars back, made $19K at Farmers.

*3 Kevin Roy-4 67 Bogies #6 then 5 birdies next 12 holes.

3 Daniel Berger-4 67 Finishes with 3 birdies, made 3 of 4 cuts this year, best #16 WM.

*3 Kristoffer Roeitan-4 67 Bogie free RD, has made 2 of 3 cuts & earned 80K this year.

*3 Pontus Nyholm-4 67 One bogie 5 birdies, missed all 4 cuts this year, $0.

*9 Beau Hossler-3 68 One bogie 3 birdies, in contention several times last year, 2026 $0.

9 Joel Dahmen-3 68 Front 9 (31) but 0 birdies 1 bogie back 9.

*9 Aaron Rai-3 Bogie free, last week went from 1st after RD1 to 24th.

9 Max McGreevy-3 68 Starts 5 birdies 1st 10 holes then +2 last 7 but best start this year.

9 Kevin Mitchell-3 68 One biggie 4 birdies, good year #11 at Farmers & has made $300K.

*9 Kevin Yu-3 68 Starts 4 birdies on 1st 5 hoes, then+1 next 13, missed 3 of 4 cuts #70 PB.

Un-or little known-3 68 Cha Kim, Hank Lebioda, Dan Brown, William Mauw, Michael Brennan, Chad Ramey, Sadarsshan Yellamaraju. These players and *9 of the top 14 listed can’t win.

35-1 70 Shane Lowry, Nicolia Hojgaard, Joe Highsmith. All 3 picked in top 10.

98 Brooks Koepka+3 74 Two birdies 3 bogies and a horrible DB on par 3 #17 when he hits his approach shot over the green into waters edge. I love the guy’s honesty and personality, but he joined LIV for a ton of $ because injury’s left his PGA future questioned. Like Jordan Spieth, I hope he can become close to the players they were because they are good for the game. Unfortunately like Rickie Fowler there best years may be behind them.

COMMANTERY

As expected leaderboard is full of unrecognized and underachieving names. This is one of the events that has dropped off in attendance and TV appeal due to signature events and overexposure. Its similar to watching Spring Training Baseball and preseason games in football, basketball & hockey. But there is a difference; these sub par events occur during the regular PGA season, while it is a true pre-season in other sports. The challenge for the PGA is to provide a high quality product from start to finish. Tickets for this event are reasonable from $30 to $50 and Thursday to Sunday $72 to $150.

ROUND 2 @ Players start on 11th hole. More wind than yesterday AM.

@1 A Somotherman-11 69 Birdies 10 then 2 bogies but birdies #17,18,1&2 for 4 stroke lead -12

@ 2 T Moore-8 67 Second 67, Two bogies 6 birdies, one on #17.

@ 3 N Echavarri-8 72 Birdies 1st hole to tie for lead but then 3 bogies 1 birdie nest 17 holes.

@3 T Moore-8 67 Starts with birdie on#10 and #17, total 2 bogies 6 birdies.

@3 AJ Ewart-7 64 Canadian moves up 48 spots, starts with 6 birdies #12 to #18, DB on #17 then, pars next 6 and birdies last 3 holes. Has made all 3 cuts this year earned $112K.

5 J Dahman-6 68 Par on front 9 then great back 9, 1 bogie #15, 5 birdies including #17.

6 S Lowry-5 67 Birdies 5 of 1st 13 holes but bogies #14&#17 but birdies 18, up 24 spots.

6 Six others at-5.

@ 20 B Koepla- Poor finish RD1 2 bogies & DD on#17, finishes RD2 with 5 birdies last 9 holes.

CUT E Thorbjornsen, L Clanton+1, Woodland, Kucher, Kirk+2, Blades Brown, N Dunlap+5

H Higgs+6, W Zallrtoris W.