Blog#314COGB- Final Results Cognizant Classic March 2, 2026

Blog#314COGB- Final Results Cognizant Classic March 2, 2026

ROUND 3 Early start due to expected PM thunder storms little wind.

They destroyed this course today with 39 of the 67 players-par. Only 5 were +2 or worse.

Last year champion, Joe Highsmith+5 76 1DB, 5bogies, 2birdies but pars the Bear Trap.

1 Shane Lowry-13 63 Bogie free 8 birdies including #17&18, up 5 spots.

1 A Smotherman-13 72 Birdies holes 3&4-13, +3lead, then bogies 6&7 but birdies #17&18.

3 Nico Echavarria-12 69 Bogie free 5 birdies including #18.

4 Taylor Moore-11 67 Birdies 3,4,8&10, the bogies 14 but pars #18 to tie for 2nd.

FINAL ROUND This should be Shane Lowry’s tournament. He has shot lower each of the 3 RDs, #1-3 bogies, 2-2, 3-0. If he plays clean golf & stays away from bad holes he should win. At 38, this would be a nice win. His best 2 were the Zurich Classic in 2024 with Rory McIlroy, and the OPEN in 2019. I pick him but if not 1 of the other 3, I don’t see anyone else winning.

The tournament goes down to the top 4 players from RD 4 which I expected, but rarely happens. Lowry’s meltdown not only cost him $1M and the win, but probably $300K by sharing the 2nd place prize money.

Lowry Plays outstanding golf going-17 and takes a 1 stroke lead over Echavarria after an eagle on #10 then par, and birdies on 12&13 to get to-19 a 3 stroke lead with 5 holes to play. He pars 14&15 then completely unravels with+4 on the Bear trap.

#16 Hits tee shot into water then penalty shot into bunker, but hits a great shot to green for DB, and he still has a 1 shot lead until Echavarria birdies 17 to tie.

#17 Hits an 8 instead of an 7 iron into the water again for another DB. How can you screw up the 16th so badly and then do the same on 17?

#18 He not only blows the win but he misses a makable birdie putt which allows Smotherman and Moore to tie him for 2nd. Tells the press “golf does strange things to you at times, and certainly did to me today”.

Echavarria who lost the lead with a birdie on 10 goes-1 on the bear trap with birdie on 17 to get to-17 and and tie Lowry who DB’s 17 and loses by 2.

Smotherman Bogies 6&9, but birdies 10&18 to tie for 2nd.

Moore DB on #6 but also birdies 12&18 to tie for 2nd.

OTHER POSITIVE PERFORMANCES LEADING INTO A. Palmer next week.

6 Nicolia Hojgaard-11 65 Picked #6 to win, slow start 70&72 strong finish 65&66. $324K

6 Keith Mitchell-11 68 Despite DB on 16 has 5 birdies, one on 18. $324K

9 Joel Dahmen-10 70 Only 4 bogies in entire tournament but he does not qualify for AP. $252K

BAD!!!

67 Joe Highsmith+6 Last after RD3 & last after RD4, bad showing by last years winner.

CUT Luke Clinton Has missed 4 cuts this year and withdrew from American Express which he won last year as an amateur, turned pro a week later.