Golf

Shane Lowry laments his blown lead at the Cognizant Classic: ‘I threw it away’

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 4 minute read Sunday, Mar. 1, 2026

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Shane Lowry could envision the scene.

His 4-year-old daughter came to PGA National for the final round of the Cognizant Classic on Sunday, and he wanted nothing more than to see her running across the 18th green in celebration. And with a three-shot lead and three holes left, such a moment was within his grasp.

Until it wasn't. Lowry made back-to-back double bogeys and settled for a tie for second — two shots behind winner Nico Echavarria, adding to his run of frustrating Sundays at PGA National.

“I wanted it so bad,” Lowry said. “Just to see her little ginger hair running down the 18th green would have been the most special thing in the world. I thought I had it. I thought I was going to win.”

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Echavarria takes advantage of Lowry’s meltdown on PGA Tour, Green wins LPGA event in Singapore

The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Echavarria takes advantage of Lowry’s meltdown on PGA Tour, Green wins LPGA event in Singapore

The Associated Press 5 minute read Sunday, Mar. 1, 2026

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Nico Echavarria didn’t make a bogey all weekend. Shane Lowry was on his way to doing the same, until the very end. And that’s what decided the Cognizant Classic.

Echavarria — who was three shots back with three holes left — shot a 5-under 66 on Sunday to win at PGA National, finishing at 17-under 267 and beating Lowry (69), Austin Smotherman (69) and Taylor Moore (68) by two shots.

Lowry — who remains snakebit by PGA National, where he has finished in the top 11 for five straight years without a victory — was undone by double bogeys at the par-4 16th and par-3 17th, both after tee shots went way right and into the water.

It was Echavarria’s third PGA Tour win and first in the United States, and this one earned a second Masters invitation for the 31-year-old from Colombia.

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Sunday, Mar. 1, 2026

Nico Echavarria of Colombia reacts to his birdie putt on the 17th hole during the final round of the Cognizant Classic golf tournament, Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Nico Echavarria of Colombia reacts to his birdie putt on the 17th hole during the final round of the Cognizant Classic golf tournament, Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Nico Echavarria wins Cognizant Classic after Shane Lowry melts down late

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Nico Echavarria wins Cognizant Classic after Shane Lowry melts down late

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 5 minute read Sunday, Mar. 1, 2026

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Nico Echavarria didn't make a bogey all weekend. Shane Lowry was on his way to doing the same, until the very end.

And that's what decided the Cognizant Classic.

Echavarria — who was three shots back with three holes left — shot a 5-under 66 on Sunday to win at PGA National, finishing at 17-under 267 and beating Lowry (69), Austin Smotherman (69) and Taylor Moore (68) by two shots.

“It was a blessing today,” Echavarria said. “I didn’t have my best off the tee, but I was able to manage. I had some good breaks. To win out here, sometimes you have to have good breaks if you’re not Scottie Scheffler that hits it every time in the perfect place. So, I’m happy with how it went.”

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Sunday, Mar. 1, 2026

Nico Echavarria of Colombia show his ball on the first green during the final round of the Cognizant Classic golf tournament, Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Nico Echavarria of Colombia show his ball on the first green during the final round of the Cognizant Classic golf tournament, Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Casey Jarvis wins South African Open. That gets him into the Masters and British Open

The Associated Press 3 minute read Sunday, Mar. 1, 2026

STELLENBOSCH, South Africa (AP) — Casey Jarvis seized control with three birdies in his opening five holes and closed with a 3-under 67 to win the South African Open on Sunday, earning the 22-year-old South African a spot in the Masters and the British Open this year.

Jarvis won for the second straight week on the European tour, following his victory last week in the Kenya Open.

“I just had a slight feeling at the start of the week that something crazy was going to happen,” Jarvis said after his three-shot victory at Stellenbosch Golf Club.

The timing was ideal. For the first time, the Masters offered an invitation to the winner of the South African Open. Golf's third-oldest national championship also provided three spots to the leading players not already eligible for the British Open in July at Royal Birkdale.

Australian Hannah Green wins HSBC Women’s World Championship by a stroke

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Australian Hannah Green wins HSBC Women’s World Championship by a stroke

The Associated Press 2 minute read Sunday, Mar. 1, 2026

SINGAPORE (AP) — Australian Hannah Green has won the HSBC Women’s World Championship for a second time, holding off a fast-finishing American Auston Kim to claim a one-stroke victory on Sunday.

Green, the 2019 Women’s PGA Championship winner, closed with a 69, after an erratic back-nine with three birdies and three bogeys nearly opened the door for Kim.

Green tapped in for bogey at the last and a 14-under four-round total of 274 at the par-72 Sentosa Golf Club and give her another title in Singapore after also winning here in 2024.

Kim had the equal-best round of the day with a 67 on the back off six birdies and an eagle, but bogeys at the second and especially at the par-3 15th ended her charge at 13-under 275, and one shot behind a faltering Green.

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Sunday, Mar. 1, 2026

Hannah Green of Australia reacts on the green during the HSBC Women's World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Suhaimi Abdullah)

Hannah Green of Australia reacts on the green during the HSBC Women's World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Suhaimi Abdullah)

Daniel Hillier holds out Lucas Herbert to win the New Zealand Open

The Associated Press 3 minute read Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealander Daniel Hillier held off a late charge from Australian Lucas Herbert Sunday to defend his overnight lead and to win the 105th New Zealand Open by two shots.

Hillier also overcame strong winds and cold conditions to post a final round 67 for a 22-under four-round total of 262 at the par-72 Millbrook Resort. Herbert shot 67, finishing 20 under at 264.

The winner of the New Zealand Open receives automatic entry to The Open Championship but as Hillier already has qualified that prize passes to Herbert who will now play at Royal Birkdale from July 16.

Hillier, who was married earlier this week, led by one shot at 18 under coming into the final round. He made birdie, birdie, par, eagle, birdie to finish his third round and to seize the outright lead.

Shane Lowry and Austin Smotherman tied for the Cognizant Classic lead at 13 under

The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Shane Lowry and Austin Smotherman tied for the Cognizant Classic lead at 13 under

The Associated Press 5 minute read Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Shane Lowry has yet another chance to win at PGA National.

The native of Ireland who now calls South Florida home had a bogey-free round of 8-under 63 on Saturday, moving to 13 under and finishing with a share of the lead following three rounds of the Cognizant Classic. 

He's tied with Austin Smotherman, who battled his way to a 69. Lowry said his goal going into Saturday — which had tee times moved up because of anticipated bad weather — was just to get into one of the final two groups for Sunday, then did a little better than that.

“You want to be near the leaders, keep an eye on them and see what they’re doing,” Lowry said. “If the conditions are like this tomorrow, there (are) low scores out there, so someone could come from the pack. It’s not necessarily easy to lead around this golf course. There’s a lot of very difficult shots. But I’m up there where I want to be. I’ve had a few chances to win this tournament, and hopefully I can convert it tomorrow.”

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Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

Shane Lowry of Ireland shakes hands with Aaron Rai of England, at the end of the third round of the Cognizant Classic golf tournament, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Shane Lowry of Ireland shakes hands with Aaron Rai of England, at the end of the third round of the Cognizant Classic golf tournament, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Australians Green and Lee move into the lead after 3 rounds of LPGA Singapore

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Australians Green and Lee move into the lead after 3 rounds of LPGA Singapore

The Associated Press 3 minute read Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

SINGAPORE (AP) — Australians Hannah Green and Minjee Lee moved to the top of the leaderboard Saturday to lead by one stroke after three rounds of the HSBC Women’s World Championship.

Green, the 2019 Women’s PGA Championship winner and who won the Singapore tournament in 2024, shot a 4-under 68 and three-time major winner Lee 69 to post three-round totals of 11-under 205 at the Sentosa Golf Club.

American Angel Yin (68) and Haeran Ryu (70) of South Korea were tied for third in the LPGA tournament.

With the final group on the eighth hole, six players were tied for the lead at 9-under. Yin took the lead for first time with a birdie from off the green on the 10th, displacing her fellow American Auston Kim, who had led after the first two rounds.

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Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026

Hannah Green of Australia tees off during the HSBC Women's World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Suhaimi Abdullah)

Hannah Green of Australia tees off during the HSBC Women's World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Suhaimi Abdullah)

Ewart in contention, Koepka makes the cut at PGA National after second round of Cognizant Classic

The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Ewart in contention, Koepka makes the cut at PGA National after second round of Cognizant Classic

The Associated Press 4 minute read Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Brooks Koepka doesn't aspire to simply make the weekends. Ben Silverman was merely hoping to play, period.

They'll return to PGA National on Saturday, after bouncing back in the second round of the Cognizant Classic.

Koepka shot a 5-under 66 on Friday, trimming eight shots from his opening round score, and Silverman shaved six shots from his opening round with a 3-under 67. That got them well within the cut line, and both are at 2 under headed into the weekend — nine shots behind leader Austin Smotherman (69).

“If I’m out here to try to make cuts, I’m probably done,” said Koepka, the five-time major championship winner who is a native of Palm Beach County and has a bit of a home-field edge this week. He has now made two of three cuts since returning to the PGA Tour earlier this year following a stint of nearly four years with Saudi-backed LIV.

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Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

Brooks Koepka lines up a putt at the 16th green during the first round of the Phoenix Open golf tournament at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Brooks Koepka lines up a putt at the 16th green during the first round of the Phoenix Open golf tournament at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

3-time major winner Minjee Lee moves up the LPGA Singapore leaderboard with a 64

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

3-time major winner Minjee Lee moves up the LPGA Singapore leaderboard with a 64

The Associated Press 2 minute read Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

SINGAPORE (AP) — Three-time major winner Minjee Lee improved on her first-round score by eight strokes Friday for an 8-under 64 to move into a tie for second place at the HSBC Women’s World Championship.

The No. 4-ranked Lee, one of nine top-10 players in the LPGA Singapore field this week, had an eagle and six birdies and tied for the round of the day on the Sentosa Golf Club’s Tanjong course.

Lee was one stroke behind first-round leader Auston Kim, whose 69 left the American with a leading two-round total of 9-under 135.

“I’m trying to embrace every single moment right now, and every single moment I’m out there competing and playing golf, it’s a win and there’s only things to gain," Kim said of her unlikely lead over two rounds.

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Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

Minjee Lee of Australia tees off during the HSBC Women's World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Suhaimi Abdullah)

Minjee Lee of Australia tees off during the HSBC Women's World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Suhaimi Abdullah)

Opening round at the Cognizant Classic features bird feathers, shots from the mud and hole-outs

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Opening round at the Cognizant Classic features bird feathers, shots from the mud and hole-outs

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 3 minute read Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Ryan Gerard appeared to clip a bird with a tee shot. David Ford spent a few minutes in the mud, then went about an hour without using his putter.

Round 1 of the Cognizant Classic had some weirdness Thursday.

It looked like Gerard hit a bird on the 207-yard, par-3 seventh hole; replays showed feathers in the air as his shot made its way to the hole, after the bird flew into the path of the ball shortly after Gerard made contact.

It wasn't clear if the bird was injured. Gerard's approach came to rest about 35 feet from the hole and the highest-ranked player in the field — No. 26 in the world — went on make a two-putt par.

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Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

Adam Scott, from Australia, left, shakes hands with Ryan Gerard after finishing the first round of the Genesis Invitational golf tournament at Riviera Country Club, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Adam Scott, from Australia, left, shakes hands with Ryan Gerard after finishing the first round of the Genesis Invitational golf tournament at Riviera Country Club, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Reports: Italian golfer Pavan badly injured from fall down elevator shaft when car was not there

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Reports: Italian golfer Pavan badly injured from fall down elevator shaft when car was not there

The Associated Press 2 minute read Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

STELLENBOSCH, South Africa (AP) — Italian golfer Andrea Pavan was badly injured from a fall down an elevator shaft when the doors opened and he was unaware the car wasn't there, according to multiple reports.

Golf Channel cited people on a text thread with Pavan's friends on the European tour and former Texas A&M teammates in reporting he suffered injuries to his back and shoulder and had undergone surgery Wednesday night in South Africa.

Pavan was scheduled to play in the South African Open, which began Thursday.

“By all accounts, he's in good spirits, thankful to be alive and FaceTiming with his kids,” J.T. Higgins, his former coach at Texas A&M, told Golf Channel. Higgins said he had not spoken with Pavan but was updated on his condition.

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Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

FILE - Andrea Pavan, of Italy, plays his second shot on the first hole during the third round of the Dubai Desert Classic in United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri, File)

FILE - Andrea Pavan, of Italy, plays his second shot on the first hole during the third round of the Dubai Desert Classic in United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri, File)

Austin Smotherman leads the Cognizant Classic, making 6 straight birdies in a first-round 62

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Austin Smotherman leads the Cognizant Classic, making 6 straight birdies in a first-round 62

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 5 minute read Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Austin Smotherman's one previous PGA Tour appearance at the tournament now known as the Cognizant Classic was in 2022 and it was unmemorable: He shot 70 in the first round, 76 in the second and missed the cut by four shots.

Given that, he didn't see a round like Thursday's coming.

Smotherman matched the best score of his career, shooting a 9-under 62 to take a one-stroke lead over Nico Echavarria after the first round.

Smotherman became the seventh player to shoot 62 or better at PGA National in this event. The others: Jake Knapp (59 in round 1, 2025), Matt Jones (61 in round 1, 2021), Brian Harman (61 in round 2, 2012), Chris Kirk (62 in round 2, 2023), Brandon Hagy (62 in round 2, 2021) and Tiger Woods (62 in the final round, 2012).

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Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

Billy Horschel hits from the 17th tee at Spyglass Hill Golf Course during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament in Pebble Beach, Calif., Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Billy Horschel hits from the 17th tee at Spyglass Hill Golf Course during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament in Pebble Beach, Calif., Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

No 1 Thitikul struggles in the first round of the LPGA Singapore led by Kim

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

No 1 Thitikul struggles in the first round of the LPGA Singapore led by Kim

The Associated Press 2 minute read Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

SINGAPORE (AP) — Top-ranked Jeeno Thitikul struggled during the first round of the HSBC Women’s World Championship on Thursday, shooting a 1-over 73 to trail the leader by seven strokes.

Thitikul won last week’s tournament in her native Thailand and is among nine out of the top 10 players entered in the Singapore LPGA stop on the Sentosa Golf Club’s Tanjong course.

American Auston Kim birdied two of her final three holes for a 66 and a one-stroke lead over China's Yan Liu. 

Five players were tied for third with 68s, including No. 12-ranked Haeran Ryu.

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Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand reacts on the green during the HSBC World Championship of women's golf at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Suhaimi Abdullah)

Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand reacts on the green during the HSBC World Championship of women's golf at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Suhaimi Abdullah)

Brooks Koepka returns to the Cognizant Classic for his first start there since 2022

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Brooks Koepka returns to the Cognizant Classic for his first start there since 2022

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 5 minute read Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — There are countless comforts of home for Brooks Koepka this week when he plays the Cognizant Classic. That doesn't mean everything is necessarily comfortable.

His son watched plenty of hockey from the Milan Cortina Olympics over the last few days, which means there was quite a bit of hockey playing inside the Koepka home. Evidently, Crew Koepka — in his defense, the kid isn't even 3 yet — hasn't exactly mastered the art of stickhandling. And his father learned that the hard way.

“Took a stick to the face the other day at the house, so that was interesting. It’s been a while since that happened. It definitely hurts,” Koepka said. “I feel Jack Hughes and his pain a little bit, but didn’t lose a tooth, thankfully.”

Hughes — after losing some teeth against Canada — scored the game-winning goal for Olympic gold last Sunday. Koepka would happily settle for a win this Sunday, in his third tournament since returning to the PGA Tour after nearly four years with Saudi-funded LIV Golf.

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Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026

Brooks Koepka lines up a putt at the 16th green during the first round of the Phoenix Open golf tournament at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Brooks Koepka lines up a putt at the 16th green during the first round of the Phoenix Open golf tournament at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Jim Furyk to dip toes in the TV waters. He will be in Golf Channel booth at Bay Hill and Sawgrass

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 3 minute read Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026

Former U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk is testing the television waters as the lead analyst in the booth for Golf Channel during its weekday coverage of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill and The Players Championship.

His stint also includes Golf Channel's two hours of lead-in coverage on the weekend at Bay Hill.

“It's probably on a trial basis, see how much I like it, get a feel for it,” Furyk said. “With any new endeavor, it's a learning process. There's a feel and flow for how the show is done. I'm focused on doing the best job for two weeks.”

Furyk will be in the booth with announcer Terry Gannon at both events.

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