Cognizant Classic In The Palm Beaches
Course: PGA National (Champions) in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Yardage: 7,147. Par: 71.
Prize money: $9 million. Winner’s share: $1.62 million.
TV (ET): Thursday-Friday, 2-6 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel) and 3-6 p.m. (NBC).
Stat 10
That’s how many past champions are in the field this week at the rebranded 2024 Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches. The 2023 winner of the then-Honda Classic, Chris Kirk is back to defend his title and enters the week in good form following his season-opening win at the 2024 The Sentry.
Keep an eye on
Rory McIlroy. The 2012 Cognizant Classic winner returns to PGA National for the 10th time and first since his T-59 finish in 2018. McIlroy won The Match IX earlier this week against Max Homa, Lexi Thompson and Rose Zhang and has gotten better in each tournament he’s played this season after a T-66 at Pebble Beach and T-24 two weeks ago at the Genesis Invitational.
Shane Lowry. The smart money this week is on Lowry, who has a pair of top-5 finishes in each of the last two editions of the Cognizant Classic (2, 2022; T-5, 2023).
Tee times
Golf Channel coverage on Thursday (2-6 p.m. ET) will feature the debut of former world No. 1 Luke Donald as lead analyst for the event. Featured groups will star Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Rickie Fowler and more. Golf Channel will also have Friday coverage and early-round coverage on the weekend before NBC takes over in the afternoons.
FedExCup
Matthieu Pavon remains at the top of the standings and the top five remain unchanged, but 2024 Mexico Open at Vidanta winner Jake Knapp jumped from outside the top 50 into the top 10. The FedExCup consists of 38 events that culminates Aug. 29-Sept. 1 at the Tour Championship. Viktor Hovland is the defending champion.
Top 5
Matthieu Pavon ............... 949 points Scottie Scheffler ............. 848 points Hideki Matsuyama .......... 825 points Chris Kirk ........................... 813 points Wyndham Clark ............... 773 points