‘Been waiting for this moment my whole life’
PALM BEACH GARDENS — Austin Eckroat had never won a PGA Tour event entering the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches.
But he and his wife, Sally, who was home last week in Edmond, Oklahoma, meeting with contractors, made a deal: She would fly to Palm Beach County if Austin were in contention entering the weekend.
“After his Friday round he texted me, ‘Do you have a flight booked yet?’ ” Sally said.
Sally hopped on a plane, arriving in time Saturday for her husband’s back nine. Austin went from one shot out entering the weekend to tied for the lead after 54 holes, where he remained through a stormy Sunday that turned into Monday.
But with conditions much calmer, Eckroat started on No. 8 Monday and never relinquished that lead. In fact, he made it so comfortable he was able to play a stress-free 72nd hole, completing a 67 and four-day total 17-under 267 for his first professional win.
“I’m really not sure how I feel yet,” the 25-year-old former Oklahoma State All-American said after making his 50th start on the PGA Tour. “Been waiting for this moment my whole life.”
Winning on a Monday, with modest crowds, was appropriate for a man whose dad, Steve, says he’s so even keeled and low key that if he has a bad day on the course dinner “is not going to suck that night. He’s still pleasant.”
But, added, don’t misconstrue that for not having that passion. “He’s got a fire in him,” Steve said.
Eckroat, who shot a 65-67-68-67 and broke the Champion Course record for this event by three strokes, said he was the second most excited person “in the world” Monday — behind his dad.
Actually, Austin might have been the third most excited after watching