Austin Eckroat Earns First PGA Tour Victory After Weather-Delayed Cognizant Classic Finish

After a weather-induced delay, Austin Eckroat clinched his maiden PGA Tour victory at the Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Eckroat outpaced Erik van Rooyen and Min Woo Lee by three strokes, securing $1.62 million, two years of tour status, and a debut trip to the Masters.

Overcoming his nerves, Eckroat displayed composure to maintain his lead throughout the final round, finishing at 17-under 267 with a 4-under 67 on the closing day. A college standout at Oklahoma State, Eckroat expressed immense satisfaction at realizing his dream of winning on the PGA Tour.

Van Rooyen fired an 8-under 63 to finish at 14 under, while Cameron Young, K.H. Lee, Shane Lowry, David Skinns, and Jake Knapp concluded their rounds at 13 under. However, none could overtake Eckroat, as the 25-year-old secured his first tour win in his 50th start.

Notable past moments for Eckroat include his impressive performance in last year’s U.S. Open and finishing tied for 10th with a 3-under 65 score. This victory propels him to Augusta National next month, with stops at Bay Hill and The Players preceding his Masters debut.

The Monday finish at the Cognizant Classic became necessary due to a rainstorm that halted play, bringing thunder and lightning to the area. Of the 68 cut-making players, 42 completed their rounds on Sunday, with 26 returning on Monday to complete their remaining holes.

Billy Horschel, who finished tied for ninth, encapsulated the challenging conditions of the tournament. His whirlwind day on Monday concluded swiftly, as he wrapped up his round with a par on the par-5 finishing hole after a delayed final putt.