The initial day of the Florida Swing offered a diverse range of events. Multiple golfers tried to play shots from aquatic obstacles, a concerning departure occurred involving a prominent personality in the sport, and the top-seeded competitor even struck a bird. Through it all, Austin Smotherman remained unperturbed, initiating his 2026 Cognizant Classic with an impressive 9-under 62, securing a one-stroke advantage over Nico Echavarria after the first round.
“After a fortnight’s break, I arrived here today eager to compete,” Smotherman remarked. “I was also pleased to have an early tee time, avoiding the wait and the potential distraction of observing what others were doing. My sole focus was getting onto the course. I felt my performance was in a strong state.
“Candidly, I didn’t practice extensively while at home – I simply rested whenever possible, anticipating numerous consecutive playing weeks until my wife’s due date for our third child on March 23rd. Navigating this week’s events on my own, my play seemed to align. It was a rather straightforward round on a course that typically isn’t this forgiving. It felt quite satisfying.”
Smotherman commenced his participation with two birdies within his initial five holes, then found a burst of momentum near the midpoint of the course. He achieved a streak of six consecutive birdies from the 7th through the 12th holes, propelling him to a shared lead. A final birdie on the par-5 concluding hole ensured he concluded Thursday’s play as the sole leader.
Whereas Smotherman and certain other competitors experienced serene morning conditions, Brooks Koepka, a five-time major winner, and those starting later in the day encountered a distinct set of obstacles. As the day advanced, the wind intensified, obliging players to contend with a more challenging PGA National course, despite it remaining historically rather mild.
Following two disappointing performances on the West Coast, marred by significant difficulties with his putting, Koepka approached the Cognizant Classic with a revived sense of optimism regarding his short game. Nevertheless, persisting with his TaylorMade Spider putter, he observed an unchanged outcome.
The local Florida player completed his round at 3 over par, hampered by both his putting performance and his closing holes. Koepka’s most significant successful stroke was a 36-foot putt on the par-4 6th, securing the first of his pair of birdies. Regrettably, his next longest successful putt, from 5 feet, 5 inches, occurred on the par-3 17th, resulting in a double-bogey five, positioned between two other scores of five on his record.
“He finished 3 over, so I don’t believe he performed optimally,” Daniel Berger commented about Koepka. “Clearly, he struggled on the 17th, but one thing I am certain of is his ability to quickly reverse his fortunes. I anticipate he will return tomorrow and play strongly.”
Top Performer
1. Austin Smotherman (-9): To achieve a score of 62 at PGA National necessitates converting a significant number of putts, a feat Smotherman accomplished precisely. The 31-year-old sank 132 feet of putts, improved his score by more than three strokes through putting, and hit 17 greens in regulation. This last point will be crucial on Friday, as he is scheduled for an afternoon tee time when weather conditions are forecast to become more challenging.
“My intention was simply to execute effective putts with a high trajectory throughout the day, which felt very liberating,” Smotherman stated. “I’m not marking a line on my golf ball this week, a practice I haven’t adopted in some time, but it seems to aid on these greens. Given their extensive undulations, speed, and the wind, not needing to constantly adjust and meticulously focus on a line felt quite emancipating.
“Witnessing the distances of the putts I was sinking was gratifying, but I also believed I struck many solid putts. The par save on the 15th to maintain momentum, and another par save on the 6th following a poor lag putt, also sustained my progress. So, when these occurrences happen, and then a long putt drops, you feel like you’re gaining an advantage, and then you strike one close, continually improving on those holes. Before you realize it, your round is complete, and here we are.”
Rivals
2. Nico Echavarria (-8)
T3. Taylor Moore, Jackson Suber, Daniel Berger, Kevin Roy, Kristoffer Reitan (-4)
T8. Keith Mitchell, Joel Dahmen, Michael Brennan, Aaron Rai and nine additional players (-3)
Echavarria, not Smotherman, was the leader in strokes gained putting among all competitors on Thursday. The two-time PGA Tour victor has failed to make the cut in four of his five initial tournaments of the 2026 season, with his only weekend participation being a top-10 result at Pebble Beach. Notwithstanding this inconsistency, Echavarria maintained that his play was nearly there, and Thursday’s performance served as evidence, as he also navigated PGA National without incurring any bogeys.
“My season didn’t commence ideally, but I performed exceptionally well at Pebble, and those premier tournaments award significant points, which I’m pleased about,” Echavarria stated. “My golf game hasn’t been far from optimal, and I recognized today that maintaining composure and simply enjoying the experience on the course would be crucial, and we achieved that.”
Player Sentiments Regarding PGA National
Between 2006 and 2023, only 11 golfers achieved a score of 10 under par or better at PGA National. However, in 2025, a remarkable 38 players managed this, with Jake Knapp even recording a 59. It is important to note that certain modifications occurred between these intervals, such as the golf course undergoing overseeding and the conversion of the par-4 10th hole to a par 5, which alters a player’s score in relation to par. Nevertheless, if the previous year (and Thursday’s play) offers any insight into the challenge presented by this course, it is plausible to declare that this is unequivocally not the PGA National of earlier generations. What accounts for this shift? One need only consult Billy Horschel, a Florida native who has openly discussed the developments at the site.
“I addressed this last year. This is an exceptional golf course. It’s an equitable course. When strong winds prevail, it poses a significant test, but when conditions are mild, as they were today, it’s conquerable,” Horschel elucidated. “Several years prior, the rough was more substantial; subsequently, it was trimmed, and then the course underwent overseeding. Honestly, I believe the Tour receives undue criticism, and this isn’t an indictment of the PGA National owners. I comprehend their rationale for overseeding. …This situation isn’t unique to PGA National; it applies to numerous courses we compete on over the years.”
Concerning Pullout by Will Zalatoris
Fortunately, his back is not the issue, but a decision to pull out just ahead of his Round 1 starting time has prompted apprehension regarding Zalatoris. As per the PGA Tour, Zalatoris’ departure was attributed to a left ankle ailment; the slender right-handed player was at the practice amenities at PGA National, preparing for the opening round before removing his name from the roster.
Zalatoris commenced his season by securing a top-20 position at The American Express, prior to failing to make the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open. Formerly a regular threat in significant tournaments, Zalatoris’ ranking has fallen to 252nd in the Official World Golf Rankings, and he is ineligible for any of the four major championships in the 2026 season.
Revised Odds and Selections for 2026 Cognizant Classic
Probabilities sourced from DraftKings Sportsbook
- Nico Echavarria: 9/2
- Austin Smotherman: 5-1
- Daniel Berger: 12-1
- Kristoffer Reitan: 12-1
- Keith Mitchell: 20-1
- Rasmus Højgaard: 24-1
- Kevin Roy: 24-1
Conditions are expected to be more manageable again on Friday morning, presenting a chance for a player such as Michael Brennan to advance closer to the top. The PGA Tour newcomer’s odds are set at 35-1, following an initial round of 68 where he found 12 out of 14 fairways, alongside his remarkably long drives. His short game displayed some untidiness, but if he refines that aspect, he will possess a legitimate opportunity entering the weekend.
