Moving day has come and gone and now it’s time to crown a winner at the Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, the first of four straight tournaments in the Sunshine State.
With 18 holes left at PGA National’s Champion Course, Shane Lowry, David Skinns and Austin Eckroat lead the way at 13 under, three shots clear of five players at 10 under (Jacob Bridgeman, Min Woo Lee, Martin Laird, Kevin Yu and Victor Perez).
In four previous starts on Tour this season, Skinns failed to make a weekend.
As for Lowry, this showing isn’t a surprise. He lives locally and has finished inside the top five here each of the last two seasons. Eckroat has made the cut in four of his previous five starts this season, but has yet to finish inside the top 20.
42-year-old David Skinns hasn’t made a cut on TOUR since 2022, and his best career finish is T29.
He currently holds the co-lead late Saturday @The_Cognizant 👀 pic.twitter.com/iPPrUO97bE
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 2, 2024
If you missed any of Saturday’s action, no worries, we have you covered. Here’s everything you need to know from the third round of the Cognizant Classic.
Shane Lowry of Ireland lines up a putt on the third green during the third round of The Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches at PGA National Resort And Spa on March 02, 2024 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
In 2022, Shane Lowry finished runner-up to Sepp Straka. Last year, he tied for fifth. Plus, he lives down the road.
It’s easy to see why the Irishman is once again in contention at PGA National’s Champion Course.
Lowry started hot, making birdies on three of his first four holes and eventually made the turn with a 3-under 32.
He took care of the par-5 10th, making another birdie, but gave it back on the 14th. Lowry got through The Bear Trap unscathed, making two pars and a birdie (16). He’d add another on the closing hole for a third-round 5-under 66.
Lowry’s last Tour win came at the 2019 Open.
Rickie Fowler waits to putt on the 16th green during the second round of the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Another day in the wind, another solid round from Rickie Fowler, who sits at 8 under total after a second straight 4-under 67.
He made three birdies and a bogey on the front nine Saturday, going out with a 2-under 33. After making the turn, Fowler made a birdie on 13 and a bogey on 15, but finished his round nicely with back-to-back circles on Nos. 17 and 18.
His approach into the penultimate hole was a dart.
The closest shot of the day at No. 17.@RickieFowler hits it inside 4 feet 💪 pic.twitter.com/3p9SNJaV7Y
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 2, 2024
Jacob Bridgeman of the United States plays his shot from the second tee during the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines South Course on January 26, 2024 in La Jolla, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
After a few pedestrian rounds to start his week — 70 on Thursday, 68 on Friday — Jacob Bridgeman made a run up the leaderboard on Saturday with a 6-under 65.
He kept the scorecard clean and made four birdies on his inward nine to put himself into contention.
“I hit it really well. I didn’t really take too many risks,” he told the media. “Felt like I just played solid and conservative all day and then made some putts towards the end. Pretty pleased with 6 under. The wind is blowing a little bit, so I think it was a good one.”
In four starts so far this season, Bridgeman has made two cuts with his best finish coming at the American Express (T-39).
Rory McIlroy was 2 under for the day and 10 under total, just a few shots back of the lead, as he stepped to the 15th tee box.
He’d go on to make bogey on the 15th after falling to get up-and-down from a green-side bunker.
Then, at the 16th, his approach from the fairway found the water. Just enough ball was showing that he tried to get it out, playing it like a bunker shot.
It did not go well.
🚨WATCH: Rory McIlroy is having a tough time from the water 💦 at The Cognizant @TrackingRory pic.twitter.com/klJB9lepu6
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) March 2, 2024
He’d go on to make triple bogey.
McIlroy did birdie the par-5 last and signed for a 1-over 72. He’s 7 under total, six shots back of the lead.
| Position | Player | Score | Odds to win |
| T-1 | Shane Lowry | 13 under | (+170) |
| T-1 | Davis Skinns | 13 under | (+750) |
| T-1 | Austin Eckroat | 13 under | (+300) |
| T-4 | Jacob Bridgeman | 10 under | (+3500) |
| T-4 | Min Woo Lee | 10 under | (+1200) |
| T-4 | Martin Laird | 10 under | (+3500) |
| T-4 | Kevin Yu | 10 under | (+2200) |
| T-4 | Victor Perez | 10 under | (+2500) |
| T-9 | Andrew Novak | 9 under | (+4500) |
| T-9 | C.T. Pan | 9 under | (+5000) |
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