Venue Location
PGA National Resort (The Champion Course), Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. This iconic Tom Fazio-designed layout (redesigned with Jack Nicklaus input) measures 7,223 yards (lengthened ~100 yards from 2025) at par 71. Known for its 15 water hazards, strategic bunkering, and the infamous “Bear Trap” (holes 15-17: par-3 over water, risk-reward par-4, and another par-3 over water into the prevailing east-northeast wind). The course rewards precise iron play (especially 150-200 yards), scrambling, and wind management while punishing errant shots. Fairways and rough are overseeded with rye grass (firmer, more consistent than past dormant Bermuda); greens remain Bermuda. Recent agronomic work has the course in “better than ever” condition despite a record February cold snap.
Starting Date and Tee Time is scheduled for
Thursday, February 26 – Sunday, March 1, 2026 (72-hole stroke play, cut after 36 holes to top 65 + ties).
- Practice/Pro-Am: Wednesday, Feb. 25 (gates open ~7:00 a.m. ET).
- Round 1 (Thursday, Feb. 26): Gates open 7:00 a.m. ET; tee times ~7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET (wave starts).
- Round 2 (Friday): Same window.
- Round 3 (Saturday): ~8:00 a.m. – noon ET.
- Final Round (Sunday): ~8:00 a.m. – ~2:00 p.m. ET.
Purse: $9.6 million (winner: ~$1.7M + 500 FedExCup points). Broadcast: Golf Channel/NBC (coverage starts ~2:00 p.m. ET daily), ESPN+ streaming.
Weather Conditions
Classic South Florida February weather — mild and playable after a recent record cold snap that the rye overseed handled perfectly.
- Highs: 78–82°F daily.
- Lows: 55–65°F (cooler overnight).
- Wind: Light to moderate (8–15 mph, east-northeast prevailing — key factor on Bear Trap).
- Precipitation: Low chance (10–20% isolated showers possible Sunday); mostly sunny to partly cloudy.
- Humidity: Moderate (50–70%).
Perfect scoring conditions early in the week; wind could firm up the course and increase difficulty on the back nine by weekend. No freeze risk remains.
Course Conditions
Firm, fast, and in pristine shape. Rye overseed on fairways/rough provides excellent lies and durability. Bermuda greens running ~11–12 on the Stimpmeter (typical for the event). Water in play on 15 holes demands accuracy off the tee and precise approaches. Expect scoring average around 70–71 (par 71); winning score historically ~15–19 under in benign conditions. Bear Trap (15-17) remains the signature test — historically +0.5 to +1.0 strokes over par combined.
Tournament History
Long-running event (since 1972 as Jackie Gleason’s Inverrary Classic; later Honda Classic; rebranded Cognizant in 2024). Held at PGA National since 2007 (also hosted 1983 Ryder Cup, 1987 PGA Championship).
- Defending Champion: Joe Highsmith (2025) — posted the lowest weekend score in course history (64-64 = 128, 19-under total) for his first PGA Tour win.
- Notable past winners: Jack Nicklaus (multiple), Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Rickie Fowler, Chris Kirk, Austin Eckroat.
- Course records: 19-under (Highsmith 2025); lowest single round 62.
Strong history for accurate ball-strikers and locals/Florida residents.
Player Matchups & Key Contenders (Field: ~121–131 players)
No Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, or other top-5 OWGR players (first non-signature event in three weeks).
Top Contenders & Matchups:
- Shane Lowry (+1400–1600): Local (Jupiter, 20 miles away), 9th start at PGA National (never missed cut, multiple top-10s). Elite iron play suits the layout.
- Ryan Gerard (+1600–1900): Co-favorite; back-to-back runner-ups early 2026; 4th here in 2023 debut, T25 in 2025. Outstanding approach game (150–200 yards critical here).
- Brooks Koepka (+2700–3000): 3rd PGA Tour start since LIV return; major pedigree shines on tough tracks.
- Nicolai Højgaard (+2000) / Rasmus Højgaard (+2200): Red-hot ball-striking; twins dominate SG: Off-the-Tee and Approach.
- Defending Joe Highsmith: Seeks back-to-back (first since Nicklaus 1977–78).
- Others to watch: Max Homa, Aaron Rai, Will Zalatoris (if in), Keith Mitchell (past winner here as Honda), Daniel Berger, Michael Thorbjornsen, Haotong Li.
Recent Player Forms (Key Stats – Post-Olympic/Genesis)
- Gerard: 2 runner-ups + strong approach/SG:T2G.
- Lowry: Consistent top-10s; thrives in Florida wind.
- Højgaard twins: Elite tee-to-green; multiple top-5s recently.
- Koepka: Limited starts but sharp when playing.
- Highsmith: Momentum from 2025 breakthrough.
Field favors players with strong iron play, scrambling, and wind experience (Bear Trap separates contenders).
Betting Trends & Insights
- Favorites: Shane Lowry / Ryan Gerard co-favorites (~+1600). Wide-open field with no superstars boosts value on course-history specialists.
- Trends: Accurate iron players (150–200 yards) and scramblers dominate. Past performance at PGA National heavily predictive (Lowry, Gerard excel). Windy weekend historically inflates scores.
Overall Outlook
This is a wide-open Florida swing opener at a classic risk-reward venue. Expect low scores early if winds stay light, with the Bear Trap and firm conditions deciding the weekend. Shane Lowry’s local knowledge and iron play or Ryan Gerard’s red-hot form make them the logical frontrunners, but Brooks Koepka’s major pedigree or a surging Højgaard could steal the show. Joe Highsmith defending adds storyline intrigue. A winning score around 15–18 under is likely in benign weather.
