A Monday finish did not deter Austin Eckroat at the Cognizant Classic, as he became the 4th first-time winner on the PGA Tour in 2024.
In a remarkable achievement, Austin Eckroat emerged victorious at the Cognizant Classic, marking his first career win on the PGA Tour. With an impressive 17-under total score, Eckroat secured a three-shot lead, courtesy of his exceptional performance throughout the tournament.
Notably, he concluded the event with a final round score of 4-under 67, maintaining a consistent streak of all four rounds in the 60s. His remarkable feat surpassed the efforts of Erik van Rooyen and Min Woo Lee, who finished tied for second place at 14-under.
Due to a rain delay on Sunday, the PGA Tour was compelled to conclude the competition at PGA National on Monday.
Upon arriving at PGA National on Monday morning, Eckroat was left with 12 holes to complete. He commenced his round on the challenging par-3 7th, a hole that had seen an ace by Nick Dunlap during the second round.
Despite the difficulty, Eckroat maintained the momentum from Sunday, where he ended with two birdies at the 4th and 5th holes, positioning himself favorably.
The former Oklahoma State Cowboy continued his steady play on Monday, securing four consecutive pars before adding back-to-back birdies at 12 and 13, further solidifying his lead.
He made a mistake at 14, but quickly refocused as he faced the challenging Bear Trap.
Considered one of the most difficult sections in golf, the 25-year-old remained calm as he landed safely on the green at 15.
Eckroat then executed a fantastic approach shot on the par-4 16th, resulting in another birdie.
This brought him to 4-under for the day and 17-under for the tournament. With a three-shot lead, he maintained his position until the end. Eckroat closed with two solid pars to secure the championship.
During his tenure at Oklahoma State, Eckroat shared the field with Viktor Hovland and Matthew Wolff, who have both secured victories on the PGA Tour. The success of these three individuals highlights the excellence of the Oklahoma State program.
Although Eckroat narrowly missed out on a win in his debut season last year, trailing Jason Day by just one stroke at the AT&T Byron Nelson, he managed to clinch victory in his 50th PGA Tour appearance this time around.
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