austin eckroat pga tour card

Texas Children's Houston Open

Memorial Park Golf Course

Austin Eckroat continues his rapid ascent with victory at the Cognizant Classic

Brennan Asplen

What was expected to be a shootout turned into a slog, the contestants worn down by bad weather and a long delay, and slowed by the stupor of Monday morning. But while the field failed to make a charge the man atop of it held steady, answering with precision and patience and well-timed putting, and for that Austin Eckroat earned his breakthrough win on the PGA Tour.

The former Oklahoma State product turned in a final-round 67 to capture the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches by three shots.

“I'm really not sure how I feel yet. I haven't really settled down,” Eckroat said on late Monday morning. “But just super excited and been waiting for this moment my whole life, and I don't really have a whole lot of words for it right now. But super excited.”

Eckroat, 25, might not have the fame of recent Cowboys prodigies like Viktor Hovland or Matt Wolff, yet the four-time All-American’s ascent through the professional game foreshadows a player of special ilk. After winning a national team championship at OSU and competing in the 2021 Walker Cup, Eckroat earned his PGA Tour card after just a year on the Korn Ferry Tour. Though he endured a rough start to his rookie year, he ultimately earned eight top-25 finishes, highlighted by a T-2 at the AT&T Byron Nelson. Any worries of a sophomore slump following another so-so opening to 2024 were put to bed this week, as Eckroat turned in a 65 on Thursday, then hung around the lead with a 67 and 68. He ended Sunday’s rain-shortened round leading by one, with 11 holes remaining on Monday morning.

Despite PGA National’s reputation as a brute, the course was tame this week, a byproduct of tournament officials easing off the brakes with set-up coupled with wet, soggy confines, seemingly forecasting a final day of red figures and fireworks. Alas, despite a congested board, no one broke from the pack. Eckroat’s 54-hole co-leaders, Shane Lowry and David Skinns, could not get their sticks out of neutral, and though Min Woo Lee had an eagle at the par-5 10th to put himself in the mix the highlights ended there.

Eckroat responded with the type of plodding play the situation called for, carding pars on his first four holes before making his move with back-to-back birdies at the 12th and 13th. His lone mistake, a bogey at the 14th, was quickly rectified by another birdie two holes later, playing the “Bear Trap” with an ease you’re not supposed to have through that stretch. The final holes were nothing more than a victory march.

“I look at leaderboards when I'm playing. I'm not afraid to look at them,” Eckroat said. “I noticed there were guys close, and when I was on 15, I saw that Min Woo Lee had gotten it to 14 under, and I think he was at 14 or maybe he was at 15. I saw what he was at, and I knew I wasn't clear then. But there was a lot of guys still in the event, especially with the ‘Bear Trap’ upcoming. It was great to pull away.”

Erik van Rooyen, who finished the tournament on Sunday with a 63 and spent Monday morning playing down the road in the Seminole Pro-Member, tied for second with Lee. Cameron Young, K.H. Lee, Lowry and last week’s winner Jake Knapp tied for fourth.

The win places Eckroat into the Masters and PGA Championship, and was the type of performance that begs the question if Eckroat can become another OSU great on tour. While that’s all well and good, Eckroat was more focused on what it took to get here—more specifically, the people that got him where he wanted to go, thanking his friends, family, wife and father.

“Yeah, he's the one that got me involved in the game. He's been my swing instructor since,” Eckroat said of his dad. “I'm the second most excited person in the world right now. He's definitely the first. It's just been our dream, his and mine together, since I was three, playing professional golf and winning on the PGA Tour. It's just a dream come true for both of us.”

So what if the tournament bled into Monday? Good things in life are worth waiting for. Perhaps the only time “waiting” has applied to Austin Eckroat.

More from Golf Digest

Trending now.

•   Weather

Search location by ZIP code

Austin eckroat gets his 1st pga tour win by prevailing at cognizant classic.

Austin Eckroat was a 25-year-old who was a star at Oklahoma State before turning pro.

• Copy Link Copy {copyShortcut} to copy Link copied!

GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS

The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox.

Austin Eckroat waited a long time to become a winner on the PGA Tour. Another day didn’t hurt.

| MORE | Crashing the Boards: What are the playoffs expectations for the Thunder?

Eckroat got the first victory of his tour career Monday, topping Erik van Rooyen and Min Woo Lee by three shots to win the weather-delayed Cognizant Classic. Among his prizes: $1.62 million — by far his biggest golf payday — along with tour status for two years and a trip to the Masters for the first time.

Eckroat shot a final round of 4-under 67, finishing at 17-under 267.

He said he was nervous Monday. He hid it well, never giving up the lead.

“This has always been my dream to win on the PGA Tour,” Eckroat told Golf Channel. “And just to win, I haven’t won since 2019 — it was a college event. It’s just been so long. I’m just so happy.”

He left PGA National on Sunday night when darkness stopped play with a one-stroke lead and was never caught. Back-to-back birdies on the 12th and 13th holes protected his lead, and a 12-footer for birdie on the par-4 16th pushed the edge out to three shots.

“I just kept telling myself, ‘I’ve put myself in this position for a reason,’” Eckroat said. “This is what I want to do.”

Eckroat laid up on the par-5 18th to protect his lead and take water out of play, knowing all he had to do was avoid disaster to finish off his first tour win in 50 career starts. He made an easy par, sealing the win.

“I was just really happy I was able to perform in the situation,” Eckroat said.

Van Rooyen had his round of 8-under 63 on Sunday to finish at 14 under. Cameron Young (66), K.H. Lee (66), Shane Lowry (71), David Skinns (71) and Jake Knapp (66) all ended their rounds on Monday, all wrapping up at 13 under. K.H. Lee made three birdies in the five holes he played Monday.

>> Download the KOCO 5 App

But nobody caught Eckroat, a 25-year-old who was a star at Oklahoma State before turning pro.

His most memorable tour moment, before Monday, likely was last year in the final round of the U.S. Open to become the sixth player in that tournament’s history to post a nine-hole score of 29. Eckroat shot a 5-under 65 and finished in a tie for 10th at 3 under — ensuring he’d play in this year’s U.S. Open.

The season’s first major awaits him now as well. He’s going to Augusta National next month, with stops at Bay Hill and The Players along the way to Magnolia Lane.

“The adversity of sleeping mid-round, I’m just really happy with how I handled it,” said Eckroat, who became the fourth first-time winner in nine tour events this season, joining Nick Dunlap, Matthieu Pavon and Knapp.

For Knapp, last week’s winner in Mexico, he’s now had three top-five finishes in his 10 career PGA Tour starts. His earnings are up to about $2.5 million.

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.

“I was happy with how I managed everything this week,” Knapp told Golf Channel.

The Monday finish was needed after a thunderstorm dumped nearly 2 inches of rain and brought lightning to the area Sunday afternoon, causing a 3½-hour delay in the final round. Of the 68 players who made the cut, 42 finished on Sunday — so 26 returned on Monday to play somewhere between one and 13 holes.

It was a quick day for Billy Horschel. He couldn’t get to the 18th tee before the horn blew to stop play on Sunday night, meaning he had to come back and play the par-5 finishing hole on Monday. He had a 9-footer for birdie, settled for par and was done in 15 minutes.

Horschel — who vaulted into the mix with six consecutive birdies on Sunday afternoon — finished at 12 under. He ended up tied for ninth, along with Keith Mitchell, Peter Malnati, Alex Noren, Andrew Novak, Kevin Yu and Martin Laird.

Top Headlines

• Woman dies after shooting at northeast Oklahoma City motel, police say
• Giant spiders and their 6-foot webs are invading American cities
• Woman injured after suspected drunken driver crashes into OKC officer's car, police say
• Man arrested in connection with deadly shooting at northwest Oklahoma City apartment
• Supreme Court restores Trump to ballot, rejecting state attempts to ban him over Capitol attack
• Person hit by car after falling off scooter in southwest Oklahoma City

Austin Eckroat cards record-tying 29 Sunday at U.S. Open

Change Text Size

Sunday might also be Moving Day at the U.S. Open.

A day after Tom Kim tied a U.S. Open nine-hole scoring record with a front-nine 29 at The Los Angeles Country Club, Austin Eckroat matched with his own 6-under 29 to begin the final round at LACC.

Eckroat is now the sixth player to card a nine-hole 29 at the U.S. Open. Prior to Kim on Saturday, the last player to record 29 at this event was Louis Oosthuizen in the final round in 2015 at Chambers Bay.

Eckroat, a TOUR rookie who played collegiately at Oklahoma State, shook off a third-round 73 with four birdies and an eagle on the front nine Sunday, storming into the top 10 on the leaderboard in his second U.S. Open appearance.

Eckroat, who stands No. 73 on the FedExCup, began his final round with a 6-foot birdie at the par-5 first hole, then added three consecutive birdies at Nos. 4-6, all coming from between 7 and 10 feet.

After saving par at the lengthy par-3 seventh with an up-and-down from 44 yards, Eckroat made eagle at the par-5 eighth, striking a 235-yard approach to 26 feet and draining the putt. He had an 11-foot birdie try at the par-3 ninth to set a new U.S. Open nine-hole scoring record, but it narrowly slid by on the right side.

Eckroat earned his spot at LACC via Final Qualifying at the Dallas site in late May, and he comfortably made this week’s cut with rounds of 71-68. His third round was slowed by six bogeys, meaning an early tee time Sunday.

He found a silver lining, starting fast before the course invariably firms up as the day proceeds.

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• March Madness
• AP Top 25 Poll
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’

Austin Eckroat gets his 1st PGA Tour win by prevailing at Cognizant Classic

Austin Eckroat hits from the seventh tee during the final round of the Cognizant Classic golf tournament, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Austin Eckroat looks at his shot on the sixth green during the final round of the Cognizant Classic golf tournament, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Austin Eckroat hits from the third fairway during the final round of the Cognizant Classic golf tournament, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The tournament will continue Monday due to a 3 1/2-hour weather delay. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Min Woo Lee, of Australia, lines his shot on the third hole during the final round of the Cognizant Classic golf tournament, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Erik van Rooyen, of South Africa, hits from a sand trap on the 15 hole during the final round of the Cognizant Classic golf tournament, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Erik van Rooyen, of South Africa, reacts after making a bogey on the 15th hole during the final round of the Cognizant Classic golf tournament, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

• Copy Link copied

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Austin Eckroat waited a long time to become a winner on the PGA Tour. Another day didn’t hurt.

Eckroat got the first victory of his tour career Monday, topping Erik van Rooyen and Min Woo Lee by three shots to win the weather-delayed Cognizant Classic. Among his prizes: $1.62 million — by far his biggest golf payday — along with tour status for two years and a trip to the Masters for the first time.

Eckroat shot a final round of 4-under 67, finishing at 17-under 267.

He said he was nervous Monday. He hid it well, never giving up the lead.

“This has always been my dream to win on the PGA Tour,” Eckroat told Golf Channel. “And just to win, I haven’t won since 2019 — it was a college event. It’s just been so long. I’m just so happy.”

He left PGA National on Sunday night when darkness stopped play with a one-stroke lead and was never caught. Back-to-back birdies on the 12th and 13th holes protected his lead, and a 12-footer for birdie on the par-4 16th pushed the edge out to three shots.

“I just kept telling myself, ‘I’ve put myself in this position for a reason,’” Eckroat said. “This is what I want to do.”

Eckroat laid up on the par-5 18th to protect his lead and take water out of play, knowing all he had to do was avoid disaster to finish off his first tour win in 50 career starts. He made an easy par, sealing the win.

“I was just really happy I was able to perform in the situation,” Eckroat said.

Van Rooyen had his round of 8-under 63 on Sunday to finish at 14 under. Cameron Young (66), K.H. Lee (66), Shane Lowry (71), David Skinns (71) and Jake Knapp (66) all ended their rounds on Monday, all wrapping up at 13 under. K.H. Lee made three birdies in the five holes he played Monday.

But nobody caught Eckroat, a 25-year-old who was a star at Oklahoma State before turning pro.

His most memorable tour moment, before Monday, likely was last year in the final round of the U.S. Open to become the sixth player in that tournament’s history to post a nine-hole score of 29. Eckroat shot a 5-under 65 and finished in a tie for 10th at 3 under — ensuring he’d play in this year’s U.S. Open.

The season’s first major awaits him now as well. He’s going to Augusta National next month, with stops at Bay Hill and The Players along the way to Magnolia Lane.

“The adversity of sleeping mid-round, I’m just really happy with how I handled it,” said Eckroat, who became the fourth first-time winner in nine tour events this season, joining Nick Dunlap, Matthieu Pavon and Knapp.

For Knapp, last week’s winner in Mexico, he’s now had three top-five finishes in his 10 career PGA Tour starts. His earnings are up to about $2.5 million.

“I was happy with how I managed everything this week,” Knapp told Golf Channel.

The Monday finish was needed after a thunderstorm dumped nearly 2 inches of rain and brought lightning to the area Sunday afternoon, causing a 3½-hour delay in the final round. Of the 68 players who made the cut, 42 finished on Sunday — so 26 returned on Monday to play somewhere between one and 13 holes.

It was a quick day for Billy Horschel. He couldn’t get to the 18th tee before the horn blew to stop play on Sunday night, meaning he had to come back and play the par-5 finishing hole on Monday. He had a 9-footer for birdie, settled for par and was done in 15 minutes.

Horschel — who vaulted into the mix with six consecutive birdies on Sunday afternoon — finished at 12 under. He ended up tied for ninth, along with Keith Mitchell, Peter Malnati, Alex Noren, Andrew Novak, Kevin Yu and Martin Laird.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Longshot Austin Eckroat records first PGA Tour win at Cognizant Classic

The PGA Tour ’s streak of longshot surprise winners continues, this time in the form of 25-year-old up-and-comer Austin Eckroat, who won the weather-delayed Cognizant Classic on Monday for his first PGA Tour win.

Eckroat entered the week as a 125-1 longshot to win, marking the eighth time in this season’s nine tournaments that a golfer way outside of expected contention won, with no top-20 stars winning any tournaments this year.

Advertisement

Eckroat entered Sunday tied for the lead in a packed leaderboard tied with major-winner Shane Lowry, but weather delayed the final round before leaders could even tee off. When play did begin late Sunday afternoon, Eckroat immediately pulled away with two birdies in the first five holes to take the solo lead before play was called late Sunday night.

From there, Eckroat controlled the tournament throughout. His ball striking stood out with birdies on 12 and 13 thanks to iron shots hit within 10 feet of the hole. He bogeyed the 14th hole to keep fellow young rising star Min Woo Lee within two shots, but Eckroat immediately bounced back with another birdie on 15 with an 11-foot birdie putt to all but seal the win.

A par at the last seals the deal 🏆 Austin Eckroat wins @The_Cognizant by 3 shots for his first PGA TOUR victory. pic.twitter.com/N2bI8LEUZc — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 4, 2024

While this is Eckroat’s first step into the limelight, he’s a name to know going forward. He was a four-time All-American at Oklahoma State and won a national title on a team with fellow pro golfers like Viktor Hovland, Matthew Wolff and Sam Stevens.

He was able to earn a PGA Tour card after one season on the Korn Ferry Tour, and his rookie 2023 campaign was a promising but inconsistent rollercoaster. He broke through with impressive performances like a T10 finish at the U.S. Open, a T2 at the Byron Nelson and a top-25 finish at the signature event Travelers Championship. He also missed 12 cuts which kept him just barely out of the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

At 25, Eckroat has been able to harness some consistency, finishing top-50 in five of six events and of course his big win Monday that puts the young golfer into the Masters next month.

Required reading

• 2024 Cognizant Classic odds, picks, sleepers: Rory McIlroy overpriced, Eric Cole among best bets
• ‘Full Swing’ review: Netflix’s golf series gets the big moments right

(Photo: Brennan Asplen / Getty Images)

Get all-access to exclusive stories.

Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Try a week on us.

Brody Miller covers golf and the LSU Tigers for The Athletic. He came to The Athletic from the New Orleans Times-Picayune. A South Jersey native, Miller graduated from Indiana University before going on to stops at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Indianapolis Star, the Clarion Ledger and NOLA.com. Follow Brody on Twitter @ BrodyAMiller

15 Things You Didn't Know About Austin Eckroat

Get to know PGA Tour professional Austin Eckroat better with these 15 facts

• Sign up to Golf Monthly Newsletter Newsletter

Get to know Austin Eckroat better with these 15 facts…

1. Eckroat was born on 25th May 1998 in Edmond, Oklahoma, where he still resides today. 

2. He was a four-time All-American at Oklahoma State University. He won a team NCAA title in 2018 and finished third in the inaugural PGA Tour University class of 2021.

3. Eckroat was a member of the 2021 US Walker Cup team that beat Great Britain and Ireland at Seminole Golf Club.

4. After a successful college career, he turned professional in 2021, finishing seventh at the BMW Charity Pro-Am on his first start as a pro. 

5. He used to be roommates with current PGA Tour pro Viktor Hovland and LIV Golfer Matthew Wolff, his college teammates at OSU. “I kind of got to live vicariously through them throughout those stages,” he told Golf Digest in 2021 of his time living with Hovland and Wolff.

6. Eckroat joined Ping’s professional staff in 2021 and is sponsored by the company. He uses their equipment and wears their hat. He is also sponsored by Titleist and uses the ProV1. 

Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter

Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.

7. After finishing with three top-10s and 10 top-25s in his first full season on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022, he earned his PGA Tour card thanks to a runner-up finish at the season-ending Korn Ferry Tour Championship.

8. His best result on the PGA Tour was a runner-up at the AT&T Byron Nelson in 2023, where he finished one shot behind Jason Day .

9. He has competed in two US Opens, with his best showing coming in 2023 when he finished T10.

A post shared by Austin Eckroat (@austin_eckroat) A photo posted by on

10. In his debut season on the PGA Tour, Eckroat finished 74th on the FedEx Cup standings with 594 points, keeping his card for 2024. 

11. Eckroat has the potential to become one of the elite drivers on the PGA Tour, finishing 17th in total driving in his debut 2022-23 season on tour.

12. He has earned over $2.9 million over his career so far. 

13. He is 6-foot tall and weighs 175lbs.

14. He is married to Sally Eckroat (née Merrill), with the couple tying the knot in November 2022. 

15. His favorite memory as a golf fan was seeing Tiger Woods win the 2007 PGA Championship when he was just eight years old.

Joel Kulasingham is freelance writer for Golf Monthly. He has worked as a sports reporter and editor in New Zealand for more than five years, covering a wide range of sports including golf, rugby and football. He moved to London in 2023 and writes for several publications in the UK and abroad. He is a life-long sports nut and has been obsessed with golf since first swinging a club at the age of 13. These days he spends most of his time watching, reading and writing about sports, and playing mediocre golf at courses around London.

How did this lower-priced travel cover hold up as we took it across to the beautiful island of Madeira?

By Dan Parker Published 27 March 24

The latest Arccos data suggests how to get from a 5-handicap to scratch, but could the answer also point to progress for all golfers?

By Barry Plummer Published 27 March 24

• Contact Future's experts
• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Accessibility statement
• Cookies policy
• Advertise with us

Golf Monthly is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site . © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Austin Eckroat Gets His 1st PGA Tour Win by Prevailing at Cognizant Classic

Austin Eckroat waited a long time to become a winner on the PGA Tour

Marta Lavandier

Austin Eckroat hits from the seventh tee during the final round of the Cognizant Classic golf tournament, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Austin Eckroat waited a long time to become a winner on the PGA Tour. Another day didn’t hurt.

Eckroat got the first victory of his tour career Monday, topping Erik van Rooyen and Min Woo Lee by three shots to win the weather-delayed Cognizant Classic. Among his prizes: $1.62 million — by far his biggest golf payday — along with tour status for two years and a trip to the Masters for the first time.

Eckroat shot a final round of 4-under 67, finishing at 17-under 267.

He said he was nervous Monday. He hid it well, never giving up the lead.

“This has always been my dream to win on the PGA Tour,” Eckroat told Golf Channel. “And just to win, I haven't won since 2019 — it was a college event. It's just been so long. I'm just so happy.”

He left PGA National on Sunday night when darkness stopped play with a one-stroke lead and was never caught. Back-to-back birdies on the 12th and 13th holes protected his lead, and a 12-footer for birdie on the par-4 16th pushed the edge out to three shots.

Photos You Should See

“I just kept telling myself, ‘I’ve put myself in this position for a reason,’” Eckroat said. “This is what I want to do.”

Eckroat laid up on the par-5 18th to protect his lead and take water out of play, knowing all he had to do was avoid disaster to finish off his first tour win in 50 career starts. He made an easy par, sealing the win.

“I was just really happy I was able to perform in the situation,” Eckroat said.

Van Rooyen had his round of 8-under 63 on Sunday to finish at 14 under. Cameron Young (66), K.H. Lee (66), Shane Lowry (71), David Skinns (71) and Jake Knapp (66) all ended their rounds on Monday, all wrapping up at 13 under. K.H. Lee made three birdies in the five holes he played Monday.

But nobody caught Eckroat, a 25-year-old who was a star at Oklahoma State before turning pro.

His most memorable tour moment, before Monday, likely was last year in the final round of the U.S. Open to become the sixth player in that tournament's history to post a nine-hole score of 29. Eckroat shot a 5-under 65 and finished in a tie for 10th at 3 under — ensuring he'd play in this year's U.S. Open.

The season's first major awaits him now as well. He's going to Augusta National next month, with stops at Bay Hill and The Players along the way to Magnolia Lane.

“The adversity of sleeping mid-round, I’m just really happy with how I handled it,” said Eckroat, who became the fourth first-time winner in nine tour events this season, joining Nick Dunlap, Matthieu Pavon and Knapp.

For Knapp, last week’s winner in Mexico, he’s now had three top-five finishes in his 10 career PGA Tour starts. His earnings are up to about $2.5 million.

“I was happy with how I managed everything this week,” Knapp told Golf Channel.

The Monday finish was needed after a thunderstorm dumped nearly 2 inches of rain and brought lightning to the area Sunday afternoon, causing a 3½-hour delay in the final round. Of the 68 players who made the cut, 42 finished on Sunday — so 26 returned on Monday to play somewhere between one and 13 holes.

It was a quick day for Billy Horschel. He couldn’t get to the 18th tee before the horn blew to stop play on Sunday night, meaning he had to come back and play the par-5 finishing hole on Monday. He had a 9-footer for birdie, settled for par and was done in 15 minutes.

Horschel — who vaulted into the mix with six consecutive birdies on Sunday afternoon — finished at 12 under. He ended up tied for ninth, along with Keith Mitchell, Peter Malnati, Alex Noren, Andrew Novak, Kevin Yu and Martin Laird.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Copyright 2024 The  Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation

Tags: Associated Press , Golf , sports

America 2024

Health News Bulletin

Stay informed on the latest news on health and COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report.

Sign in to manage your newsletters »

Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy .

You May Also Like

The 10 worst presidents.

U.S. News Staff Feb. 23, 2024

Cartoons on President Donald Trump

Feb. 1, 2017, at 1:24 p.m.

Photos: Obama Behind the Scenes

April 8, 2022

Photos: Who Supports Joe Biden?

March 11, 2020

The Baltimore Bridge Collapse, Explained

Elliott Davis Jr. March 29, 2024

Key Inflation Gauge Ticks Up

Tim Smart March 29, 2024

Who Is ISIS-K?

Trevor Bach March 28, 2024

Consumers Steady as Economy Hums Along

Tim Smart March 28, 2024

'Very Active' 2024 Hurricane Season

Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder March 27, 2024

EXPLAINER: The Total Solar Eclipse

• 0 My PGA TOUR Guide

Austin Eckroat

Height: 6'0" (1.83 m) Weight: 175 (79 kg) Age: 25 (January 12, 1999) Birthplace: Edmond, Oklahoma Residence: Edmond, Oklahoma Family: Wife, Sally

Education: Oklahoma State University (2021) Special Interests: Hunting Turned Professional: 2021 City plays from: Edmond, OK, United States

Exempt Status

PGA TOUR Tournament winner (thru 2026)

Career Victories

Pga tour victories (1):, player statistics.

Career Low Round:

Career High FedExCup Rank:

Career High Official World Golf Rank:

Career Largest Paycheck:

2022-23 Season Highlights

National team selections, career records.

• Favorite memory as a golf fan was seeing Tiger Woods win the 2007 PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma; he was 8 years old at the time.

RADJSMODALBODY

• Skip to Navigation
• Skip to Main Content
• Skip to Related Content
• Today's news
• Climate change
• My portfolio
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most actives
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit card rates
• Balance transfer credit cards
• Business credit cards
• Cash back credit cards
• Rewards credit cards
• Travel credit cards
• Checking accounts
• Online checking accounts
• High-yield savings accounts
• Money market accounts
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Car insurance
• Home buying
• Options pit
• Investment ideas
• Research reports
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily Fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• College football
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

Entertainment

• How To Watch
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Style and beauty
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides
• Privacy Dashboard

• March Madness
• Yahoo Sports AM
• Motorsports
• College Sports
• Fantasy Sports
• Horse Racing
• Leaderboard
• Masters Tournament

Austin Eckroat claims first PGA Tour win at 2024 Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches

Inclement weather delayed the final round of the 2024 Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches by more than three hours on Sunday afternoon and pushed the first event of the PGA Tour’s Florida Swing to a Monday finish.

After heavy rains pummelled PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Austin Eckroat found himself in the lead at 15 under entering the fifth day of play. Eleven holes later he walked away with the trophy at 17 under for his first PGA Tour win in just his 50th start. Eckroat made two birdies over seven holes on Sunday afternoon before play was called due to darkness and the 25-year-old doubled down on Monday and signed for a 4-under 67 to seal the three-shot win.

Starting the day on the 8th hole, Eckroat eased back into his round with pars on his opening four holes before a pair of birdies on Nos. 12 and 13. A pulled putt from six feet for par led to his lone bogey of the final round on the par-4 14th, but the Oklahoma State grad extended his lead back to three shots with another birdie on No. 16.

Min Woo Lee (67) and Erik van Rooyen (63) finished T-2 at 14 under.

The PGA Tour is back in action next week in Orlando with the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

Story originally appeared on GolfWeek

Recommended Stories

Tiger woods takes on new, more powerful role in pga tour hierarchy.

As the PGA Tour presses forward with outside investment, Tiger Woods will have a significant say in its direction.

Thomas Detry has brutal 6-putt meltdown, ends up dead last at Cognizant Classic

It was a true meltdown that average golfers everywhere had no issue relating to.

Brandon Aiyuk wants 49ers to show how valuable he is with new contract

San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk is frustrated going into the final year of his contract: "I'm trying to get what I deserve," he said.

The return of baseball, Opening Day recaps, starter draft update

Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman celebrate the return of baseball by giving recaps to all the exciting Opening Day games in the league and some things you might've missed.

'Underdog' LSU focused on Sweet 16, not Kim Mulkey distractions

The outside noise around LSU is loud, but the team itself is just using it as fuel for another run.

MLB Opening Day 2024: Initial fantasy baseball thoughts

With 2024 MLB Opening Day in the rearview mirror, fantasy analyst Scott Pianowski delivers his early observations.

76ers' Kelly Oubre Jr., Nick Nurse each fined $50K by NBA for confronting officials after game

Officials admitted to blowing the call in the postgame pool report.

MLB Opening Day 2024: Reds clinch first win amid a decidedly different atmosphere than last year

Frankie Montas delivered on the mound and Nick Martini was the unlikely hero at the plate as the Reds met the high expectations entering this season.

One fateful decision summed up North Carolina's Sweet 16 demise

Jae’Lyn Withers shot UNC's most important 3-pointer of the game when he had no business firing away. And now the No. 1 Tar Heels are going home.

MLB Opening Day 2024: Jonah Heim walks it off for Rangers after ump argument gaffe

The Rangers catcher had an eventful couple of innings on Opening Day.

After Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye’s pro days, the Commanders may hold the keys to the NFL Draft

The No. 1 pick seems to be a foregone conclusion, which means all eyes are on the Commanders and their decision that likely boils down to two QBs.

Tearful Caleb Love left to lament missed chances as Arizona falters in Sweet 16 yet again

Love went cold at the worst moment on Thursday, and the Wildcats are once again heading home from an NCAA tournament early.

MLB Opening Day 2024: Opening Day in Baltimore marks a momentous celebration of a new day

Between the 11-3 Orioles victory and the message of new owner David Rubenstein, it was all "positivity and optimism" for the O's and their fans.

Why many NCAA women's basketball stars didn't grow up watching the game

It’s rather common to hear women’s basketball players grew up without watching the game they aspired to play at the highest level. But that's changing, and the extra exposure should have a huge impact on the next generation.

MLB Opening Day 2024: Shohei Ohtani debuts at Dodger Stadium with double and baserunning error in win

The Dodgers beat the Cardinals 7-1 with homers from Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman and a strong start by Tyler Glasnow.

March Madness: Just 4 wins from a perfect season, Dawn Staley and South Carolina aren't getting complacent

The Gamecocks are looking dominant, but coach Dawn Staley wasn't exactly oozing with confidence after the SEC tournament.

2024 NFL Draft: How every team should tackle the QB position

The quarterback position is always a hallmark of the NFL Draft, and 2024 is no different. Fantasy analyst Matt Harmon runs down what every team should do.

Draft Deep Dive RBs: No elite prospects but instant contributors are plentiful

Our draft deep dive on skill prospects continues with a look at the 2024 RB class. Charles McDonald and Matt Harmon look at the top running back prospects and which can make an instant contribution on the field and for fantasy teams this season.

LeBron James announces high school teammate Dru Joyce as Duquesne’s next head coach

Dru Joyce will take over for Keith Dambrot, who retired after leading the Dukes to their first NCAA tournament win in more than 50 years this spring.

Bold fantasy baseball predictions for the 2024 MLB season

The Yahoo Fantasy baseball and MLB crews come together to reveal their hottest takes with the 2024 season kicking off.

• Golf Channel Digital ,

• Dan Beaver ,

Trending Teams

Eckroat happy with how he 'handled' final round.

Highlights: Texas Children's Houston Open, Round 1

Scheffler: I don't put expectations on myself

Moore 'happy' with start at Houston Open

HLs: Moore holds lead after Rd. 1 at Houston Open

HLs: Zalatoris struggles in Rd. 1 at Houston Open

Scheffler's consistency on display at Houston Open

Scheffler happy to keep card clean at Houston Open

HLs: Scheffler's solid Round 1 at Houston Open

Inside Theegala's scratch golfer event idea

Finau hoping to 'spark a nice run' in game

Malnati 'energized' by Valspar Championship win

Scheffler, Clark focused on Houston Open

• Oral Roberts, Riu sweep honors at Ozarks National Invitational
• Golf and business: How golf impacts business relationships
• USGA announces qualifying sites and times for U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship at Southern Hills
• Teeing off in paradise: Golfing New Zealand’s unrivaled courses
• Morris, Jenks claim titles in The Hunt at Jimmie Austin

GOLF OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma's No. 1 Golf Source

Eckroat, Stevens earn cards, ready for first full PGA Tour campaigns

NEWBURGH, Indiana – Edmond native Austin Eckroat and former Oklahoma State teammate Sam Stevens were among the 25 happy recipients of a PGA Tour card for 2022-23 Sunday. The three-event Korn Ferry Tour Finals, along with the 26-event 2022 Korn Ferry Tour season, concluded Sunday evening at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance, as the second set of 25 PGA TOUR cards were awarded in a ceremony on No. 18 green at Victoria National Golf Club.

The top 25 players on the Korn Ferry Tour Finals Eligibility Points List earned PGA TOUR cards for the 2022-23 season, which begins Thursday, September 15 at the Fortinet Championship in Napa, California. This year’s Finals 25 is a mix of players earning their first TOUR card and others either retaining or improving their TOUR status for the upcoming season.

Justin Suh, who earned his first PGA TOUR card at the regular season finale three weeks ago , won the season-ending Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance, vaulting him to No. 1 in both the season-long points race and the Korn Ferry Tour Finals Eligibility Points List. By virtue of sweeping the No. 1 rankings, Suh will have fully exempt status for the 2022-23 PGA TOUR season, an exemption for the 2023 PLAYERS Championship and, for the first time in history, an exemption for the 2023 U.S. Open.

No. 3 Austin Eckroat

The 23-year-old native of Edmond, Oklahoma began the season with conditional status and, after missed cuts in January and April, Monday qualified into May’s AdventhHealth Championship, the first event after the third reshuffle of the season, for his third start. Facing the prospect of needing four consecutive top-25s to continue earning starts ahead of the next reshuffle, Eckroat rattled off finishes of T23-T23-T25-T25, shuffled up the priority ranking, and eventually finished No. 34 on the Korn Ferry Tour Regular Season Eligibility Points List off the strength of a runner-up finish at the Memorial Health Championship presented by LRS. XXXX FINALS INFO. Played collegiately at Oklahoma State University and finished No. 3 in the inaugural PGA TOUR University presented by Velocity Global Class of 2021.

No. 21 Sam Stevens

The 26-year-old rookie and third-generation professional golfer earned his first PGA TOUR card with a T28 at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship and a T12 Sunday at the season-ending Korn Ferry Tour Championship. Recorded 11 top-25s in 23 starts this season, which propelled him to a No. 43 finish on the Korn Ferry Tour Regular Season Eligibility Points List. Played collegiately at Oklahoma State University and was a member of its 2018 NCAA Championship-winning team. Finished No. 2 on the 2020-21 PGA TOUR Latinoamerica Order of Merit for Korn Ferry Tour membership. Father, Charlie, played collegiately at University of Oklahoma and Texas Christian University before he made two Korn Ferry Tour starts in 1992. Grandfather, Johnny, made 30 PGA TOUR starts, mostly across the 1968 and 1969 seasons.

Making it to the Finals but not earning their cards were former Sooner and Weatherford native Quade Cummins as well as former Oklahoma State golfer Kevin Dougherty and Tulsan and former Cowboy Bo Van Pelt.

Eckroat and Stevens will join a host of other players with Oklahoma ties on the PGA Tour, including current Stillwater resident Viktor Hovland (OSU), Taylor Moore of Edmond, Max McGreevy of Edmond, Robert Streb (Edmond North), Kevin Tway (Edmond North), Rickie Fowler (OSU) and Alex Noren (OSU).

Also in professional golf this weekend, Talor Gooch of Midwest City took a lead into the final round of the LIV Golf event in Boston. He shot a 1-under 69 in the final round and finished two shots behind Dustin Johnson, who won in a playoff over Anirban Lahiri. Former Oklahoma golfer Abraham Ancer finished eighth at 11-under, former Cowboy Matthew Wolff of Edmond tied for 13th at 8-under, former Cowboy Charles Howell III tied for 15th at 7-under,  rookie Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra of OSU tied for 35th at 2-under and former Cowboy Peter Uihleiin tied for 45th at 5-over.

No spam guarantee.

• ← Johnson, Flores nab OJGT titles in Talor Gooch John Conrad Fall Challenge
• LOHLA SPORT founder appreciates Oklahoma golf history →

Ken MacLeod

Publisher Golf Oklahoma | Oklahoma's No. 1 Golf Source

• Tournament Results
• Ed Travis Equipment blog
• Oklahoma Public
• Oklahoma Private
• 2024 Tournament Schedule
• Corporate/Charity Events
• Event Calendar
• OGA Results
• Online Magazine
• Online Directory
• Golf Oklahoma Radio
• Golf Radio Hour
• Media Kit Download
• Privacy Policy

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Credit card rates
• Balance transfer credit cards
• Business credit cards
• Cash back credit cards
• Rewards credit cards
• Travel credit cards
• Checking accounts
• Online checking accounts
• High-yield savings accounts
• Money market accounts
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Car insurance
• Home buying
• Options pit
• Investment ideas
• Research reports
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Pro golfer Austin Eckroat gets penalty stroke after 20-foot putt took over 10 seconds to drop in cup

• Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later. More content below

Austin Eckroat appeared to sink a 20-foot putt for birdie Sunday at The Players Championship in Florida — only to have it wiped off the board in a rarely enforced timing rule.

On the par-5 11th hole at TPC Sawgrass, Eckroat, 25, left the ball on the hole’s edge, where it sat for about 30 seconds — and then fell in, to the gallery’s roar.

As the ball sat on the cup’s edge, Eckroat casually made his way to the hole. He appeared to stare down the ball and the hole for about 13 seconds until it finally dropped in, triggering a chorus of cheers.

But because the ball took over 10 seconds to drop in the hole after Eckroat reached it, a stroke was added to his score, and Eckroat walked away from 11 with only a par.

Since the ball took longer than 10 seconds to drop, a stroke was added to Austin Eckroat's score and was counted as a par. pic.twitter.com/xwhGBzIy8z — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 17, 2024

Eckroat, who ranks No. 48 and won his first PGA Tour title, the Cognizant Classic, this month, smiled and waved to the crowd when the ball finally fell.

But under golf rules , when a player’s ball overhangs the lip of the hole, a player is allowed “a reasonable time” to reach the hole and 10 more seconds to wait to see whether the ball falls.

If the ball falls in that waiting time, the player has “holed out with the previous stroke.” If it doesn’t, the ball is treated as being at rest, and if it falls before it’s played, the player has “holed out with the previous stroke, but gets one penalty stroke added to the score of the hole.”

In Eckroat's case, as it took over 10 seconds to fall in, the ball was considered “at rest,” and he was hit with the penalty stroke.

PGA rules were clearly not enforced in the hit 1980 comedy “Caddyshack , ” when protagonist Danny Noonan left a key putt short.

But that’s when the groundskeeper, played by Bill Murray, set off a series of explosives aimed at killing a course gopher. The pesky rodent survived, and the putt fell about 54 seconds later — and the stroke counted.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com

Recommended Stories

We yahoo shopping editors take spring cleaning seriously — here are our 13 favorite products for getting the dirty work done.

There's an electric scrubber that 'does the majority of the work,' along with a bestselling Bissell carpet steamer and more.

I just turned 40 and this affordable moisturizer that's 20% off at Amazon this weekend is my skincare secret weapon

Need a skin care refresh for spring? Consider this popular Pond's face cream that shoppers like me love.

Is it a good time to sell your house?

The best time to sell a house depends on both the current housing market and your personal timeline. Find out if it is a good time to sell your house.

Catherine Zeta-Jones says she keeps this candle in 'almost every room' of her house

The luxurious, long-lasting scent from Jo Malone candle 'smells divine,' fans say.

X is working on NSFW Communities for adult content

X is working on features that will allow admins of “Communities,” the platform’s tool for subreddit-like groups, to designate the spaces as containing “adult content.”

Brandon Aiyuk wants 49ers to show how valuable he is with new contract

San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk is frustrated going into the final year of his contract: "I'm trying to get what I deserve," he said.

'Underdog' LSU focused on Sweet 16, not Kim Mulkey distractions

The outside noise around LSU is loud, but the team itself is just using it as fuel for another run.

The return of baseball, Opening Day recaps, starter draft update

Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman celebrate the return of baseball by giving recaps to all the exciting Opening Day games in the league and some things you might've missed.

Apple's MacBook Air M3 hits an all-time low, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals

This week's best tech deals include all-time lows on the Apple MacBook Air M3, a four-pack of Apple AirTags for $75 and the Meta Quest 2 VR headset for $199, among others.

OpenAI built a voice cloning tool, but you can't use it... yet

Today marks the preview debut of OpenAI's Voice Engine, an expansion of the company's existing text-to-speech API. Under development for about two years, Voice Engine allows users to upload any 15-second voice sample to generate a synthetic copy of that voice. "We want to make sure that everyone feels good about how it's being deployed — that we understand the landscape of where this tech is dangerous and we have mitigations in place for that," Jeff Harris, a member of the product staff at OpenAI, told TechCrunch in an interview.

How Uber and the gig economy changed the way we live and work

Dazzled by the promise of innovation, regulators rolled over or signed a deal with the devil. It's everyone else who's paying the cost.

76ers' Kelly Oubre Jr., Nick Nurse each fined $50K by NBA for confronting officials after game

Officials admitted to blowing the call in the postgame pool report.

X confirms plans for NSFW Communities

A day after researchers surfaced X's plans to test NSFW adult communities on the platform formerly known as Twitter, the company confirmed that Community admins can now set an "Adult Content" label in their settings to avoid having their communities' content auto-filtered. Communities are X's smaller groups with their own feeds outside of the main timeline. The changes appear to confirm the earlier tests of NSFW communities spotted by various researchers and reverse engineers, and point to a social network that will now more directly embrace the adult content that has always been present on the platform.

I tried the internet-famous Beckham bed pillows, and they did not disappoint

Switch out your pillows for this hotel-quality pair and see why over 161,000 people on Amazon left five-star ratings.

Oakland A's fans protest Las Vegas move with Opening Day tailgate party outside stadium

The A's announced in May an agreement to build a 33,000-seat stadium on the Las Vegas strip.

Pitch Deck Teardown: Plantee Innovations' $1.4M seed deck

It's rare that I come across a pitch deck that ticks almost all the boxes. It's so good, in fact, that I fed Plantee's deck into an AI tool I built, and it determined there was a 97.7% chance that Plantee would raise money. This tool generally determines that only about 7.5% of all pitch decks are up to scratch, so Plantee's is positively off the charts.

The first VW Golf was built exactly 50 years ago today

Volkswagen built the first example of the original Golf on March 29, 1974, and the company has made about 37 million units of the Golf since.

Databricks' GPT rival and who's investing in 'underdog' founders

Hello, and welcome to Equity, a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. With Kirsten Korosec, Mary Ann Azevedo and Alex Wilhelm aboard this week, the crew dug into Robinhood's new credit card and what it can tell us about the strategy of major tech companies, Fisker's latest woes and even Databricks' new AI model that it spent $10 million to spin up.

Ina Garten's not afraid of spiders (the $9 stainless steel strainer kind) and I'm a fan of these kitchen tools, too

No more having to lift a heavy pot every time you need to strain pasta! Over 1,700 Amazon shoppers are fans.

Engadget Podcast: The NY Auto Show and a chat with Lucy Liu

This week, it’s all about cars and Lucy Liu in VR.

• Support Local Journalism
• TL Digital Services
• Subscribe Now!
• New: Place Classified Ad
• Submit Classified Ad using Contact Form
• Get News Alerts
• Property Tax Assessment Database
• Special Sections
• Times Leader Purchase Locations
• Times Leader for iPhone/iPad
• Times Leader for Android
• Print Subscriber Setup
• Subscribe To E-Edition
• Times Leader on YouTube
• Interactives
• Submit News Tip
• Restaurant Inspections
• Nation/World
• Air Traffic
• Online Community
• Online Forms
• TL on Facebook
• TL on Twitter
• Submit Scores
• Submit Sports News
• TL Sports Betting
• Auto Racing
• College Basketball
• College Football
• High School Baseball
• High School Basketball
• High School Cross Country
• High School Field Hockey
• High School Football
• High School Golf
• High School Ice Hockey
• -HS Boys Lacrosse
• -HS Girls Lacrosse
• -HS Boys Soccer
• -HS Girls Soccer
• High School Softball
• High School Swimming
• High School Tennis
• High School Track and Field
• -HS Boys Volleyball
• -HS Girls Volleyball
• High School Wrestling
• Penn State Special Section
• International Auto Racing
• AP Olympics Coverage
• Submit Letter To The Editor
• Our Opinion
• Political Cartoons
• Add Your Event
• Recipes – Times Leader Cookbook
• TV Best Bets
• TV Listings
• Puzzles & Games
• Anniversaries
• Engagements
• Submit Anniversary
• Submit Birth
• Submit Birthday
• Submit Engagement
• Submit Wedding
• Buy A Subscription
• Buy Single Editions
• Buy A Custom Front Page
• Free Access Monday eEdition
• Search Notices
• Place Notices

• Subscription Deals
• Free Monday E-Edition
• View Obituaries
• Place an Obituary
• Classifieds
• Advertiser Pay

Need to Sell? Click here to place a classified ad.

Support Local Journalism & receive Diamond Card discounts!

Results coming soon!

Watch #OnTheStacks podcast! New episode every Wednesday.

• #OntheStacks Podcast
• TheWeekender.com
• Tax Database – Updated!

Austin Eckroat gets his 1st PGA Tour win by prevailing at Cognizant Classic

The Associated Press

Austin Eckroat kisses his wife Sally after winning the Cognizant Classic on Monday in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Eckroat got the first victory of his tour career Monday, topping Erik van Rooyen and Min Woo Lee by three shots to win the weather-delayed Cognizant Classic.

Austin Eckroat hold the Cognizant Classic trophy after winning the golf tournament Monday in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Austin Eckroat waited a long time to become a winner on the PGA Tour. Another day didn’t hurt.

Eckroat got the first victory of his tour career Monday, topping Erik van Rooyen and Min Woo Lee by three shots to win the weather-delayed Cognizant Classic. Among his prizes: $1.62 million — by far his biggest golf payday — along with tour status for two years and a trip to the Masters for the first time.

Eckroat shot a final round of 4-under 67, finishing at 17-under 267.

He said he was nervous Monday. He hid it well, never giving up the lead.

“This has always been my dream to win on the PGA Tour,” Eckroat told Golf Channel. “And just to win, I haven’t won since 2019 — it was a college event. It’s just been so long. I’m just so happy.”

He left PGA National on Sunday night when darkness stopped play with a one-stroke lead and was never caught. Back-to-back birdies on the 12th and 13th holes protected his lead, and a 12-footer for birdie on the par-4 16th pushed the edge out to three shots.

“I just kept telling myself, ‘I’ve put myself in this position for a reason,’” Eckroat said. “This is what I want to do.”

Eckroat laid up on the par-5 18th to protect his lead and take water out of play, knowing all he had to do was avoid disaster to finish off his first tour win in 50 career starts. He made an easy par, sealing the win.

“I was just really happy I was able to perform in the situation,” Eckroat said.

Van Rooyen had his round of 8-under 63 on Sunday to finish at 14 under. Cameron Young (66), K.H. Lee (66), Shane Lowry (71), David Skinns (71) and Jake Knapp (66) all ended their rounds on Monday, all wrapping up at 13 under. K.H. Lee made three birdies in the five holes he played Monday.

But nobody caught Eckroat, a 25-year-old who was a star at Oklahoma State before turning pro.

His most memorable tour moment, before Monday, likely was last year in the final round of the U.S. Open to become the sixth player in that tournament’s history to post a nine-hole score of 29. Eckroat shot a 5-under 65 and finished in a tie for 10th at 3 under — ensuring he’d play in this year’s U.S. Open.

The season’s first major awaits him now as well. He’s going to Augusta National next month, with stops at Bay Hill and The Players along the way to Magnolia Lane.

“The adversity of sleeping mid-round, I’m just really happy with how I handled it,” said Eckroat, who became the fourth first-time winner in nine tour events this season, joining Nick Dunlap, Matthieu Pavon and Knapp.

For Knapp, last week’s winner in Mexico, he’s now had three top-five finishes in his 10 career PGA Tour starts. His earnings are up to about $2.5 million.

“I was happy with how I managed everything this week,” Knapp told Golf Channel.

The Monday finish was needed after a thunderstorm dumped nearly 2 inches of rain and brought lightning to the area Sunday afternoon, causing a 3½-hour delay in the final round. Of the 68 players who made the cut, 42 finished on Sunday — so 26 returned on Monday to play somewhere between one and 13 holes.

It was a quick day for Billy Horschel. He couldn’t get to the 18th tee before the horn blew to stop play on Sunday night, meaning he had to come back and play the par-5 finishing hole on Monday. He had a 9-footer for birdie, settled for par and was done in 15 minutes.

Horschel — who vaulted into the mix with six consecutive birdies on Sunday afternoon — finished at 12 under. He ended up tied for ninth, along with Keith Mitchell, Peter Malnati, Alex Noren, Andrew Novak, Kevin Yu and Martin Laird.

Exclusive Subscriber-Only Content

Answering remaining questions about PGA Tour-Saudi PIF alliance

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan discusses negotiations with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. (0:48)

• Senior college football writer
• Author of seven books on college football
• Graduate of the University of Georgia

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- An important step toward a potential peace accord in men's professional golf will take place Monday in the Bahamas when Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, is scheduled to meet player directors of the PGA Tour's policy board, including Tiger Woods .

While the initial meeting might be nothing more than a meet-and-greet -- or a chance "to put a face to a name," as player director Adam Scott puts it -- it might be another step toward reuniting the fractured sport, which has been embroiled in controversy since the PIF helped launch the rival LIV Golf League in June 2022.

"I doubt we'll get into anything substantive in the first meeting," player director Patrick Cantlay said Sunday.

Still, there seems to be a renewed interest from both sides in getting a deal done sooner rather than later. Along with Woods, Scott and Cantlay, player directors Peter Malnati , Webb Simpson and Jordan Spieth are expected to attend the meeting with PIF officials.

"I think it should have happened months ago, so I am glad that it's happening," Rory McIlroy said. "Hopefully, that progresses conversations and gets us closer to a solution."

Here's a look at where the potential PGA Tour-PIF alliance stands.

Why does the PGA Tour need to get a deal done with the PIF?

While there might not be as much urgency for the PGA Tour to strike a deal after it received a $1.5 billion investment from Strategic Sports Group, a consortium of billionaire sports team owners, athletes and others, getting an agreement finalized is probably the best thing for the future health of the sport -- and the tour.

The simple answer is that if the PGA Tour doesn't strike a deal with the PIF, the Saudis will keep poaching its best players. Reigning Masters champion Jon Rahm is the latest star to defect, signing a contract worth more than $300 million in December.

McIlroy said he believes there's a difference between dealing with LIV Golf CEO and commissioner Greg Norman and Al-Rumayyan. McIlroy said he hopes player directors hear that Al-Rumayyan "wants to do the right thing."

"I think I've said this before: I have spent time with Yasir, and the people that have represented him in LIV I think have done him a disservice, so Norman and those guys," McIlroy said. "I see the two entities, and I think there's a really big disconnect between PIF and LIV. I think you got PIF over here and LIV are sort of over here doing their own thing. So the closer that we can get to Yasir, PIF and hopefully finalize that investment, I think that will be a really good thing."

With top players like Rahm and reigning PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka and other stars now competing in the LIV Golf League, there's no debate that the tour's fields have been depleted, even at its signature events like the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Arnold Palmer Invitational.

The Players Championship, which used to be revered for having the "strongest field in golf," even seemed watered down this year. There were 60 players ranked 100th or worse in the 144-man field at TPC Sawgrass last week, including 16 ranked 200th or higher.

"Whoever wins this golf tournament is going to have achieved the most incredible accomplishment, to win on this golf course, against this field, but it would be even better if we had Jon Rahm here," Malnati said. "I'll just say it: It would be even better. It would be an even better win."

Golf fans have apparently noticed. According to published reports, TV ratings for the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Florida, where world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler ran away with a 5-stroke victory earlier this month, were down 30% compared to the final round in 2023. TV ratings for final-round coverage of the Genesis Invitational on Feb. 18 -- when 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama returned to the winner's circle -- were down about 5%.

Monahan said it was too early to evaluate the signature events, especially after weather disrupted three of the first four. Longtime pro Lucas Glover , a two-time winner last year, called the new model of events "selfish" and a "money grab" because the reduced fields prevent many players from competing for $20 million purses.

"You're getting the best players to play, the top guys to show up, but the fields are more competitive when you have bigger field sizes," reigning FedEx Cup champion Viktor Hovland said. "I think that's just the fact. There's a reason why we're playing the Players Championship with 144 guys.

"But at the end of the day, I don't know what the fans want to watch. Do they want to watch these limited field sizes or do they want to watch the bigger sizes? I really don't know. So, yeah, I just don't know what trajectory we're on."

Why does the PIF need to strike a deal with the PGA Tour?

For all the money the PIF has spent, and all the noise it has made with its unique format that includes shotgun starts, team and individual competitions, and 54 holes, the league is still struggling to get a foothold in the U.S.

Rahm's new team created some buzz in the offseason, and the return of former Ryder Cup star Anthony Kim from a nearly 12-year hiatus garnered headlines. For the most part, however, LIV Golf's TV ratings in the U.S. haven't improved.

According to data obtained by ESPN, the final round of LIV Golf's March 1-3 tournament in Saudi Arabia averaged 208,000 viewers in the U.S. There was a seven-hour time difference, with TV coverage in the U.S. starting at 3:05 a.m. ET. The final round of the Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, which Austin Eckroat won for his first PGA Tour victory, averaged 1.362 million.

Former LIV Golf COO Atul Khosla told ESPN in 2022 that the PIF spent about $784 million on the new circuit in 2022, and that didn't include the hundreds of millions of dollars in signing bonuses it paid to lure golfers to the league. In court papers, PIF's lawyers wrote that LIV Golf had generated virtually no revenue in its first season.

At some point, one would expect, the PIF is going to expect some sort of a return on its investment.

McIlroy believes the PIF is interested in investing in PGA Tour Enterprises because it wants to make money.

"Look, they're a sovereign wealth fund," McIlroy said. "They want to park money for decades and not worry about it. They want to invest in smart and secure businesses, and the PGA Tour is definitely one of those, especially if they're looking to invest in sport in some way."

Will LIV golfers still be punished if they come back to the PGA Tour?

Malnati said the biggest issue on the minds of PGA Tour members might be what potential punishment, if any, LIV golfers would face if they wanted to come back to the circuit. McIlroy, even as one of the PGA Tour's most vocal supporters at the beginning of its battle with LIV, has recently changed his tune.

"I think life is about choices," McIlroy said at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February. "Guys made choices to go and play LIV, guys made choices to stay here. I think it's hard to punish people. I don't think there should be a punishment."

"If people still have eligibility on this tour and they want to come back and play or you want to try and do something, let them come back."

The Saudis are also negotiating for a clearer path back for its players, according to sources.

However, some PGA Tour members still want their pound of flesh from players who defected to LIV Golf and signed guaranteed, multiyear contracts, some for more than $100 million. Monahan indefinitely suspended them as soon as they competed in a LIV Golf event.

"You would find opinions that run the gamut -- from guys that just have a line in the sand that say never and guys [who are more open to LIV golfers coming back]," Malnati said. "I think Rory's been pretty outspoken that he wants to see the best players playing on the PGA Tour, so we're going to have to net out somewhere in the middle."

A PGA Tour committee has been tackling the delicate issue of potential punishment for months. According to sources, there could be varying degrees of punishment, including suspensions and fines. Players who actively recruited PGA Tour players for LIV Golf (such as Phil Mickelson ) and players who sued the tour in federal court ( Matt Jones , Hudson Swafford , Talor Gooch , Bryson DeChambeau and others) could face more severe punishment than those who left (Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith , Dustin Johnson and others) and didn't criticize the tour publicly.

"That's something that we as a membership and as leaders of the membership, we need to figure that out," Malnati said. "How do we make this happen for people to come back and do it in a way that has some semblance of fairness, some semblance of [justice]? How do we do it in a way that can at least somewhat pass the sniff test and get us to a place where, when we have championships like this, we have a group of the best players?"

If LIV Golf players return to the PGA Tour, would they be eligible for the new equity program?

Malnati, who joined the policy board to represent the tour's rank-and-file players, seemed to suggest that two things would probably happen if a deal with the PIF is reached and LIV golfers are allowed back: They wouldn't return as PGA Tour members and wouldn't be recipients of the initial shares of the planned $1.5 billion equity program that PGA Tour Enterprises plans to grant past, current and future members over the next several years.

It's yet to be determined whether LIV golfers would be eligible for equity shares in the future, according to sources.

"It's going to make players owners of the tour, and guys who violated our policies aren't ever going to be eligible for that," Malnati said. "That's a big deal. Like, that's a big, big deal. So I think, if we do find a pathway for guys to come back, there will certainly be safeguards in place to protect the members of the tour who stayed here."

What happens to team golf and the LIV Golf League if a deal gets done?

Along with greasing the wheels for its golfers to return to the PGA Tour, the Saudis have also dug in their heels when it comes to LIV Golf and keeping its team format intact in some way, sources have told ESPN.

The Saudis either want team golf to be part of the PGA Tour schedule, or for the LIV Golf League to continue in its present form -- with PGA Tour stars competing. Most of the PGA Tour's best players want no part of team golf outside of the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, and they don't want to play in even more tournaments.

Malnati described LIV Golf's team concept as a "very forced team model" and didn't see how it would be part of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup schedule.

"I personally don't want that, but I can always have my mind changed if I see a great idea," Malnati said. "But personally, I don't want that and I don't see a way that we do that -- that we integrate team golf within the FedEx Cup schedule. We're going to have some time to play with in the fall, I think, we're going to have some options, but I just don't know."

When would the sport be reunited?

Even if a deal is struck this spring, the PGA Tour's alliance with the PIF might not take effect until late 2025 or 2026 at the earliest. The U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division has opened an investigation into the PGA Tour's alleged antitrust behavior, and it wouldn't be closed simply because the former competitors are now partners. Antitrust experts previously told ESPN that a DOJ review could take as long as 18 months.

Even if a deal is finalized, that means the LIV Golf League would finish out this season, which ends at the Greenbrier Golf Club in West Virginia on Aug. 16-18, and probably play next season too.

On Tuesday, Monahan wouldn't offer a timeline, saying, "It's going to take time."

For now, the PGA Tour will ponder its own future while trying to find peace with the PIF and LIV Golf League.

"I think a lot of that is depending upon the fact of what happens to the LIV guys; do they come back eventually?" Hovland said. "I don't think it's a great outlook if we keep being divided for 10, 15 years, whatever, however long it's going to take. There has to be some kind of decision being made in the future."

Players Championship second-round highlights: Wyndham Clark dominates, Min Woo Lee drains a bomb

Shot of the day

Min Woo Lee, who contended in last year's Players Championship, drained a putt of 60 feet, 1 inch at the par-3 17th hole to get his score to 1-under, projected to make the cut when the second round is completed on Saturday morning. It was the second-longest measured putt at the Island Green in the ShotLink Era (dating back to 2003), behind a putt of 69-7 by Jhonattan Vegas in the final round of the 2019 tournament.

Hole of the day

The par-4 14th hole was the most difficult on the course in the second round, averaging 4.33 strokes. It had the most bogeys with 46 and the second-most double bogeys with nine, trailing only the fourth hole with 16. It also had the fewest birdies of any hole during the second round with three. The fortunate few were Austin Eckroat, Peter Malnati and Sam Burns.

Leader Wyndham Clark made his only bogey of the day at the 14th. Nick Taylor, tied for second, did likewise. But it derailed the chance for Rory McIlroy to finish among the top 10 as he made double bogey, needing three shots to reach the green and three putts to get down. He dropped into a tie for 14th at 6-under.

Stat of the day

12: Eagles at the par-5 16th hole. There were only two other eagles on the course in the second round. There have been 42 eagles at No. 16 so far this week with only 17 other eagles on the rest of the course.

Island Time

The par-3 17th hole played relatively tame for a second day in a row. It averaged 3.077 in the second round, eighth in difficult on the Stadium Course. It was 3.083 in the first round, seventh in difficulty.

There were 28 birdies in the second round (24 in the first), 17 bogeys (21 in the first), two double-bogeys (seven in the first) and five 7s. One of the more interesting sequences was from by Byeong Hun An when he hit his tee shot in the water, and then his third shot from the drop area, leading to a 7. He shot 80 for the day, with a 43 on the back, but his 7 at No. 17 was between birdies at Nos. 17 and 18.

There were 13 balls hit into the water, two more than the first round. It was the lowest number of water balls in the second round since 2019, when six found their way to the drink.

Beau Hossler had the indignity of hitting the 1,000th ball in the water since the Tour began using ShotLink to track statistics in 2003.

They said it

"I guess you guys could say what you want on that. I just really don't know what it is. I would like to play great every week. I really looked at how Scottie [Scheffler] has been playing this year and last year and I use him as someone to try to keep up with. My thing is just try to be consistent."

Players Championship leader Wyndham Clark on being called "Big Game Hunter" for playing well in big tournaments .

"When the tournament was in May, it's probably not something that British players are used to, with it being Bermuda [grass], firm, fast, 95 degrees ... In March it's probably a little bit better with there's not really much grain out here that's affecting anything. It feels probably a little bit more like home, I guess, with the grass."

Matthew Fitzpatrick of England on the chances that a player from the British Isles will win The Players .

"I can't even remember a 10-footer I holed this week."

Min Woo Lee on the 60 foot, 1 inch putt he made at the 17th hole.

They wrote it

Gene Frenette writes about a painful second round for defending champion Scottie Scheffler, and how he gutted out a 69 to stay in contention.

Not the birthday present Beau Hossler wanted. Clayton Freeman explains.

Meet Matti Schmid, who wants to become the first German to win The Players since Martin Kaymer in 2014.

Garry Smits reports that PGA Tour players may not have to employ their own nutritionists in the future, if the PGA Tour's Player Dining Nutrition Program continues to expand.

Tickets for Saturday's round are sold out. Sunday tickets remain. But Players officials caution fans to be wary of ticket brokers and buy resale tickets only a ticketmasters.com.

This is the 50th Players Championship. Let's speculate with some industry experts, on what the 100th might look like in 2074.

The Players on social media

Why hasn't the PGA Tour's social media department put Adam Hadwin's wife Jessica on the payroll?

Webb Simpson and his wedge had a chat after a good shot.

Chris Kirk got a nice hop off the bulkhead at No. 18.

2024 Masters odds, field: Surprising PGA picks, predictions from advanced golf model that called 10 majors

S cottie Scheffler is on a hot streak as time ticks down to the 2024 Masters on Thursday, April 11 at Augusta National Golf Club. The world No. 1 has five top-10 finishes in seven starts so far this season. He also recorded back-to-back wins, topping the leaderboard at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Players Championship. Scheffler is the 2024 Masters favorite at 5-1 in the 2024 Masters odds, ahead of Rory McIlroy (10-1). Defending champion Jon Rahm is 13-1, while Brooks Koepka, who held the lead through three rounds at the Masters last year before falling behind Rahm, is 21-1. Before locking in any 2024 Masters picks of your own, be sure to see the 2024 Masters golf predictions and projected leaderboard from the proven computer model at SportsLine .

SportsLine's proprietary model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, has been red-hot since the PGA Tour resumed in June 2020. In fact, the model is up nearly $9,500 on its best bets since the restart, nailing tournament after tournament.

McClure's model predicted Scottie Scheffler would finish on top of the leaderboard at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship this season. McClure also included Hideki Matsuyama in his best bets to win the 2024 Genesis Invitational. That bet hit at +9000, and for the entire tournament, McClure's best bets returned nearly $1,000.

The model also predicted Jon Rahm would be victorious at the 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions and The American Express. At the 2023 Masters, the model was all over Rahm's second career major victory heading into the weekend. Rahm was two strokes off the lead heading into the third round, but the model still projected him as the winner. It was the second straight Masters win for the model, which also nailed Scheffler winning in 2022.

In addition, McClure's best bets included Nick Taylor (70-1) winning the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, Jason Day (17-1) winning outright at the 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson, and Rickie Fowler (14-1) finishing on top of the leaderboard at the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic. This same model has also nailed a whopping 10 majors entering the weekend. Anyone who has followed it has seen massive returns.

Now that the Masters 2024 field is taking shape, SportsLine simulated the tournament 10,000 times, and the results were surprising. Head to SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard.

Top 2024 Masters predictions 

One major surprise the model is calling for at the 2024 Masters: Rory McIlroy, a four-time major champion and one of the co-favorites, fails to complete the career grand slam and barely cracks the top five at Augusta National. The world's No. 2-ranked golfer is off to a rough start in 2024, with his highest finish through his first five starts being 19th at the Players Championship.

Putting was an issue for McIlroy at the start of the season, as he previously ranked 129th in that area (-0.246). While he has improved to 83rd on the PGA Tour (0.036) and his total shots gained (0.610) is 40th, he is still 123rd in shots gained approaching the green (-0.176). While there appears to be small improvements in his game, his finishes this season are why the model is low on him.

Another surprise: Ludvig Aberg, a 24-1 longshot, makes a strong run at the title. He has a much better chance to win it all than his odds imply, so he's a target for anyone looking for a huge payday. The former No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings gained attention when he notched his first Tour win last season at the RSM Classic. He has continued to impress in 2024 with three top-10 finishes, including a runner-up at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and an eighth-place finish at the Players Championship.

The Swede ranks 12th on the PGA Tour in total shots gained (1.048) and fourth for his proximity in approaching greens (34'10). He is consistently showing growth in his game, which is why the model is high on him to finish towards the top of the leaderboard at the 2024 Masters.  See who else to pick here .

How to make 2024 Masters picks

The model is also targeting six other golfers with odds of 20-1 or longer to make a strong run at the green jacket. Anyone who backs these longshots could hit it big. You can only see the model's picks here .

Who will win the 2024 Masters, and which longshots will stun the golfing world? Check out the Masters 2024 odds below and then visit SportsLine to see the projected Masters leaderboard, all from the model that's nailed 10 golf majors, including last year's Masters and Open Championship .

2024 Masters odds, field

Full set of Masters picks, best bets, and predictions here.

Scottie Scheffler +500

Rory McIlroy +1000

Jon Rahm +1300

Brooks Koepka +2100

Jordan Spieth +2100

Will Zalatoris +2100

Viktor Hovland +2100

Xander Schauffele +2400

Ludvig Aberg +2400

Patrick Cantlay +2800

Justin Thomas +2800

Cameron Smith +3100

Hideki Matsuyama +3100

Collin Morikawa +3100

Joaquin Niemann +3100

Wyndham Clark +3100

Matt Fitzpatrick +3600

Dustin Johnson +3600

Tony Finau +4400

Max Homa +4400

Brian Harman +4600

Shane Lowry +4600

Cameron Young +4600

Jason Day +4600

Bryson DeChambeau +4600

Sam Burns +5500

Min Woo Lee +5500

Sahith Theegala +5500

Tommy Fleetwood +5500

Sung-Jae Im +7500

Tyrrell Hatton +7500

Corey Conners +9000

Tom Kim +9000

Justin Rose +9000

Patrick Reed +9000

Russell Henley +12000

Adam Scott +12000

Rickie Fowler +12000

Jake Knapp +12000

Phil Mickelson +16000

Harris English +16000

Sergio Garcia +16000

Tiger Woods +16000

Gary Woodland +19000

Keegan Bradley +19000

Si Woo Kim +19000

Chris Kirk +19000

Ryan Fox +19000

J.T. Poston +19000

Nick Dunlap +19000

Cameron Davis +19000

Thorbjorn Olesen +19000

Adrian Meronk +19000

Sepp Straka +19000

Nick Taylor +19000

Eric Cole +19000

Matthieu Pavon +19000

Emiliano Grillo +19000

Nicolai Hojgaard +19000

Luke List +21000

Adam Hadwin +21000

Charl Schwartzel +28000

Kurt Kitayama +28000

Bubba Watson +28000

Ryo Hisatsune +28000

Erik van Rooyen +28000

Danny Willett +34000

Denny McCarthy +34000

Lee Hodges +34000

Taylor Moore +43000

Adam Schenk +43000

Lucas Glover +43000

Grayson Murray +55000

Christo Lamprecht +55000

Mike Weir +100000

Jose Maria Olazabal +100000

Fred Couples +100000

Vijay Singh +100000

Zach Johnson +100000

Stewart Hagestad +100000

Jasper Stubbs +100000

Santiago De La Fuente +100000

Neal Shipley +100000