Colombian golfer Nico Echavarria captured the Cognizant Classic title on Sunday at the PGA National’s Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, following a consistent final round of five-under-par 66. Echavarria took advantage of late-round difficulties from Ireland’s Shane Lowry to claim his first PGA Tour win since 2024, finishing with a total 17-under 267 score.
Throughout the event, Echavarria relied on a clean, mistake-free approach that allowed him to move from three strokes behind on the back nine into the winner’s circle.
“To win out here, sometimes you have to have good breaks if you’re not Scottie Scheffler that hits it every time in the perfect place. So I’m happy with how it went,”
Echavarria said, reflecting on his fortunate moments during the tournament.
Shane Lowry’s Late Double-Bogeys Cost Him the Lead
Shane Lowry appeared poised for the title after opening six under par without any bogeys in his final round, including an eagle on the par-5 10th hole on the back nine. However, his performance unraveled on holes 16 and 17, where both tee shots found the water, resulting in double-bogeys that ultimately handed Echavarria the lead.
Lowry expressed deep regret about losing the tournament in the closing stages:
“I had the tournament in my hands, and I threw it away.”
He added,
“I played unbelievable, and one bad shot on 16 completely threw me for the last three holes.”
Prior to the event, Lowry criticized the course setup for becoming easier in recent years but capitalized on its conditions until those final holes disrupted his momentum.
Challengers Keep Close but Fall Short
Echavarria secured a two-stroke advantage over a trio of players who finished tied for second place: Lowry, Austin Smotherman, and Taylor Moore. Moore posted a final-round 68, marking the second-best finish of his career.
“I was happy to put four rounds together. It’s been a little while for me since I’ve done that, and I just was really pleased with how I regrouped after No. 6 (with a bogey) and played some solid golf coming in,”
Moore shared.
Smotherman, who led alongside Lowry at the start of the day, closed with a 69, including a birdie on the last hole. Ricky Castillo finished in fifth place at 13 under par after a closing round of 68.
Brooks Koepka and Other Contenders Make Their Marks
Brooks Koepka impressed with a 65 on the final day, the best round tied for the lowest score of the closing round, helping him tie for ninth place at 10 under par. Koepka noted, “Finally found some confidence,” and added,
“I think that’s the one thing that’s been lacking.”
A notable moment came when he sank a shot from the greenside bunker on the 14th hole.
“Once you get inside the ropes, it feels natural. I think it’s easier once you get inside those ropes,”
Koepka commented.
Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard carded a 65, finishing in a tie for sixth at 11 under, alongside William Mouw and Keith Mitchell, who posted rounds of 67 and 68 respectively.
A Personal Victory in Palm Beach Gardens
Echavarria’s victory carried a personal significance as well, given that he and his wife finalized the purchase of a home in Palm Beach Gardens just days before the tournament. This win on local fairways combined professional achievement with a new chapter at home for the Colombian player.
With the Cognizant Classic now in his record books, Echavarria’s steady, resilient play sets a promising tone for his upcoming tournaments on the PGA Tour. Meanwhile, Lowry’s late-round struggles serve as a reminder of golf’s unpredictability, suggesting critical adjustments may be necessary as the season advances.
