Fan favorites eyeing breakthrough at Cognizant Classic

As the PGA Tour begins its Florida swing at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches on Thursday, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler and Daniel Berger are among the names vying for a redeeming victory.

A pair of fan favorites, Spieth and Fowler, have dropped to Nos. 70 and 95, respectively, in the Official World Golf Ranking amid difficult stretches. Spieth is still working his way back from August wrist surgery and made his season debut earlier this month.

After tying for fourth at the WM Phoenix Open, he missed the cut at the Genesis Invitational, a signature event that only cut 18 players. This will be his first time competing at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

“It was really nice to get back and then even to get into contention one week,” Spieth said. “So my goal now, as we look towards the Masters, is to try to play difficult golf courses and work my way into contention and just see what I can improve upon by the time we get to Augusta.”

Spieth hasn’t won on tour since April 2022, while Fowler’s 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic is his only victory this decade.

“Game-wise, definitely trending and heading in the right direction,” Fowler said. “Obviously last year was back to playing some poor golf or not necessarily taking advantage of some opportunities. Played poorly on the weekends.

“Not a great start this year, but I feel like I’ve seen a lot of good things, and I know that I’m at least trending. That’s a positive.”

This tournament is a “home game” for the many players like Fowler who live in nearby Jupiter, Fla. That goes double for Berger, a Florida native and Florida State alum.

Once ranked as high as No. 12 in the world, Berger missed some of 2022 and all of 2023 as he rehabbed a back injury. He ended a quiet 2024 season with a T2 finish at the RSM Classic and has gotten off to a fine start this year, tying for second in Scottsdale and placing 12th at the Genesis.

“It took me legitimately a year to feel like I was the same golfer that I was pre-injury,” Berger said. “I actually feel like I’m a more knowledgeable golfer, as in like I understand what I need to do. I know my body better. I think that’s going to make me a better player in the future.”

PGA National was once known as one of the tougher tracks on tour, but the trend in recent years has been winning scores in the double digits under par, where it once had been in the single digits. When Austin Eckroat won last year with a 17-under 263, it was the lowest score since 2003.

“They overseeded the golf course so it’s not Bermuda anymore. The greens are fantastic; they’re the best I’ve ever seen them,” Berger said. “Chipping is noticeably easier now. … You’re not going to see guys duff balls like they would when it was pure Bermuda. It’s a lot easier.”

The course still has its challenges, namely the “Bear Trap,” the 15th through 17th holes with plenty of water in play.

–Field Level Media