Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. – The third round of the 2026 Cognizant Classic is set to tee off a bit earlier than scheduled on Saturday, February 28, at PGA National, due to anticipated inclement weather in the afternoon. Austin Smotherman will carry a three-shot lead into the round, looking to build on a spectacular opening 62 and maintain his position atop the leaderboard. The tournament, offering a significant test for players, has seen a softening of the course due to overseeding, a factor Smotherman acknowledged contributed to his impressive first-round score.
Smotherman’s 9-under 62 on Thursday was matched as the best score of his PGA Tour career, and combined with a second-round 69, puts him at 11 under overall. This marks a significant turnaround for the 31-year-old, whose previous appearance at this tournament in 2022 ended with a missed cut. He’ll be paired with Taylor Moore, who sits at 8 under, and A.J. Ewart, at 7 under, in Saturday’s final grouping, teeing off at 9:40 a.m. ET.
The early start times are a direct response to the forecast, allowing players to complete as much of their rounds as possible before the expected arrival of unfavorable conditions. Golf Channel will broadcast the third round from 10 a.m. To 3 p.m. ET, while PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will offer exclusive early streaming coverage beginning at 7:45 a.m. ET, including featured group and featured hole coverage.
A Look at the Championship Contenders
While Smotherman holds a comfortable lead, the chase is far from over. Taylor Moore, his playing partner for Saturday, will be looking to close the gap and position pressure on the leader. A.J. Ewart, alongside Smotherman and Moore, is also within striking distance. Nico Echavarria and Joel Dahmen are both at 7 under, poised to make a move if conditions allow.
Smotherman’s performance this week is particularly noteworthy given his recent form. According to reports, he had registered three missed cuts in four starts prior to the Cognizant Classic, with a tie for eighth at The American Express as his only top-10 finish in his 2026 campaign. He acknowledged the significance of leading a PGA Tour event, stating, “Leading a PGA TOUR event, reach on, pretty awesome.”
Saturday’s Tee Times and Groupings
Here’s a complete look at the Saturday tee times for the third round of the 2026 Cognizant Classic, all times Eastern:
Tee No. 1
- 7:28 a.m. – Zecheng Dou, Matthieu Pavon, Max McGreevy
- 7:40 a.m. – Mackenzie Hughes, Chan Kim, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
- 7:52 a.m. – Ryan Gerard, Brooks Koepka, Ben Silverman
- 8:04 a.m. – Steven Fisk, Ricky Castillo, Eric Cole
- 8:16 a.m. – Max Homa, Thorbjorn Olesen, Kevin Streelman
- 8:28 a.m. – Matti Schmid, Takumi Kanaya, Kevin Roy
- 8:40 a.m. – Seamus Power, Chad Ramey, Carson Young
- 8:52 a.m. – William Mouw, Michael Brennan, Daniel Berger
- 9:04 a.m. – Aaron Rai, Shane Lowry, Jimmy Stanger
- 9:16 a.m. – Kristoffer Reitan, Pontus Nyholm, Hank Lebioda
- 9:28 a.m. – Nico Echavarria, Joel Dahmen, Mark Hubbard
- 9:40 a.m. – Austin Smotherman, Taylor Moore, A.J. Ewart
Tee No. 10
- 7:28 a.m. – Sudarshan Yellamaraju, Alex Smalley, Danny Walker
- 7:40 a.m. – Rasmus Hojgaard, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Dan Brown
- 7:52 a.m. – John Parry, Austin Eckroat, Beau Hossler
- 8:04 a.m. – Lee Hodges, Matt Wallace, Keith Mitchell
- 8:16 a.m. – Davis Thompson, Jackson Suber, Adrien Saddier
- 8:28 a.m. – Patrick Fishburn, Zach Bauchou, Dylan Wu
- 8:40 a.m. – Emiliano Grillo, Adam Schenk, Chandler Phillips
- 8:52 a.m. – Tom Kim, Patton Kizzire, Haotong Li
- 9:04 a.m. – David Ford, Billy Horschel, Garrick Higgo
- 9:16 a.m. – Joe Highsmith, Nicolai Hojgaard
- 9:28 a.m. – Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Jordan Smith
More Than Just Golf: A Family on the Horizon
Beyond the competition, Smotherman is also preparing for a significant personal milestone. He and his wife, Katie, are expecting their third child in late March. Smotherman discussed the logistical challenges of balancing his professional commitments with the impending arrival, noting the possibility of flying from the Valspar Championship through Dallas to meet his new child, or even having the baby during the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
The course conditions at PGA National are also a talking point, with the overseeding process creating a softer playing surface and a visually appealing green aesthetic for television viewers. Smotherman himself remarked that the course “shouldn’t be this effortless,” acknowledging the impact of the overseeding on scoring.
The final round of the Cognizant Classic is scheduled for Sunday, February 29, with the leaders hoping to navigate the course and the potential weather challenges to secure a victory. Fans can continue to follow the action on Golf Channel and PGA Tour Live on ESPN+, with the tournament promising a thrilling conclusion.
Share your thoughts on the tournament and the contenders in the comments below.
