The 2026 Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach is the first of four events on the PGA Tour’s Florida Swing. The event follows back-to-back signature events and precedes the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship.
The field was hit hard on Monday, with last week’s winner (Jacob Bridgman) and a popular international (Adam Scott) withdrawing. On the tee was local resident Brooks Koepka, playing in his third tournament since returning from LIV golf.
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Stay tuned for all of Thursday’s action with Golfweek’s live updates.
Tee markings on the course at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida for the Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach.
2026 Cognizant Classic Ranking
The 2026 Palm Beach Cognizant Classic leaderboards will be updated throughout the day Thursday. You can also view tee times, brackets and course information for the first round.
Where to watch the 2026 Cognizant Classic
NBC Sports debuts in the 2026 season as the leading golf television network. Golf Channel, Peacock and PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ are also participating in coverage.
Round 1, Thursday, February 26
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PGA Tour Radio on Sirius XM: 12 noon ET – 6 p.m. ET
How much prize money is up for grabs at the 2026 Cognizant Classic?
The prize is $9,600,000, and a first-prize check for $1,728,000 awaits the winner Sunday night.
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Where will the 2026 Cognizant Classic be held?
The event was added to the calendar in 1972. The PGA National, located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, opened in 1981 and began hosting the event in 2007. PGA National was tied for No. 78 on Golfweek’s 2026 ranking of the top 200 resort golf courses in the United States, released in January. Tom Fazio is the curriculum architect. PGA National will play a par 71 this week, measuring 7,223 yards.
Will this be the last game of the Cognition Classic?
One of three things could happen as the PGA Tour celebrates the 20th anniversary of PGA National. Joel Paige, managing director of PGA National, then the Honda Classic, which moved here in 2007 after four years at The Country Club at Mirasol, believes Cognizant is in a weak position.
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Numbers in Cognition Classic
232 feet 7 inches. That’s the number of putts defending champion Joe Highsmith had in his final two rounds last year, with nine of them over 10 feet. Highsmith made a 135-foot, 10-inch putt in the third round, the most feet by a winner in a single round of the championship since 2007. He also shot 128 over the weekend, his lowest total in the third and final round of PGA National since 2007.
Who is the latest Cognizant Classic winner?
Here are the winners since the event moved to PGA National in 2007:
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Highsmith, Eckrot, Straka, Im, Mitchell, Thompson, Young and Wilson all earned their first PGA Tour victories in this match.
This article was originally published in Golfweek: Cognizant Classic leaderboard update for Thursday’s first round
