New Faces on the Rise: Austin Eckroat Wins at PGA National

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Pebble was a short week (the tournament ended on a Saturday) and Cognizant (nee Honda) was a long one, what with the Monday finish. Two PGA Tour Sundays, taken from us by way of storm. That’s OK. Tiger likes to say that Father Time is undefeated, but Mother Nature has some record, too.

You could look at Rory’s week and say it was a long one, playing on Monday-night golf (Match IX) at a public course near here called The Park, followed by a Wednesday pro-am and four tournament rounds here at PGA National, a resort course, and ending with the Monday pro-member at Seminole (way private), playing with his father, Gerry McIlroy, a member and a stick. Rory does not look at it that way.

“This is the life we’ve wanted,” Rory said in Sunday night’s dusk, having barely managed to squeeze in the final round. “This is the life we’ve asked for. This is what we want to do. We like being busy when it’s stuff we want to do.”

Of the thousands of shots we saw played over the course of eight days in South Florida, the most memorable was the last man-in-full shot we saw Rory hit at the Match, playing with Max Homa, Lexi Thompson, and Rose Zhang. It was a smashed driver and his golf ball, lighted by floodlights and moonlight, rose and rose until it disappeared into the darkness for several seconds before reemerging on its ways down, like an earthbound spaceship, back into the light. As E.B. White once wrote, “Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.”

The most unlikely shot we saw was played by Michael Stephens, Jake Knapp’s caddie. It was a hole-high three-finger cut 4-iron into a wee breeze in a Tuesday-afternoon practice round on the par-3 17th at PGA National. No practice swing, no warning, no anything. The caddies get another practice-round par-3 swing at TPC Sawgrass, on the island-green 17th, during the Players. Mike’s man played his way into that event, by way of his win at Mexico.

Knapp played with McIlroy for three straight days at PGA National. That is, the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches. As in the phrase, the road to Augusta begins at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches. Back in the Greg Norman heyday, golf hands used to say that the road to Augusta begins at Doral, for years the start of the Florida Swing. G. Norman and 56 LIV players will be back at Doral, now Trump Doral, in early April.

After winning in Mexico, Knapp flew through the night to Florida and played in The Jake on Monday, an annual pro-am at the Bear’s Club that honors the short life of Jake Nicklaus, one of Jack and Barbara Nicklaus’s grandchildren. On Tuesday, Jake Knapp played a practice round. He played the 72 holes of the tournament over five days. This week he’ll play in the Arnold Palmer Invitational for the first time. Then the Players for the first time. Next month he’ll play in the Masters for the first time. A 29-year-old PGA Tour rookie. Everything we’ve done in this game we have earned.

When LIV Golf first became a thing, Jack Nicklaus said what he has often said, that there’s “always a next generation of stars.” A next generation of stars, and a next generation journeymen who help them sparkle. His point was that as LIV Golf signed stars with guaranteed contracts — a Phil Mickelson, a Dustin Johnson, a Martin Kaymer (!) — the world’s other tours would develop new ones. Min Woo Lee (his parents emigrated to Australia from South Korea) and Jake Knapp (from Southern California and Erik van Rooyen (from South Africa) all semi-contended at PGA National.

The winner was Austin Eckroat, an Okie who saw Tiger Woods win at Southern Hills as a little kid in 2007. They’re on the rise in this difficult and global game. All they need to do is shoot the scores, and they will play their way into our consciousness. How cool is that? See you at Augusta, gents.

[ARTICLE ENDS]

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the highlights of the recent Florida Swing?

The highlights of the recent Florida Swing included Pebble, a short week tournament that ended on a Saturday, and Cognizant (nee Honda), a long one with a Monday finish. The Road to Augusta began at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches, with notable performances from players like Rory McIlroy, Jake Knapp, and Austin Eckroat.

How did Rory McIlroy spend his week?

Rory McIlroy had a busy week, playing Monday-night golf at a public course called The Park, followed by a Wednesday pro-am and four tournament rounds at PGA National. He ended the week with the Monday pro-member at Seminole, playing with his father, Gerry McIlroy. Despite the packed schedule, Rory expressed his enjoyment for being busy when it’s something he wants to do.

What were some notable shots during the Florida Swing?

One of the most memorable shots was Rory McIlroy’s smashed driver at the Match, which disappeared into the darkness before reemerging back into the light. Another standout shot was Michael Stephens’ hole-high three-finger cut 4-iron in a practice round. These impressive shots demonstrated the skill and talent of the players competing.

Who were the winners of the recent tournaments?

Austin Eckroat emerged as the winner of the Cognizant Classic at PGA National. He showcased his rising talent in the difficult and global game of golf. With stellar performances, players like Eckroat, Jake Knapp, and others are making their mark and playing their way into the consciousness of the golfing world.

What can we expect in the upcoming Masters tournament?

The upcoming Masters tournament will feature exciting new faces, including Jake Knapp, who will be playing in the Masters for the first time as a 29-year-old PGA Tour rookie. With the next generation of stars and the development of promising talents, the road to Augusta promises to be thrilling and full of surprises.

Some notable highlights of the recent Florida Swing include Pebble, a short week tournament that ended on a Saturday, and Cognizant (nee Honda), a long one with a Monday finish. The Road to Augusta began at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches, with notable performances from players like Rory McIlroy, Jake Knapp, and Austin Eckroat. Rory McIlroy had a busy week, playing Monday-night golf at a public course called The Park, followed by a Wednesday pro-am and four tournament rounds at PGA National. He ended the week with the Monday pro-member at Seminole, playing with his father, Gerry McIlroy. Notable shots during the Florida Swing included Rory McIlroy’s smashed driver at the Match and Michael Stephens’ hole-high three-finger cut 4-iron in a practice round. The winner of the Cognizant Classic was Austin Eckroat, showcasing his rising talent in the difficult and global game of golf. In the upcoming Masters tournament, we can expect to see new faces like Jake Knapp, who will be playing in the Masters for the first time as a 29-year-old PGA Tour rookie. The next generation of stars and the development of promising talents make the road to Augusta an exciting and unpredictable journey.