AUSTIN’S POWER
Eckroat realizes dream, bags maiden PGA title at Cognizant

AUSTIN Eckroat celebrates after winning his first PGA Tour title following a victorious performance at Cognizant Classic. | BRENNAN ASPLEN/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
MIAMI (AFP) — Austin Eckroat held off Australia's Min Woo Lee over the final holes after a Monday resumption to win the storm-interrupted Cognizant Classic for his first PGA Tour title.
The 25-year-old American made three birdies, a bogey and seven pars to complete a four-under par final round of 67 at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
That left overnight leader Eckroat on 17-under 267 for 72 holes, good enough to defeat Australia's Lee and South African Erik van Rooyen by three strokes in the PGA's first Monday finish since last year at Pebble Beach.
"It's crazy," Eckroat said.
"This has always been my dream, to win on the PGA Tour, and I haven't won since 2019 — it was a college event — it has been so long. I'm just so happy to do it."
"This is just a dream come true."
South Korea's Lee Kyoung-hoon shared fourth on 271 with Americans Jake Knapp and Cameron Young, England's David Skinns and Ireland's Shane Lowry.
Eckroat's best PGA Tour result over 49 prior starts was a runner-up effort last May at the Byron Nelson.
"It's not a fun finish whenever you have to hold onto a lead," Eckroat said.
"Then the adversity of sleeping mid-round. Just really happy with how I handled it."
Eckroat was 15-under after seven holes and clung to a one-stroke lead over clubhouse leader van Rooyen when darkness fell Sunday, leaving 26 players to complete their final round on Monday after Sunday storms stopped play for 3 1/2 hours.
"I knew I had a lot of work to go," Eckroat said.
"It wasn't a comfortable position."
Lee made a morning charge with an eagle at the par-5 10th, reaching the green in two and sinking an eight-foot putt, and made a seven-foot birdie putt at 12 to reach 14-under, one off the lead.
