The Cognizant Classic held in the picturesque Palm Beaches is recognized for its challenging terrain, particularly the notorious Bear Trap that has often left even the stalwart golfers floundering. Saturday’s round was no exception. A gusty wind and hardened greens made it a day of unexpected turns and intense drama, with leaders from the third round finding themselves in surprising predicaments.
Taylor Montgomery, who initially held the lead, found himself in a tight spot early on in the par-3 15th. His tee shot found its way into the water, and his third effort ended up wedged between two rocks. Despite a few attempts at the drop zone, it wasn’t until several tries later that he managed to find dry land. However, by that point, he had recorded a quadruple bogey, knocking him from the leading position.
Yet, Montgomery proved his resilience. He rallied with two birdies in his final three holes, wrapping up the day at 13-under, just a mere three strokes behind the leader. Jesper Svensson also faced a challenging situation on the 15th. Overshooting the green, he ended up in a bunker and his second shot landed in the water, leading to a triple bogey. Despite managing a few pars afterward, he finished the day six strokes behind the leader.
Michael Kim, the overnight leader, faced his set of hurdles on the 15th. His tee shot hit the rock wall before the green and ricocheted into the mud, putting him in a precarious position. However, with some quick thinking and a little innovation—like removing his shoe to retrieve the ball from the mud—Kim managed to limit his losses to a bogey. He ended the day with a birdie at 18, keeping him in second place at 15-under, just one stroke behind Jake Knapp.
Despite these challenges, some players managed to maintain their composure. Russell Henley, Rickie Fowler, and Daniel Berger will all be in contention on Sunday, with their eyes firmly set on the trophy. But the question on everyone’s mind is – who will they tee off with, and when? The final tee times for the ultimate round of the 2025 Cognizant Classic revealed an exciting lineup of players, set to tee off from 8:00 AM EST, with the showdown between Jake Knapp and Michael Kim scheduled for 1:50 PM EST.
The finale of the 2025 Cognizant Classic promises to be a thrilling event, with the notorious Bear Trap still posing a formidable challenge. The event, ninth on the PGA Tour calendar, will be broadcast live across various platforms, including early-round coverage on the Golf Channel. The final round on Sunday, March 2, will begin at 6:45 a.m. ET and run until 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
With a substantial prize pool of $9.2 million, the winner will pocket a cool $1.656 million, along with 500 FedEx Cup points. They’ll also secure an automatic spot in the 2025 Masters, if not already qualified, making the competition even more exhilarating. As we move towards the climax, one question remains – who will emerge victorious in this high-stakes golf event?