On the opening day of the Cognizant Classic, Jordan Spieth etched his name into the annals of golfing history. The day unfolded on the greens of PGA National, a course typically known for its rigorous demands. However, the first day saw an unusual ease of play, leading to low scoring and a wave of criticism from both players and fans.
Jake Knapp emerged as the star of the day, joining the exclusive club of players who have shot 59 on the PGA Tour – a feat only 15 golfers have achieved. Concurrently, the American golfer Spieth, a three-time major winner, staged his own spectacle. Starting on the 10th hole, Spieth steadily collected shots on the 13th, 15th, 16th, and 17th holes, maintaining a par on the par-five finale. He further birdied on the third and fourth holes, ending his round with a three on the par-four ninth.
The result placed Spieth six shots behind Knapp, tying him for the 11th spot with six other players. However, Spieth’s accomplishment resonates beyond the leaderboard. His series of birdies on the notorious Bear Trap – a challenging stretch from the 15th to the 17th holes – distinguished him as the 14th golfer to accomplish such a feat in a single round.
But while Spieth and Knapp reveled in their accomplishments, others were less pleased. Billy Horschel, amongst others, voiced disappointment with the course’s condition, deeming it overly “scorable.” Joel Dahmen echoed this sentiment, asserting a complete transformation of the course. Michael Kim, who himself shot six under, pointed out the changes that rendered the course less challenging.
Kim’s comments highlight a clear shift from the usual rigor of PGA National. “Big rye overseed and no wind make this course much easier, but did not think I’d be six shots back after a 65,” he noted. Traditionally, scores around ten under have been competitive at the Cognizant Classic. Past champions like Sepp Straka, who won at ten under in 2022, Matt Jones who scored 12 under in 2021, and Sungjae Im who clinched the title with six under in 2020, underscore this.
In light of the criticism and low scoring on day one, it remains to be seen how the tournament organizers will respond. Will they toughen up the course to restore its reputation as one of the Tour’s most challenging setups, or will they allow the trend of high scores to continue? Only time will tell. As for Spieth, his rare achievement on the Bear Trap during his tournament debut at the Cognizant Classic is a testament to his caliber and a highlight of the opening day’s proceedings.
