The recent Cognizant Classic on the PGA Tour may have left some golf enthusiasts feeling underwhelmed, especially those who crave the thrill of a leaderboard packed with top-tier talent. The tournament’s climactic moments were marred by the absence of big names, with golf stars like Jordan Spieth failing to make a significant impact on the final day at the PGA National.
In an intriguing turn of events, only two out of the top five finishers at the Cognizant Classic had begun the week within the top 100 of the FedEx Cup rankings. However, it wasn’t a complete dearth of star power. Jordan Spieth, for instance, put on a remarkable display, his best since his comeback from injury, despite predictions that the PGA National wouldn’t suit his style of play.
Other notable performances included Shane Lowry, Min Woo Lee, and Rickie Fowler, who all finished within the top 20. Yet, the level of excitement and anticipation surrounding the final stretch on Sunday was noticeably less compared to the anticipation for this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, the next signature event on the tour.
This situation has left golf analyst Brad Faxon feeling rather disappointed. Faxon expressed his frustration during an episode of the Golf Channel Podcast, particularly with the players residing in Florida. He argued that they should have seized the opportunity to participate in the Cognizant Classic, regardless of its non-signature status.
Faxon, a Florida resident himself during the first decade of his career, reminisces about playing in local tournaments irrespective of his liking for the course. He argues that these tournaments offer an excellent chance for players to give back to their community and support causes such as the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, which is the beneficiary of the tournament.
The veteran golfer understands that players have to manage their schedules and energy levels, especially with back-to-back signature events. Nevertheless, he maintains that they could have played a few holes in the pro-am, and see how the tournament unfolds.
Faxon’s disappointment underscores a significant issue the PGA Tour has been grappling with since the inception of LIV Golf and its introduction of signature events. While these high-profile tournaments often have the allure of a major championship, it has led to other competitions being overlooked.
Unless there’s a unique relationship with a sponsor, players seem less inclined to participate in non-signature events. Although this is not a universal trend, it’s becoming increasingly rare to see the world’s best players at tournaments like the Cognizant Classic. This disparity could potentially weaken the fields of non-signature events over time, creating a widening gap between the signature and non-signature tournaments.
