Cognizant Classic: Round 3 Tee Times & Who's Making a Move at PGA National
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Alright, let’s cut to the chase. The Cognizant Classic is in full swing down at PGA National, and by the looks of it, the leaderboard’s getting interesting. Saturday’s the day things really heat up, especially with that nasty weather brewing. They’re pushing tee times up, which means less dawdling, more golf. Good. Nobody needs to see guys faffing about for hours.This year, it’s all about Austin Smotherman. Kid’s on fire. Opened with a blistering 62, then backed it up with a solid 69. He’s sitting pretty at 11 under, three shots clear. That’s a commanding lead, but in golf, three shots is nothing. Ask anyone who’s ever played this damn game. One bad stretch and you’re watching the guys behind you pull ahead like you’re stuck in neutral.His closest competition? Taylor Moore, sitting at 8 under. Then you’ve got A.J. Ewart and Nico Echavarria, both at 7 under. And don’t forget Joel Dahmen, lurking at 6 under. He’s a guy who can get hot. You can’t count him out.The final grouping is where the action is, naturally. Smotherman, Moore, and Ewart are out there together at 9:40 a.m. ET. That’s prime time for some serious golf. Buckle up.If you can’t be there in person, which let’s be honest, most of us can’t, you’ve got options. Golf Channel is covering it from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET. But if you want the early bird special, the real gritty stuff, PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ starts streaming at 7:45 a.m. ET. That’s where you’ll catch the buzz before the main broadcast even kicks in.And for those of you who like to put your money where your mouth is, there’s a special offer with Fanatics Sportsbook. Code “SUBPAR.” Might be worth a look if you’re feeling lucky.
The Early Birds: Who's Out First?
The early risers are the ones who either love the quiet of the morning or are trying to beat the inevitable afternoon storms. Either way, they’re on the course before most of us have even had our first cup of coffee.Here’s who’s teeing off first from Hole No. 1:
- 7:28 a.m. – Zecheng Dou, Matthieu Pavon, Max McGreevy
- 7:40 a.m. – Mackenzie Hughes, Chan Kim, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
- 7:52 a.m. – Ryan Gerard, Brooks Koepka, Ben Silverman
- 8:04 a.m. – Steven Fisk, Ricky Castillo, Eric Cole
- 8:16 a.m. – Max Homa, Thorbjorn Olesen, Kevin Streelman
- 8:28 a.m. – Matti Schmid, Takumi Kanaya, Kevin Roy
- 8:40 a.m. – Seamus Power, Chad Ramey, Carson Young
- 8:52 a.m. – William Mouw, Michael Brennan, Daniel Berger
- 9:04 a.m. – Aaron Rai, Shane Lowry, Jimmy Stanger
- 9:16 a.m. – Kristoffer Reitan, Pontus Nyholm, Hank Lebioda
- 9:28 a.m. – Nico Echavarria, Joel Dahmen, Mark Hubbard
The Main Event: Leading Groups and Key Matchups
This is where you’ll want to focus your attention. The tee times get tighter, and the pressure mounts. These are the guys who have played consistent golf through the first two rounds and are now battling it out for the lead.Here are the final pairings of the day from Hole No. 1:
- 9:40 a.m. – Austin Smotherman, Taylor Moore, A.J. Ewart
The Other Side of the Course: Hole No. 10 Starters
Not everyone is starting on the first tee. The tournament organizers, likely trying to manage the field and keep things moving, have staggered starts from the 10th hole as well. This is often done to help with pace of play, especially when you have a large number of players making the cut.Here’s who’s kicking off their Saturday from Hole No. 10:
- 7:28 a.m. – Sudarshan Yellamaraju, Alex Smalley, Danny Walker
- 7:40 a.m. – Rasmus Hojgaard, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Dan Brown
- 7:52 a.m. – John Parry, Austin Eckroat, Beau Hossler
- 8:04 a.m. – Lee Hodges, Matt Wallace, Keith Mitchell
- 8:16 a.m. – Davis Thompson, Jackson Suber, Adrien Saddier
- 8:28 a.m. – Patrick Fishburn, Zach Bauchou, Dylan Wu
- 8:40 a.m. – Emiliano Grillo, Adam Schenk, Chandler Phillips
- 8:52 a.m. – Tom Kim, Patton Kizzire, Haotong Li
- 9:04 a.m. – David Ford, Billy Horschel, Garrick Higgo
- 9:16 a.m. – Joe Highsmith, Nicolai Hojgaard
- 9:28 a.m. – Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Jordan Smith
Weather Concerns and Pace of Play
Let’s talk about this weather. They’re pushing tee times up because of “expected inclement weather.” That’s code for “get this thing done before it all goes to hell.” South Florida can get nasty, fast. Thunderstorms popping up out of nowhere. When that happens, play gets suspended, and it screws up the whole schedule.This early start is a smart move. It gives them a better chance to complete the third round without major delays. For the players, it means getting out there early, maybe a little chilly, but at least they’re playing. It also means the course might be a bit softer, which can be good or bad depending on your game. Softer greens are easier to hit, but the fairways might be a bit chewed up from the rain.And pace of play? With these staggered starts and the urgency to finish, you’d hope everyone’s moving. But you know how it is. Some groups just take their sweet time. Let’s hope for efficient play today. Nobody likes watching a 5-hour round. It’s a damn marathon.
What to Watch For Today
Beyond the tee times, what’s really going to make Saturday interesting?
- Smotherman’s Nerve: Can he hold the lead? This is his biggest test so far. He needs to play like he did on Thursday, but with the added pressure of everyone chasing him.
- Moore and Ewart’s Charge: Will they put the pedal down and make Smotherman sweat? They’re close enough to make a move.
- Dahmen’s Momentum: He’s got that sneaky ability to go low. If he gets a couple of birdies early, he’s right back in it.
- Brooks Koepka: Always a wildcard. He’s out there early, but if he gets it going, he can make a serious run. He’s a proven winner.
- The Weather: Will it hold off? If not, it could completely change the dynamics of the tournament. A washed-out round or a long delay can mess with players’ rhythms.