Lowry’s late collapse hands steady Echavarria the title

Shane Lowry late collapse handed Nico Echavarria an unlikely third PGA Tour title at the Cognizant Classic golf championships.

Lowry held a three-stroke lead at 19-under with three holes to play before finishing with two double bogeys and a par in his final three holes.

As Lowry faltered, Echavarria stayed steady, delivering a bogey-free weekend and birdieing the 17th to tie the lead at 17 under.

Heading into the final 18 holes, Lowry and Austin Smotherman were tied at the top, but it was Echavarria who ultimately walked away with a cool $1,728,000 prize money

Lowry needed an eagle on the 18th to force a playoff, but after his back-to-back doubles, it was just too much to ask. Echavarria, meanwhile, played clutch golf, particularly his birdie on the penultimate hole, secured his his third career and a Masters invitation.

The 17-under 267 total win helped Echavarria to add to his wins at the 2023 Puerto Rico Open and 2024 Baycurrent Classic.

Lowry was tied with two others – Taylor Moore and Smotherman in second spot with 15-under 269.

Moore was one of two players to post four rounds in the 60s this week along with Smotherman.

Brooks Koepka, a five-time major champion, made a late charge, chipping in for birdie on the 14th to get within three shots of the leaders. He finished T9 at 10-under with a final-round 65, It was his best finish in three starts this season since re-joining the PGA Tour.

Meanwhile, Max McGreevy (T40/-4) recorded an albatross on the par-5 third, holing out from 246 yards; marking the first albatross at PGA National Resort (Champion Course) since it began hosting the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches in 2007 and the first on TOUR since the 2025 Wyndham Championship.

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