Austin Smotherman leads the Cognizant Classic at 11-under par.
Shane Lowry is six shots behind Smotherman after a strong second round.
Taylor Moore and A.J. Ewart are in contention, with Ewart recording a career-low round.
Brooks Koepka is returning to form with a five-under par score.
The tournament is being played at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
The 17th hole is proving to be a difficult hole with high double and triple bogey rates.
📖 Full Retelling
Austin Smotherman leads the Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida after the second round on Saturday, February 28, 2026. Shane Lowry is six shots behind Smotherman, having battled back from struggles in the first round. Taylor Moore and A.J. Ewart are also in contention. Brooks Koepka is returning to form after a strong opening round. The tournament is being played at PGA National, with the 17th hole proving particularly challenging.
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Deep Analysis
Why It Matters
The Cognizant Classic in Florida is a PGA Tour event where players compete for prize money and ranking points. Shane Lowry's strong second round keeps him in contention, while Austin Smotherman holds a three-shot lead heading into the weekend. Brooks Koepka's improved performance adds another dimension to the tournament.
Context & Background
PGA Tour tournament in Florida
Second round of the Cognizant Classic
Austin Smotherman leading the tournament
Shane Lowry battling for contention
Brooks Koepka returning to form
What Happens Next
The tournament will proceed to a third round, with play scheduled to start earlier than originally planned due to rain. The outcome will determine the winner of the Cognizant Classic and impact player rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is leading the Cognizant Classic?
Austin Smotherman is the current weekend leader.
How is Shane Lowry performing?
Shane Lowry is six shots behind the leader after a strong second round.
When will the third round be played?
The third round is scheduled to begin at 3pm UK time on Saturday.
Where can I watch the tournament?
The tournament can be watched live on Sky Sports Golf.
Original Source
PGA Tour: Shane Lowry six shots behind weekend leader Austin Smotherman at Cognizant Classic in Florida Austin Smotherman takes three-shot lead at Cognizant Classic, while Shane Lowry battled back to stay in contention; Brooks Koepka returns to form after a three-over par score in his opening round; Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW By Noah Langford Saturday 28 February 2026 00:04, UK Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Highlights from the second round of the Cognizant Classic at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Austin Smotherman, 11-under, retained the overnight lead with a 69 as Shane Lowry responded to yesterday's struggles with a four-under 67 to be six shots behind in the second round at the Cognizant Classic. After a career-best nine-under 62 yesterday, Smotherman hit two consecutive bogies on the back nine as Taylor Moore produced his second 67 score in as many days to cut the American's lead to three. A.J. Ewart, though, was the story of the day, as the Canadian produced a career-low seven-under 64 to be within four shots of Smotherman, while Brooks Koepka returned to form with a five-under 66 to put himself back in the mix. --> Captivate This content is provided by Captivate , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Captivate cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options . Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Captivate cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Captivate cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once Jacob Bridgeman holds off late Rory McIlroy surge at Genesis Invitational Got Sky? Watch golf and more LIVE on your phone Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream no contract Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player ...
