[PHOTO: Brennan Asplen]
PGA National’s Champion course is a tee-to-green, grind-it-out kind of golf course, and no one played that bit of real estate better that Austin Eckroat, who won the rain-delayed Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches overnight (Australian time) for his first win on the PGA Tour.
On a course laden with thick rough and water, Eckroat kept the ball in position then capitalised on it. The 25-year-old ranked fourth in strokes gained/off the tee, gaining more than 3.5 strokes on the field based highly off his accuracy. He was T-3 in the field in finding fairways, hitting more than 80 percent, while using his 10.5 degree Ping G430 LST driver, the lowest-spinning version in the G430 family. Eckroat’s driver, which has a 45.25 inch Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green 6.5 shaft, uses the adjustable hosel to bring the loft down to 9.25 degrees.
Austin Eckroat continues his rapid ascent with victory over Min Woo Lee at the Cognizant Classic
Eckroat’s iron game also was spot on as he ranked third in strokes gained/approach the green, gaining more than six shots on the field, while being first in greens in regulation with his Ping Blueprint T irons and Ping Glide Pro Forged wedges. How accurate was Eckroat? Consider that all five of his birdies during the weather-delayed final round came from inside 12 feet. Eckroat’s irons have Project X 6.5 shafts. Among the key shots with the clubs were a stiffed 8-iron from 162 metres to seven feet on the par-4 12th followed by a lob wedge from 81 metres on the next hole.
Once on the greens, Eckroat paid it off, ranking third in putts per green in regulation with his Ping Redwood D66 putter. The blade has a black finish and measures 34 inches with 3 degrees of loft.
What Austin Eckroat had in the bag at the 2024 Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches:
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Driver: Ping G430 LST (Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green 6.5), 10.5 degrees
Fairway wood: Ping G430 Max, 15 degrees
Irons (3): Ping Blueprint S; (4-PW): Ping Blueprint T
Wedges: Ping Glide Pro Forged (50, 54, 60 degrees)
Putter: Ping Redwood D66
