PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Austin Smotherman’s one previous PGA Tour appearance at the tournament now known as the Cognizant Classic was in 2022 and it was unmemorable: He shot 70 in the first round, 76 in the second and missed the cut by four shots.
Given that, he didn’t see a round like Thursday’s coming.
Smotherman matched the best score of his career, shooting a 9-under 62 to take a one-stroke lead over Nico Echavarria after the first round.
Smotherman became the seventh player to shoot 62 or better at PGA National in this event. The others: Jake Knapp (59 in round 1, 2025), Matt Jones (61 in round 1, 2021), Brian Harman (61 in round 2, 2012), Chris Kirk (62 in round 2, 2023), Brandon Hagy (62 in round 2, 2021) and Tiger Woods (62 in the final round, 2012).
“It was a pretty easy round,” Smotherman said, “on a golf course that shouldn’t be this easy.”
And that is a talking point at PGA National.
Clarkston’s Joel Dahmen was among the golfers in the top 10 after the first round of the event. Dahmen fired a 3-under par 68 after hitting four birdies and one bogey on the day. That was good enough for a tie for ninth.
Dahmen had birdies on Nos. 3, 4, 6 and 8. On No. 4, he hit 106-yard approach to 4 feet to set up his birdie putt.
The course is overseeded, which means rye has been added to the Bermuda grass. The advantages are many, including the grass looks greener, which means PGA National looks prettier on television. Not just that, but the course plays softer as well.