Austin Smotherman hit 10 of 14 fairways and 17 of 18 greens in regulation for a bogey-free 9-under 62 to match his low round on the PGA Tour and take a one shot lead at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches.

“[I just had] two weeks off, I come out here today excited to play. I’m glad I was an early tee time today, too, not having to wait around and maybe see other guys doing what they’re doing. But I just wanted to get on the golf course,” said Smotherman.

“Felt like the game was in a good spot. To be honest, I didn’t play a ton when I was home, just took the rest when I could knowing I’m about to play as many weeks as I can until my wife is due with our third child here March 23rd.”

Nine birdies equals his most birdies in a single round on Tour (R1/2022 Butterfield Bermuda Championship). He made six of them consecutively from the 7th, marking his most consecutive birdies in a round.

“I felt like I just wanted to hit good putts on the high line all day and just very freeing. I’m using no line on the golf ball this week for the first time in a while, but I felt like it kind of just helps with these greens. There’s so much movement and the pace that they are, and then with the wind, not to be adjusting and so conscientious of that line, so I felt like that was pretty freeing,” he added.

“The length of putts that I was making was nice to see, but I also felt like I hit a lot of good putts. The par save on 15 to kind of keep things going, a par save as well on 6 after a bad lag putt, that kind of kept things going.

“So having those things happen and then a long putt goes in, you’re stealing them, and then you hit one close, and you just keep building those holes. Before you know it, you’re finished, and here we are.”

The American holds the 18-hole lead/co-lead for the third time on Tour: 2022 Butterfield Bermuda Championship (T23), 2023 VidantaWorld Mexico Open (T5).

Smotherman has notched three missed cuts and one top-10 (T8/The American Express) in four starts this season.

His best finish among four top-10s in 81 prior starts was T5 at the 2023 VidantaWorld Mexico Open. He secured his return to the PGA Tour with a No. 3 finish on the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour Points List.

Colombia’s Nico Echavarria lies in second place having carded a bogey-free 63, his career low round on Tour (six times, most recent: R2/2026 American Express) and his low round at The Cognizant Classic.

Twice a PGA Tour champion (2023 Puerto Rico Open, 2024 Baycurrent Classic), he has notched four missed cuts and one top-10 (T8/AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am) in five starts this season.

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