17th, 18th holes at PGA National will look quite different at 2025 Cognizant Classic

USA Today

25-02-2025

17th, 18th holes at PGA National will look quite different at 2025 Cognizant Classic
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Austin Eckroat discusses title defense at Cognizant Classic 2025
Austin Eckroat has good memories at PGA National, where he returns to defend his Cognizant Classic title.
The 18th hole will have fewer grandstands, bringing fans closer to the action.
The 17th hole will have breaks in the grandstands, allowing fans closer to the tee box.
Tournament organizers are aiming to create an experience more reflective of Palm Beach.
The tournament got a new name last year ago. It's been dealing with a spot on the schedule that makes it tough to draw tons of big names. But the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches continues to adjust in order to put on a first-class show.
In 2025, fans who attend and viewers who watch on TV will notice some differences. The golf course at PGA National is the same, but there has been some changes.
For years, the 18th hole had large grandstands down the left side of the fairway and around the green.
PGA National's 18th hole in 2024
In 2025, there are about a thousand fewer seats at 18 as there are fewer grandstands and they're all one level.
PGA National's 18th hole in 2025
"I don't want to run from the fact things are changing," Todd Fleming, in his first year as Cognizant's executive director, told Tom D'Angelo of the Palm Beach Post, which like Golfweek, is a part of the USA Today network. "Decrease doesn't mean worse off. Decrease means we're being honest with our demand and for those (attending) it means they're going to get closer to the action and have a better experience."
PGA National's 17th hole in 2024
The 17th hole still should feel like a stadium just not a completely closed in one.
"We're opening up our best hole to allow people to get eyeballs on it," Fleming said.
PGA National's 17th hole in 2025
The 17th, a par 3 over water, is the final hole in a three-hole stretch known as The Bear Trap. It used to be that the stands running from behind the tee box around to the back of the green completely enclosed the 17th but now there are breaks between the structures allowing fans to get closer to the tee box.
"A top priority for Todd and our team is to present the event in a way that is more representative and reflective of Palm Beach," said Jared Rice, senior vice president of the Championship Management Division, which oversees several other events including the Presidents Cup, Tour Championship, Players Championship, the Sentry and FedEx St. Jude Championship, which is the first FedEx Cup playoff event.
"We will review what we do this year. We will change. We will evolve. But we will grow the event. We will improve the event on an annual basis."