PALM BEACH GARDENS — Austin Smotherman weathered his own storm Friday.
There’s a good chance the rest of the field at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches will be dealing with weather issues of their own Saturday at PGA National.
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Smotherman, searching for his first PGA Tour win in his 82nd start, overcame two early bogeys to shoot 2-under 69 on the Champion course and maintain his lead at the Cognizant. He had four birdies in a five-hole stretch, including a 55-footer on the demanding 17th hole, to expand his lead from one to three shots over Taylor Moore at 11-under 131.
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“I’m proud of the way I accepted those bogeys and didn’t let it bother me,” Smotherman said. “It was blowing 30-to-35 mph. You know on a day like today you’re going to make some bogeys. Anything under par I was going to be happy with.”
Smotherman will have an earlier start Saturday after PGA Tour officials moved up tee times because of the forecast for afternoon storms. The final group will go off at 9:40 a.m., with the rest of the field in threesomes going off both tees starting at 7:20 a.m.
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That was good news for Smotherman, who held the 36-hole lead for the first time on the PGA Tour. He was 3-of-4 in converting 36-hole leads on the Korn Ferry Tour.
“What’s good is we’re all going to be facing the same kind of weather,” Smotherman said. “I wouldn’t mind sleeping in for another couple hours, but this is what we play for – to have a chance to win.”
Austin Smotherman blasts out of the sand on the 18th hole during the second round of the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches on February 27, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Moore shot another 67 to move into second place. Moore’s lone PGA Tour win came on the Florida Swing (the 2023 Valspar Championship), so he’s comfortable on Bermuda greens.
“I like ‘em burned out and crispy,” Moore said. “I couldn’t believe how fast they were when I got here this week.”
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Whether the greens will hold their pace over the weekend depends on Saturday’s weather. It’s been weeks since appreciable rain has fallen in South Florida.
A.J. Ewart makes biggest move of second round
Feb 27, 2026; Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA; A.J. Ewart plays his shot from the 17th tee during the second round of the Cognizant Classic golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
A.J. Ewart of Canada made the day’s biggest move, shooting a 7-under 64 to vault 49 spots into third place. Ewart made five consecutive birdies on his front nine (holes 12-though-16) and had a birdie hat trick on his back nine (6, 7 and 8). His only blemish was a double bogey on the difficult 17th.
“Obviously, the five in a row was cool,” said Ewart, who is playing in just his seventh PGA Tour event. “I didn’t realize I made nine (birdies), but it was a good day. The double didn’t really fluster me that much. It’s a hard hole. I didn’t hit the best shot. I knew there were opportunities in front of me.”
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Ewart is tied with Nico Echavarria, who started the round one behind Smotherman and finished it four back after two closing bogeys. He shot 72, the only round over par among the top 20.
“Unfortunately, didn’t finish the way I wanted,” Echavarria said. “Still, if they tell me I’m going to be in that position starting the tournament, I would take it. The greens are getting crunchy, and with the wind it’s harder to start the ball on line.”
Joel Dahmen shot his second consecutive 68 and is alone in fifth place. Among the players tied for sixth place is Jupiter resident Shane Lowry, who had a 67 to extend his streak of rounds par or better on the Champion to 18. The Irishman had three consecutive top-five finishes here before last year.
Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka of West Palm Beach shook off an opening 74 to fire a 5-under 66 as he solved his putting issues for a day. Ryan Gerard of Jupiter, the highest-ranked player in the field (No. 26), had a 67 and is tied for 27th with Koepka.
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Notables to miss the cut at even-par 142 were former major champions Gary Woodland, Danny Willett and Webb Simpson, ex-tournament champions Matt Kuchar, Camillo Villegas and Chris Kirk and rising star Luke Clanton.
Defending champion Joe Highsmith birdied the 18th hole to make the cut on the number. Last year, he also made the cut on the number and shot a pair of 64s for his first PGA Tour win.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Austin Smotherman leads Cognizant Classic by 3 shots
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