Because the PGA Tour begins its Florida swing on the Cognizant Traditional within the Palm Seashores on Thursday, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler and Daniel Berger are among the many names vying for a redeeming victory.
A pair of fan favorites, Spieth and Fowler, have dropped to Nos. 70 and 95, respectively, within the Official World Golf Rating amid troublesome stretches. Spieth remains to be working his approach again from August wrist surgical procedure and made his season debut earlier this month.
After tying for fourth on the WM Phoenix Open, he missed the lower on the Genesis Invitational, a signature occasion that solely lower 18 gamers. This might be his first time competing at PGA Nationwide Resort in Palm Seashore Gardens, Fla.
“It was very nice to get again after which even to get into competition one week,” Spieth mentioned. “So my aim now, as we glance in the direction of the Masters, is to attempt to play troublesome golf programs and work my approach into competition and simply see what I can enhance upon by the point we get to Augusta.”
Spieth hasn’t gained on tour since April 2022, whereas Fowler’s 2023 Rocket Mortgage Traditional is his solely victory this decade.
“Sport-wise, positively trending and on track,” Fowler mentioned. “Clearly final 12 months was again to taking part in some poor golf or not essentially benefiting from some alternatives. Performed poorly on the weekends.
“Not an excellent begin this 12 months, however I really feel like I’ve seen loads of good issues, and I do know that I am a minimum of trending. That is a constructive.”
This event is a “residence sport” for the various gamers like Fowler who dwell in close by Jupiter, Fla. That goes double for Berger, a Florida native and Florida State alum.
As soon as ranked as excessive as No. 12 on the planet, Berger missed a few of 2022 and all of 2023 as he rehabbed a again harm. He ended a quiet 2024 season with a T2 end on the RSM Traditional and has gotten off to a nice begin this 12 months, tying for second in Scottsdale and putting twelfth on the Genesis.
“It took me legitimately a 12 months to really feel like I used to be the identical golfer that I used to be pre-injury,” Berger mentioned. “I really really feel like I am a extra educated golfer, as in like I perceive what I must do. I do know my physique higher. I believe that is going to make me a greater participant sooner or later.”
PGA Nationwide was as soon as often known as one of many harder tracks on tour, however the development in recent times has been successful scores within the double digits underneath par, the place it as soon as had been within the single digits. When Austin Eckroat gained final 12 months with a 17-under 263, it was the bottom rating since 2003.
“They overseeded the golf course so it is not Bermuda anymore. The greens are implausible; they’re the most effective I’ve ever seen them,” Berger mentioned. “Chipping is noticeably simpler now. … You are not going to see guys duff balls like they might when it was pure Bermuda. It is rather a lot simpler.”
The course nonetheless has its challenges, specifically the “Bear Entice,” the fifteenth by way of seventeenth holes with loads of water in play.
–Subject Stage Media