Winning for the first time on the PGA Tour does a lot more than bring financial security.
Just ask Austin Eckroat, who parlayed his victory at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches a year ago into more than $5 million for 2024 — more than twice what he earned his first three years on Tour — and a peace of mind he never really felt as a professional golfer.
With the win, Eckroat, 26, qualified for the majors, the remaining signature events for the year and earned an exemption for all PGA Tour events for two years.
That freedom allowed him to relax, which then led to Eckroat grabbing one of the coveted top 50 spots (No. 45) on the season’s final FedEx Cup points list, leading to more job security.
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“It kind of frees you up to where I’m able to take risks on Thursdays and Fridays now,” Eckroat said during a phone interview this month. “But I used to not be able to because it was so important I got points, to make sure I could maintain my status the next season.”
Even when he was trying to make a push on the weekend, Eckroat said he had to think about the risk of losing points and how it could impact his status.
Now?
“Even if I fail, it’s going to be okay, because I’m going to be on the PGA Tour for the next three seasons,” he said.
Monday play and memorable scene on 18th green at Cognizant
Oklahoma State head coach Alan Bratton said last year Eckroat has the “best mental makeup of any player” he’s coached. Eckroat’s dad, Steve, says his son is so balanced and low key that if he has a bad day on the course dinner “is not going to suck that night. He’s still pleasant.”
All of those traits were necessary and on display last year at PGA National when Cognizant was forced into a Monday finish because of storms soaking the Champion Course Sunday. Eckroat had 11 holes remaining when play was suspended, returning Monday morning to finish on an eerily quiet course with a one-shot lead.
“Being in the lead, having 11 holes to play the next morning and not have the added pressure of a ton of people out there watching … It doesn’t matter if you’re in the lead or not, that’s an added stressor in itself,” Eckroat said.
“I felt so comfortable out there, especially being in that position for the first time, it definitely could have played my favor.”
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Eckroat stretched that lead to three shots as he stood on the tee box of the par-5 18th hole. Still, he was not comfortable. He knew what he had to do – not take any chances.
Eckroat was unable to take a “deep, deep breath and relax a little bit” until he saw his ball settle on the green.
“That was the first time I kind of was like, ‘Oh, I can kind of take this in now,’ ” Eckroat said. “First time being in that situation I wanted to do it so bad. So there was never a relief moment for me there.”
And when that final putt dropped, the scene on that 18th green was what Eckroat had envisioned his entire life — as an All-American at Oklahoma State and working his way through the Korn Ferry Tour — even if it came in front of an intimate crowd and subdued reaction … outside the ropes.
Inside the ropes, Eckroat the celebration was perfect.
Eckroat’s wife, Sally, flew in Saturday when it was apparent her husband had a chance to win his first PGA Tour title. Sally was there Monday to leap into his arms after the win and Champion Course record 17-under par (267).
“Everything happens for a reason,” Sally said that day. “It was supposed to be this way. It felt very calming with less people out here. I think it was a blessing.”
Austin Eckroat’s whirlwind season had its ups and downs
Eckroat had little time to savor the victory. He was planning to return home to Edmond, Oklahoma, after Cognizant, but instead his schedule suddenly became very crowded. He had to get to Orlando now that he qualified for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, a signature event, and to Ponte Vedra Beach the following week for The Players.
Eckroat held his own at the difficult Bay Hill course, finishing 2-over and tied for 36th, and was T45 at Players and T33 at the Valero Texas open before missing the cut at the Masters.
But he found himself trying to recreate what he did at Cognizant, which led to a tough stretch in which he missed three cuts in seven events, starting at the Charles Schwab in May.
“You have to be constantly making adjustments,” he said. “I tried to keep the same thoughts I had, same swing feels I had with the putting stroke. I got locked into, ‘well, it worked that time. I’m just gonna keep doing it.’
“Once I got over that hump then I started playing well again. Understanding the game is always changing. Your golf swing is always changing. You have to be making constant adjustments.”
The season ended with Eckroat playing in two of the three playoff events — St. Jude and BMW championships — and finishing in the top 50. He then won his second event of the season and his career in November, the World Wide Technology Championship in Los Cabos, Mexico.
Although Eckroat has been successful at every stop from high school (two state championships), to winning his second collegiate start, to going undefeated in the 2021 Walker Cup, he had not won in five years before Cognizant.
Looking forward to finally soaking in first Tour title
The 2025 season has been hit or miss for Eckroat, with more misses.
He has two top 15s, The Sentry and Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and he has missed four cuts.
But this week, at least early in the week, is about reliving his signature moment.
The whirlwind finish a year ago at Cognizant prevented Eckroat from enjoying the moment. The Monday finish and quick schedule change had him hustling out of PGA National and heading north for Orlando.
Time will slow down when he arrives this year. What he’s looking forward to upon arriving at the property is, for the first time, seeing his name and image as the defending champion of a PGA Tour event.
“I’m definitely looking forward to getting on property and reminiscing a little bit,” he said. “With the Monday finish, I just did media stuff and then pretty much got out of there and just drove straight to Orlando. I didn’t really get to sit there and take it in.
“It didn’t hit me for a while, and I’m excited to go out there and kind of take it all in. I’m sure there’ll be some posters. I’ve never been to a tournament where the posters are of me. I’m looking forward to that.”
Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Austin Eckroat returns to Cognizant Classic 2025, site of first PGA Tour win
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