Billy Horschel: PGA National, not PGA Tour, responsible for overseed at Cognizant

PALM BEACH GARDENS — The overseed at PGA National is a big part of the course losing its reputation as one of the more challenging on the PGA Tour and many golfers complaining it has tilted too much to the other side.

With most believing the Tour was responsible for record low scores at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches in recent years, Billy Horschel has set the record straight.

Horschel posted on social media the owners of PGA National are responsible for the overseed that helped Joe Highsmith set the course record a year ago with a 19-under 265. And he would like to see the Tour take control of all the setups.

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The Tour, according to Horschel, has tried to convince the owners of PGA National to cut back on the overseed. PGA National is owned by Henderson Park, the London-based private equity firm that purchased the resort one year ago.

Horschel wrote:

“Unfortunately, not the Tour’s fault. Owners of PGA National do it. Tour have tried to state why it shouldn’t be overseeded but end of the day it’s out of their hands. 1 thing going forward that we need to do is make sure we have complete control of the setup of all Tour courses.”

Shane Lowry is among those who prefer the old Champion Course that presented a challenge.

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“It’s going to play easier than I prefer,” Lowry said. “It’s going to look great on TV, lovely and green. But I probably would like to see a bit more of the old traditional setup. I like that the rough is a bit thicker this year.”

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Watch Brooks Koepka, fellow pros’ practice round at Cognizant Classic

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Watch Brooks Koepka, fellow pros’ practice round at Cognizant Classic

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Watch Brooks Koepka, fellow pros’ practice round at Cognizant Classic

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Watch Brooks Koepka, fellow pros’ practice round at Cognizant Classic

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Watch Brooks Koepka, fellow pros’ practice round at Cognizant Classic

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Watch Brooks Koepka, fellow pros’ practice round at Cognizant Classic

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Watch Brooks Koepka, fellow pros’ practice round at Cognizant Classic

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Watch Brooks Koepka, fellow pros’ practice round at Cognizant Classic

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Watch Brooks Koepka, fellow pros’ practice round at Cognizant Classic

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Watch Brooks Koepka, fellow pros’ practice round at Cognizant Classic

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Watch Brooks Koepka, fellow pros’ practice round at Cognizant Classic

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Watch Brooks Koepka, fellow pros’ practice round at Cognizant Classic

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Watch Brooks Koepka, fellow pros’ practice round at Cognizant Classic

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Watch Brooks Koepka, fellow pros’ practice round at Cognizant Classic

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Watch Brooks Koepka, fellow pros’ practice round at Cognizant Classic

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Watch Brooks Koepka, fellow pros’ practice round at Cognizant Classic

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Watch Brooks Koepka, fellow pros’ practice round at Cognizant Classic

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Watch Brooks Koepka, fellow pros’ practice round at Cognizant Classic

Highsmith carded a pair of 64s on the weekend in 2025 for the tournament record and his first PGA Tour win. That came after Jake Knapp set the single-round record with a 59 on Thursday.

Highsmith broke the record of 17-under set by Austin Eckroat one year earlier.

“I definitely think they (scores) will be lower just because of the overseed,” Brooks Koepka said. “I think you saw last year with Jake, those scores are definitely possible. Not saying anybody is going to do it this year. They very well could, but it’s definitely gotten easier.”

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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: Billy Horschel: PGA National, not PGA Tour, decided to overseed Cognizant