Golfers Face Weather Challenges at Florida's PGA Tour Event

The PGA Tour's East Coast swing kicks off with the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches, Florida, from February 27 to March 2. This event, previously known as the Honda Classic, has been a staple on the PGA Tour since 1972. It's notable for being one of the few tournaments that Tiger Woods never won. The 2024 edition saw Austin Eckroat secure his first PGA Tour victory, edging out Min-Woo Lee and Erik van Rooyen by three strokes. Eckroat is back to defend his title, aiming to be the first to do so since Jack Nicklaus in 1978. However, the weather might pose a significant challenge. Let's dive into the weather forecast for this exciting event. According to AccuWeather, all four days of the tournament are expected to have some rain, with varying intensities. The first day will start sunny but with strong wind gusts exceeding 26 km/h and a 44% chance of rain. The humidity will be high, around 73%, making the atmosphere heavy. The afternoons will be slightly warmer, but rain showers are still possible. Winds will top at 24 km/h, and humidity will dip to 62%. Evenings will be cooler, around 21°C, with humidity rising to 82%. The day will have decent shade, with cloud cover between 30% and 40%. Friday is expected to be cooler with less rain, but mornings will be windy, with gusts reaching 33 km/h. Afternoons will be hotter, around 23°C, with more cloud cover and constant winds. Evenings will have high humidity, nearly 92%, adding to the challenge for the players. The weekends will be different. Saturday mornings will be cool and windy, with high humidity and a small chance of rain. Afternoons will see a 60% chance of rain, with reduced visibility. Sunday will likely be wet, with a 41% chance of rain and an 8% chance of thunderstorms. Cloud cover will be high, around 53%, with wind gusts staying at nearly 26 km/h. Mother Nature might throw a few curveballs, but the field at the PGA National Members Club is prepared. Jordan Spieth is the latest big name to join the event. Austin Eckroat will face tough competition from Shane Lowry, who is favored to win his fourth PGA Tour title. Seven former winners, including Chris Kirk, Keith Mitchell, Russell Henley, Rickie Fowler, and Sung-Jae Im, will also be competing. The top two from the recent Mexico Open, Brian Campbell and Aldrich Potgieter, are set to tee off in Florida. The weather will definitely be a factor, but who will come out on top? Will Eckroat defend his title, or will someone else take home the $9. 2 million prize?