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PALM BEACH GARDENS — Three golfers ranked in the top 25 in the world and the world’s top ranked amateur have committed to the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches.
Russell Henley, ranked 17th in the Official World Golf Ranking, No. 21 Billy Horschel and No. 22 Sungjae Im will be joined by Florida State University junior Luke Clanton for the event that runs Feb. 27-March 2 at PGA National.
Henley, the 2014 winner after defeating Rory McIlroy, Russell Knox and Ryan Palmer in a one-hole playoff, is making his 11th Cognizant start. Henley has won four times on the PGA Tour. He is currently No. 19 in the FedEx Cup standings with top-10 finishes this season at the Sony Open (T10) and the Pebble Beach Pro-Am (T5).
Im won the 2020 Cognizant Classic, shooting a final-round 66 to hold off Mackenzie Hughes by one shot for his first career PGA Tour victory in his 50th start. He is playing Cognizant for the seventh consecutive time. The two-time Tour winner is No. 12 in the FedEx Cup standings and has two top-5 finishes this season at The Sentry (3) and Farmers Insurance Open (T4).
Horschel, the former Florida Gator, has placed in the top-20 five times in 12 starts at Cognizant, including his best outing, tied for fourth in 2017, five shot behind winner Rickie Fowler. Horschel, an eight-time winner on Tour, is 43rd in the FedEx Cup standings. His best finish in six events this season is a T9 at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Clanton, in the field on a sponsor exemption, is looking to secure his PGA Tour card. He has 19 points in PGA Tour University Accelerated, one point shy of the 20 points necessary to clinch a Tour card after the spring season. The Hialeah native will make his first official start at PGA National and fourth professional start of the season. He was tied for 15th at the Farmers Insurance Open.
Cognizant Classic executive director Todd Fleming says the addition of Henley, Im and Horschel is “a testament to the strong field and intense competition we look forward to showcasing.” He said Clanton will “add another layer of excitement for the Florida State phenom and local fans throughout tournament week.”
Cognizant now has announced seven of the top 50 in the world and expect at least 10 more when the final field is revealed Friday. In addition, locals Fowler, Daniel Berger, Gary Woodland and Camilo Villegas have been confirmed.
The tournament is in its second year with Cognizant as the title sponsor and with the PGA Tour’s Championship Management Division operating the event.
Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches
Feb. 26-March 2. Champion Course, PGA National, Palm Beach Gardens.
TV: Thursday, 2 p.m., GOLF; Friday, 2 p.m., GOLF; Saturday, 1 p.m., GOLF switching to NBC at 3 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m., GOLF switching to NBC at 3 p.m.
Defending champ: Austin Eckroat.
Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Billy Horschel, Russell Henley, Sungjae Im commit to Cognizant Classic
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