2024 Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches: Top 10 power rankings at PGA National

Chris Kirk is back to defend his title.

He had one of the more memorable wins of last year’s Florida swing, edging eventual PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Eric Cole in a playoff.

Kirk fired rounds of 69-62-66-69 in regulation to post 14-under and finish two clear of third place. He was solid across the board statistically. Kirk was eighth in Strokes Gained: Approach (6.287) and ninth in SG: Putting (5.575).

It was the highlight of a fairly successful career at the Cognizant Classic. Kirk has made eight cuts in 11 tries with three top-12s and two more inside the top 33.

Kirk’s previous high water mark at PGA National before the win came in 2022 with a T-7th (65-68-71-73).

Kirk grew up in Georgia and attended the University of Georgia. He’s plenty familiar with the grass type in play this week and throughout many of the upcoming events.

“I think you'll definitely see a lot of guys -- with the sort of grainy Bermuda greens and the wind, you'll see a lot of guys that grew up in the south and are familiar with playing in the south, just like you see a lot of California guys win at Riv,” Kirk was transcribed by ASAP Sports in 2023. “It's just sort of what we're comfortable on.”

Kirk is already a winner in 2024. He beat an elite field at The Sentry to kick off the year right. He followed it up with a T-18th at the Sony Open in Hawaii before a mediocre West Coast swing highlighted by T-26th at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Based on his quote above, it’s not a huge surprise that he didn’t do well at PGA West or Riviera.

This week offers a chance at a clean slate at an event Kirk has thrived at throughout his career.