Echavarria makes Scheffler admission after | Golf News

Nico Echavarria admitted he needed some luck to win the Cognizant Classic because he’s “not Scottie Scheffler.”

For the third time in less than three years, Echavarria is a PGA Tour winner after Shane Lowry paid the price for a devastating collapse. Echavarria did not make a bogey all weekend at the PGA National Champion Course in Palm Beach, and it proved to be the distinction.

On 17, Lowry hit consecutive tee photographs in the water to tumble down the leaderboard, while Echavarria made a birdie. The Colombian shot a 5-under 66 on Sunday to win at PGA National, ending at 17-under.

Echavarria’s victory is his first in the United States, and he takes home a $1.728 million prize pot – the largest of his profession. He has also secured his second Masters invitation, and Echavarria referenced Scheffler’s greatness when discussing his efficiency on Sunday in Florida – even though the American was not in the sector.

“It was a blessing today,” Echavarria said. “I didn’t have my best off the tee, but I was able to manage. I had some good breaks. To win out here, sometimes you have to have good breaks if you’re not Scottie Scheffler, who hits it every time in the perfect place. So I’m happy with how it went.

“I’m glad that ball on 17 stayed up, and my caddie told me, ‘Hey, it is over, the ball is secure. You have the best putt you’ll be able to have, straight up the hill, so let’s make this putt’ – and that was the mindset. It switched immediately.”

The opportunity arose for Echavarria to capitalize on the moment and secure victory when Lowry collapsed on the 17th hole. Asked whether he knew Lowry had hit his tee shot into the water whilst trailing by three strokes, the 31-year-old responded: “Yes.

“The NBC guys told me after I two-putted on 16, and then we looked back, and we saw Shane’s caddie running down to get the drop or get the yardage, so we knew he was probably going to make double at best there.

“Then on 17, my caddie, when we have been on the tee on 18 after we hit the tee shot in the green, I said, I believe he hit it in the water again. It was more enjoying good, getting a 5 out of there, and just getting out of right here.”