(Photo credit: Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

The PGA Tour tees off its Florida swing with Brooks Koepka in the field in Palm Beach Gardens, the LPGA Tour continues its Asia swing and a coveted spot in the Masters is on the line in South Africa.

PGA TOUR

THIS WEEK: Cognizant Classic, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Feb. 26-March 1

Course: PGA National, Champion Course (Par 71, 7,223 Yards)

Purse: $9.6M (Winner: $1.728M)

Defending Champion: Joe Highsmith

FedEx Cup Leader: Jacob Bridgeman

HOW TO FOLLOW

TV: Thursday-Friday: 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday: 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (NBC)

Streaming (ESPN+): Thursday-Friday: 6:45 a.m.-6 p.m. ET; Saturday-Sunday: 7:45 a.m.-6 p.m.

X: @the_cognizant

NOTES: The PGA Tour begins is four-tournament Florida swing with a field that includes eight of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking. ... The course has been lengthened by about 100 yards from last year, and water is in play on 15 of 18 holes. Hole Nos. 15-17 are known as the 'Bear Trap.' ... This is Brooks Koepka's third start in his return to the PGA Tour. He followed a T56 at Torrey Pines by missing the cut in Phoenix. Koepka's inclusion means two additional players got into the field, which will play as threesomes. ... Highsmith made the cut on the number last year before going on to win by two strokes and claim his maiden win on tour while setting the PGA National scoring record at 19-under 265. He is seeking to become the first player to successfully defend at the event since Jack Nicklaus in 1977-78. ... Billy Horschel will be making his 14th event start, with his best previous finish a T4 in 2017. ... This is the final opportunity for players to earn a spot in next week's signature event via the Aon Swing 5. The top five in the standings entering this week are Michael Thorbjornsen, Nicolai Hojgaard, Haotong Li, Stephan Jaeger and Kevin Roy. ... Blades Brown, 18, will be making his second tour start of the season following a T18 at The American Express, where he carded a 60 in the second round and played in the final group with Scottie Scheffler on Sunday. Other sponsor exemptions are Adam Hadwin, Harry Higgs and Camilo Villegas.

BEST BETS: Ryan Gerard (+1850 by DraftKings) is the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 26. He has three top-25 this season and finished fourth here three years ago. ... Shane Lowry (+1900) owns three top-five finishes in his past four starts at PGA National. ... Nicolai Hojgaard (+2150) has a pair of top-4 finishes worldwide through his first four starts in 2026, including a T3 in Phoenix. ... Michael Thorbjornsen (+2450) also finished T3 in Phoenix before a T78 at Pebble Beach. ... Aaron Rai (+4200), who in Abu Dhabi late last year, was a factor at the Genesis before closing with a 76. ... Nico Echavarria (+5900) is a two-time winner on tour. His lone made cut in five starts this year was a T8 at Pebble Beach. ... Garrick Higgo (+6000) offers intriguing odds for another two-time tour winner. He has started 2026 with three missed cuts in four starts and a T60 in the limited field at Pebble Beach.

Last Tournament: The Genesis Invitational (Bridgeman)

Next Tournament: Arnold Palmer Invitational, Orlando, March 5-8

LPGA TOUR

THIS WEEK: HSBC Women's World Championship, Singapore, Feb. 26-March 1

Course: Sentosa Golf Club, Tajong Course, Old Course (Par 72, 6,793 Yards)

Purse: $3M (Winner: $360,000)

Defending Champion: Lydia Ko

Race to the CME Globe Leader: Jeeno Thitikul

HOW TO WATCH

TV/Streaming: Wednesday-Saturday: 9:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m. ET (Golf Channel/USA Sports App)

X: @HWWWCGolf

NOTES: This is the second leg of the three-event Asia swing that concludes in China, with the tour returning to the United States for the Ford Championship in Arizona March 19-22. ... The event dates back to Lorena Ochoa's 11-shot victory in 2008. ... Nelly Korda is skipping the Asia swing for the third consecutive year, but the field does include 21 of the top 25 players in the Rolex Rankings. That includes the top-ranked Thitikul, No. 3 Charley Hill, No. 4 Minjee Lee and No. 5 Miyu Yamashita.

Last Tournament: Honda LPGA Thailand (Thitikul)

Next Tournament: Blue Bay LPGA, Hainan Island, Hainan, China

DP WORLD TOUR

THIS WEEK: South African Open Championship, Stellenbosch, South Africa, Feb. 26-March 1

Course: Stellenbosch GC (Par 70, 7,213 Yards)

Purse: $1.5M (Winner: $250,000)

Defending Champion: Dylan Naidoo

Race to Dubai Leader: Patrick Reed

HOW TO WATCH

TV: Thursday-Friday: 5:30-10:30 a.m. ET; Saturday: 5:30-10 a.m.; Sunday: 4:30-9:30 a.m. (Golf Channel)

X: @DPWorldTour

NOTES: The winner of the South African Open receives an invitation to the Masters for the first time. The top three finishers earn spots in the Open Championship if not otherwise exempt. ... This is the sixth of seven events on the tour's International Swing, with the final three all taking place in Africa. ... The winner of the International Swing will earn a $200,000 bonus and a spot in the Scottish Open if not otherwise exempt. ... Naidoo is defending his first DP World Tour title, which he earned in a sudden death playoff against Laurie Canter after the final round was cancelled due to heavy rainfall. ... The event returns to Stellenbosch for the first time in 27 years.

Last Tournament: Kenya Open (Casey Jarvis)

Next Tournament: Joburg Open, Johannesburg, South Africa, March 5-8

LIV GOLF LEAGUE

THIS WEEK: OFF.

2026 Season Leaders: Individual: Jon Rahm; Team: Ripper GC

Last Event: LIV Golf Adelaide (Individual: Anthony Kim; Team: Ripper GC)

Next Event: LIV Golf Hong Kong, March 5-8

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

THIS WEEK: OFF.

Charles Schwab Cup leader: Stewart Cink

Next Tournament: James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational, Boca Raton, Fla., March 6-8

--Field Level Media