Jacob Bridgeman won his first PGA Tour win at the Genesis Invitational. However, it wasn’t easy for him. On Sunday, things only got more intense as Rory McIlroy‘s 30-foot birdie on the 18th hole put him under pressure. And after the stressful visit to California, the 26-year-old has decided to take a break.

“Field updates for the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches: Ben Griffin WD, Jackson Suber IN, Jacob Bridgeman WD, Lanto Griffin IN,” confirmed PGA Tour Communications.

The Cognizant Classic tees off on February 26 at the Palm Beach Gardens. However, after just wrapping up the Riviera Country Club win, Bridgeman is taking some time off. Lanto Griffin will replace him.

Bridgeman was already running on a hectic schedule this season. He had played five PGA Tour events since January 15, 2026. The only tournament the 26-year-old skipped was the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. However, he’s not alone in skipping the 123-player field.

• Michael Kim will be replaced by Daniel Berger.
• Taylor Pendrith has withdrawn. Sam Ryder will replace him.
• Ben Griffin will be substituted by Jackson Suber.
• Patrick Rodgers will be replaced by Brandt Snedeker

After Friday’s deadline, the initially 121-player field increased by 2 more names. Camilo Villegas, Blades Brown, Harry Higgs, and Adam Hadwin, meanwhile, received a sponsor’s exemption. However, looking at how Bridgeman was performing this season, one would have wanted to see how he fares in the Cognizant Classic.

Especially since he didn’t just win the Signature event, he dominated most of the tournament. After 54 holes, he led McIlroy and the field by six strokes. If it wasn’t for the 1-over 72 in the final round, the leaderboard wouldn’t have looked as close a contest as it did in the end.

Over the course of the four rounds, the newest member of the PGA Tour winner’s circle also shattered a few records. But he was just ecstatic to cross the finish line in the end after 66 attempts on the Tour. Along the way, he also managed to impress someone whom he idolizes, making an unforgettable memory.

Jacob Bridgeman’s excellent strokeplay leaves a positive impression on Tiger Woods

As the host of the event, Tiger Woods often joined the commentary team to analyze the action. During one of his sessions, he managed to catch a glimpse of Jacob Bridgeman. And boy, that got the Big Cat excited. Playing the par-5 11th hole, Bridgeman was sitting 258 yards away from the hole. He picked his 7-wood to reach the distance. He couldn’t have been more right.

The 26-year-old launched the ball into the air, and it landed 8 inches away from the cup. The accuracy of his approach shot left Woods in shock.

“I wish I could hit it like that,” Woods told Jim Nantz as he recollected days from his prime.

At 50, the 15-time major champion may not be able to achieve the same accuracy anymore. But he can relieve these moments through young talents like Jacob Bridgeman. And that’s the best compliment Woods could have given the 26-year-old rising star. It will be interesting to see where he tees up next.