Nico Echavarria isn’t just adding some new hardware to the household following his comeback victory Sunday at the Cognizant Classic.
Shortly after finishing 17-under to seal his two-stroke win over American Taylor Moore and Irishman Shane Lowry, the Colombian golfer told reporters at the Palm Beach tournament that he would fulfill a promise to his wife, Claudia, that a dog would be joining the family.
“The promise is we’re getting a dog because a dog is expensive, so we need a third win for a dog, that’s how it works,” a smiling Echavarria said at the podium, where he revealed what breed the couple had set its sights on.
“We want a Bernedoodle,” he added. “[Golfer] Min Woo [Lee] just got one.”
Echavarria, whose previous PGA Tour wins were at the 2023 Puerto Rico Open and the 2024 Zozo Championship, played bogey-free in the final two rounds of the Cognizant.
Despite being down three shots entering the last three holes, a birdie on the par-3 17th helped Echavarria cement a 5-under 66 on Sunday as Lowry collapsed with two double bogeys on the 17th and the par-4 16th. He finished with a 2-under 69 for a 15-under total.
“I didn’t have my best off the tee, but I was able to manage. I had some good breaks,” said Echavarria, who netted $1.728 million with the win and a second invite to the Masters.
“To win out here, sometimes you have to have good breaks if you’re not Scottie Scheffler that hits it every time in the perfect place. So, I’m happy with how it went.”
The victory capped off a life-altering week for Echavarria, 31, who closed on a South Florida home days prior.
It’s been a whirlwind run for Echavarria and Claudia, who tied the knot in Punta Cana this past November.
He joined the PGA Tour in 2023.
