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Nico Echavarria is set to honour a pledge to his new wife following an impressive triumph at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches. The Colombian star secured his third career victory, having previously claimed the 2023 Puerto Rico Open and the 2024 Zozo Championship, but this win may prove all the more unforgettable.

Echavarria and his wife, Claudia, will now welcome a dog into their household after the 31-year-old vowed to acquire a pooch when his third tournament success arrived. It means the couple's new Florida residence will have a further occupant.

The Echavarrias have been married since November and have their sights set on a rather distinctive breed. Though it won't be the first of its kind on tour.

"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," Echavarria said at the podium. "We want a Bernedoodle. Min Woo [Lee] just got one."

Echavarria secured a dramatic victory, defeating Shane Lowry by two strokes. The Irishman surrendered a three-shot lead in the final four holes with his four-year-old daughter, Ivy, watching on.

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The champion, meanwhile, collected a $1.728million (£1.3m) prize and an invitation to The Masters this April. Attending the prestigious major will mark the second occasion Echavarria has made the journey to Augusta National.

"I didn't have my best off the tee, but I was able to manage," he said following his win. "I had some good breaks.

"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."

Whilst Echavarria had a dog riding on his victory, Lowry simply wanted to win for the first time in front of his young daughter.

Speaking after witnessing the win slip away, he said: "The hardest thing about today is I've never won in front of my four-year-old, and she was there waiting for me.

"I only wanted it for her today. I don't care about anything else. I wanted it so bad.

"Just to see her little ginger head running out on the 18th green would have been the most special thing in the world."

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