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Last updated: Monday, February 23rd at 4:00 PM ET.
⛳ Cognizant Classic: Key points
Best thing to do early: Nikolai Heigo wins (+2500) – A pair of top-five finishes in the past three events and elite ball-striking numbers could make them the betting favorites.
Initial high: Sam Rider wins (+10000) – He has two career top 10 finishes at PGA National and was third in the field in 2026 for true strokes gained on both approach and putting.
course: PGA National Resort’s Champion Course has flowing water. 15 out of 18 holes is famous for “Bear Trap” (holes 15-17).
weather: Early forecasts call for periodic rain and a chance of thunderstorms Friday. Windy playing conditions throughout the tournament.
Expected cut: Standard PGA Tour rules apply to this full-field event. Same rank as top 65 Moving on to the weekend. The cutline has historically hovered around +1 or +2, but will drop to -5 in 2025 due to weak conditions.
Cognizant Classic odds: favorites and full field
The Cognizant Classic will be held at the Champion Course from February 26th to March 1st. Below are the latest full odds, followed by this week’s picks and the best bets by market.
golfer | |
|---|---|
Shane Lowry | +1600 |
ryan gerard | +1600 |
Nikolai Huygo | +2000 |
Rasmus Højgaard | +22200 |
Michael Thorbjornsen | +2500 |
aaron rye | +2800 |
Brooks Koepka | +2800 |
keith mitchell | +2800 |
Daniel Berger | +3300 |
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen | +3500 |
Christian Bezuidenhout | +3500 |
alex smalley | +4000 |
Thorbjorn Olesen | +4000 |
Will Zalatoris | +4000 |
Max McGreevey | +4000 |
davis thompson | +4000 |
Haotong Li | +4000 |
mac meisner | +4500 |
Max Homa | +4500 |
Johnny Keefer | +5000 |
Odds as of Monday, February 23rd at 4pm ET.
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Check out the entire Cognizant Classic field here.
best bet card
completely: Nicolai Hojgaard (+2500): Given his elite statistical profile and current form with two top-five finishes in the last three events, he is very likely the favorite.
* Adam Scott (+2200) was one of my perfect bets Monday morning, but he withdrew from the tournament.
Course Breakdown: Who Wins on the Champion Course?
Notorious as one of the toughest courses on the PGA Tour, the Champion Course requires precision due to its narrow landing area and wind sensitivity. Water is present on 15 of the 18 holes, making almost every shot a danger.
Tom Fazio’s design is a 7,223-yard par 71 with three par 5s, a large green surface featuring Tiffagle Bermuda grass, and a highlighted “Bear Trap” that is one of the most demanding three holes on the PGA Tour circuit.
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Course redesigner Jack Nicklaus said of Bear Trap, “This is where you win or lose. It’s not about length, it’s about accuracy. It’s about guts. It’s all about whether you can clear the hole.”
Wet conditions, overseed fairways and rough rye grass contributed to the 2025 score. Because the track wasn’t very hard or fast.
Still, players rarely have the luxury of picking up a wedge. With the most common approach distances being 125 to 200 yards, PGA National is truly a second-shot track. Additionally, players often club down from the driver on several tees to leave a long approach to a large green.
Water hazards occur on 15 of 18 holes
A second shot course that emphasizes approach accuracy
The infamous “Bear Trap”, a true round wrecker
large bermuda grass green
Avoiding bogeys is essential for success
Featured players
Shane Lowry: We got real strokes on the approach on all four trips on the 2nd-T5-T4-T11 heater on the Champions course.
Keith Mitchell: The 2019 winner also achieved T9 results in 2022 and 2024. He also never lost a stroke in seven track appearances.
Brooks Koepka: The Florida native finished T2 here in 2019 after his putter ruined his great ball-striking in back-to-back tournaments.
Key stats and player profiles to target
A true stroke from tee to green
Scramble rate and true number of strokes gained around the green
Approaches from 150-175 yards, 175-200 yards
Birdie or better percentage
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Featured players
Nikolai Heigo: He began the PGA Tour season ranking sixth in the field in strokes taken from tee to green over the past six tournaments, first in bogey avoidance and fifth in adjusted points average.
Ryan Gerald: This PGA Tour season, he ranks 10th in both bogey avoidance and adjusted score average, and is pacing the field in total strokes gained.
Complete selection: Betting Winners
Pick 1: Nicolai Hojgaard wins (+2500)
Nikolai Hujgaard ranks sixth in the field in true strokes gained from tee to green over the past six tournaments, first in bogey avoidance and fifth in adjusted average score heading into the 2026 PGA Tour season.
Course fit: Third trip to the circuit with T18 in 2025
Recent forms: Pairs in the top 5 in the past 3 tournaments
Market value: Could become the betting favorite
risk: He continues to aim for his first victory on the PGA Tour.
* Winner Adam Scott (+2200) was named early Monday morning, but he withdrew from the tournament.
Odds movements and market notes
The tournament is bookended by signature events, and with two of the top three betting favorites withdrawing on Monday, there remains the potential for a big move in Cognizant’s odds this week. At BetMGM, Shane Lowry has the shortest odds to win the tournament at +1600 after Ben Griffin, Jacob Bridgman and Adam Scott all withdrew.
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The field at PGA National is solid, but now even more lacking in the PGA Tour’s best players. Longshots with odds of +10000 or better have also won in three of the past four years, and interestingly, so has the defending champion. joe highsmith Start the week at +20000 to win at BetMGM.
Additionally, the 2024 Champion Austin Eckrot +7000.
looking forward to seeing Will Zalatoris It will be a popular target for bettors, with odds shortened from +4000. Other golfers who could be shortened include: ryan gerard (+2200), and Michael Thorbjornsen (+2800).
How to watch games and tee times (quick links)
How to watch:
Thursday – Friday: 2pm – 6pm (Golf Channel)
Saturday: 1:00pm – 3:00pm (Golf Channel) 3:00pm – 6:00pm (NBC/Peacock)
Sunday: 1:00pm – 3:00pm (Golf Channel) 3:00pm – 6:00pm (NBC/Peacock)
Tea time:
Tee times for the first and second rounds should be announced on the PGA Tour’s official website on Tuesday, February 24th.
Cognizant Classic Betting Frequently Asked Questions
When will the 2026 Cognizant Classic be held?
The 2026 edition of Cognizant Classic will run from Thursday, February 26th to Sunday, March 1st.
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Where will the 2026 Cognizant Classic be held?
The 2026 Cognizant Classic will be held at PGA National Resort (Champion Course) in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
What is the “Florida Swing”?
The Cognizant Classic is the traditional opening event and serves as the first stop in the “Florida Swing,” a series of tournaments played on the state’s most challenging Bermudagrass courses.
Who is your favorite 2026 Cognizant Classic?
Shane Lowry (+1600) is the favorite to win the 2026 Cognizant Classic after three-time PGA Tour winner Ben Griffin (+1400) withdrew from the tournament on Monday, February 23rd.
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What is Cognizant Classic FRL Market?
The First Round Leader (FRL) market revolves around which player leads after the first 18 holes of a tournament.
How do Cognizant Classic matchup bets work?
When you bet on a Cognizant Classic matchup, you are choosing which golfer will score better between the two players listed in that particular market. In addition to tournament-style 72-hole competition, there are also 18-hole single-round competitions.
What is Cognizant Classic Cutline?
Standard PGA Tour rules apply to this full-field event. The top 65 and ties will advance to the weekend. The cutline has historically hovered around +1 or +2, but will drop to -5 in 2025 due to weak conditions.
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Are Cognizant Classic odds the same at all sportsbooks?
Cognizant Classic odds vary slightly from sportsbook to sportsbook. It’s always good practice to check multiple sports betting sites for the best odds.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com. Read the full article here to see the best betting sites or check out the top sportsbook promotions.
