Cognizant Classic: Picks, Predictions and Odds

After the drama of last week's Mexico Open, the PGA Tour moves over to Florida for the first of four straight tournaments in the Sunshine State, the Cognizant Classic.

Renamed from the Honda Classic to the Cognizant Classic in 2024, this event has been staged at the PGA National Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens since 2007.

Featuring the famous 'Bear Trap', a treacherous hole sequence from the 16th to the 18th, this par-71 measuring 7,147 yards represents a tough challenge that demands a strong tee-to-green game.

American Austin Eckroat claimed the spoils last year and he is +6000 to join Jack Nicklaus in becoming the only player to have won this title back-to-back.

Irishman Shane Lowry, second here in 2022, leads the betting alongside Russell Henley at +2200, while 2015 runner-up Daniel Berger can be backed at +2500.

Cognizant Classic betting picks and predictions

Sepp Straka to win (+2700)

It has been a fantastic start to the season already for Austrian Sepp Straka, who landed his third PGA Tour title with a two-shot win at the American Express in January.

That was his third outing of the year, having recorded finishes of T15 at The Sentry and T30 at the Sony Open, and he has not let up with his results since that triumph reading T7 (Pebble Beach), 15th (Phoenix Open) and missed cut (Genesis Invitational).

Barring that Genesis performance, it has been a positive start to the campaign for the 31-year-old and he looks a dangerous customer now returning to the scene of his PGA breakthrough.

Straka outlasted Lowry here in 2022, edging out his European Ryder Cup teammate by a single stroke and he made a solid defence of his crown 12 months later when ending up tied-fifth.

With water in play on 13 holes at this course and bunkers aplenty, staying on the straight and narrow is crucial and it bodes well that Straka is 11th in driving accuracy on the US circuit this term.

The world number 19 is also sixth in greens in regulation and 17th in strokes gained tee-to-green, making him a standout selection to land his second Florida crown.

Taylor Pendrith to win (+3200)

Another player that makes big appeal this week is world number 40 Taylor Pendrith, who is 11th in strokes gained tee-to-green and third in greens in regulation.

The Canadian was solid on his debut here in 2022, recording a top-25 finish, and the form he has been showing heading into this edition suggests he is ready to better that effort.

Pendrith started the year with a T13 at The Sentry and after a slightly disappointing T45 at the Sony Open, he made positive strides with back-to-back top-10s at Pebble Beach and the Phoenix Open.

The 33-year-old has tasted success on the US circuit once when winning the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in May last year and a second title may not be far away.

Nicolai Hojgaard to win (+6000)

A number of European players will be hoping to make Luke Donald's Ryder Cup team for the event at Bethpage Black in September and one of those is Nicolai Hojgaard, who was part of the winning side in 2023 in Rome.

Life was a bit tougher for the Dane in 2024 but he managed to end the year strong and he is starting to produce the kind of form everyone knows he is capable of on the PGA Tour.

Starting 2025 off with a T65 at the Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour, Hojgaard was then tied-36th at the Phoenix Open before recording his best finish of the year when eighth at last week's Mexico Open.

There was plenty to like about the 23-year-old's display at Vidanta Vallarta and his greens in regulation ranking of second in the event bodes well ahead of this tricky test.

Hojgaard does in fact lead the PGA Tour's GIR department this season, while his ranking of 10th in strokes gained tee-to-green is another tick in the right box for him.

A strong driver of the ball, Hojgaard has the skill set to challenge for the victory this week and make his breakthrough on the US circuit.

Cognizant Classic outright odds

Shane Lowry	+2200
Russell Henley	+2200
Daniel Berger	+2500
Sungjae Im	+2700
Sepp Straka	+2700
Taylor Pendrith	+3200
Min Woo Lee	+3500
Denny McCarthy	+3700
Cameron Young	+4500
Davis Thompson	+4500
Kurt Kitayama	+4500

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.