Cognizant Classic 2026 Betting Tips: Five to flourish in Florida

The PGA Tour’s West Coast Swing came to a close with a memorable maiden victory for Jacob Bridgeman at Riviera Country Club last week. Attention now switches to the East Coast and Florida, where PGA National prepares to host the Cognizant Classic for the 20th time.

Our in-form golf tipster Jamie Worsley is back with five more each-way picks this week, so let's check out his Cognizant Classic 2026 Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights...

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TOURNAMENT HISTORY 

Formerly known as the Honda Classic, the Cognizant Classic was first held in 1972. It has been the PGA Tour's traditional East Coast opener since 2007, when the event moved to current host PGA National.

Tom Weiskopf won the inaugural edition, beating Jack Nicklaus into 2^nd place. Nicklaus did go on to win in 1977, and after successfully defending in 1978, he became the first of four two-time winners, followed by Johnny Millier (1980, 1983), Mark Calcavecchia (1987, 1998), and Padraig Harrington (2005, 2015).

Winning 11 of the last 20 renewals, the event has proven a happy hunting ground for international players. This includes an array of major-winning talent, such as Vijay Singh (1999), Ernie Els (2008), Rory McIlroy (2012), and Adam Scott (2016).

Last five winners:

• 2025

Winner: Joe Highsmith (-19)

Runners-up: Jacob Bridgeman, J.J. Spaun (-17)

• 2024

Winner: Austin Eckroat (-17)

Runners-up: Min Woo Lee, Erik Van Rooyen (-14)

• 2023

Winner: Chris Kirk (-14, playoff)

Runner-up: Eric Cole (-14)

• 2022

Winner: Sepp Straka (-10)

Runner-up: Shane Lowry (-9)

• 2021

Winner: Matt Jones (-12)

Runner-up: Brandon Hagy (-7)

Joe Highsmith produced a fine weekend display to win his first PGA Tour title here last year, firing a pair of 64s to beat J.J. Spaun and Jacob Bridgeman by two shots. He returns to defend this week.

THE COURSE

PGA National – The Champion

• Original architect / Year opened: Tom Fazio & George Fazio / 1981
• Notable renovation: Jack Nicklaus has tweaked with the course continually since 2002, completing a significant redesign in 2014
• Previous tournaments: Ryder Cup (1983), PGA Championship (1987)
• Par / Yardage: Par 71 / 7223 yards (lengthened 56 yards since 2025)
• Hole breakdown:
  • 4x par 3s (175-226 yards)
  • 11x par 4s (365-484 yards)
  • 3x par 5s (538-592 yards)
• Course style: Challenging, flat and watery parkland located close to the Atlantic Coast. Has an open feel, featuring exposed and loosely tree-lined holes
• Fairways:
  • Narrow-to-average-width bermudagrass fairways overseeded with ryegrass
  • Strategic bunkering and three-inch-thick rough offers protection
  • Bottlenecking fairways force players to layup, leaving many mid-irons into the greens
• Greens:
  • Large (7000 sq. f.t) bermudagrass surfaces
  • Sloping, multi-tiered, and often angled to the fairway, they've been among the most demanding to conquer in approach
• Defences:
  • Water is in play on 15 holes, including the famous Bear Trap from holes 15-17
  • Exposed nature and intelligent routing forces players to cope with strong, ever-changing winds arriving from the Atlantic
  • Thicker rough will punish inaccuracy more severely
• Average winning score: -11.6 (last 10 editions)

PGA National's Champion course is a familiar and popular venue to PGA Tour audiences, signalling the start of an exciting run of golf. It showcases risk/reward opportunities throughout and a closing stretch that is among the most treacherous and thrilling on tour, with water in play on each of the final five holes.

Many of the softened course conditions they introduced when switching to a par 71 in 2024 have since been reversed and, weather permitting, we will hopefully see this nerve-wrecking test of ball-striking back to its best this week.

THE WEATHER

Although there is a touch of rain forecast for Friday, the players should encounter largely dry and bright conditions in Florida, accompanied by warm temperatures of around 25°C. With a consistent breeze of 9-12mph, gusting between 17-30mph, wind will also be a factor.

KEY STATS

SG: Approach / Greens-in-Regulation (GIR) / Proximity from 150-200 yards

As one of the trickiest approach courses on tour, quality iron play has typically been hugely important at PGA National. The mid-to-long irons carry the most influence, with shots between 150-200 yards commonplace.

• 2025
  • Joe Highsmith (Winner): 10^th in GIR
  • J Spaun (2^nd): 4^th in GIR
  • Max McGreevy (4^th): 10^th in SG: Approach / 5^th in GIR
• 2024
  • Austin Eckroat (Winner): 5^th in SG: Approach / 1^st in GIR
  • Min Woo Lee (2^nd): 4^th in SG: Approach
  • Shane Lowry (4^th): 2^nd in SG: Approach / 3^rd in GIR
• 2023
  • Chris Kirk (Winner): 7^th in SG: Approach / 7^th in GIR
  • Eric Cole (2^nd): 16^th in SG: Approach
  • Ryan Gerard: (4^th): 5^th in SG: Approach / 18^th in GIR
  • Sepp Straka (5^th): 2^nd in SG: Approach / 1^st in GIR
  • Justin Suh (5^th): 10^th in SG: Approach / 2^nd in GIR
  • Shane Lowry (5^th): 13^th in SG: Approach / 4^th in GIR
• 2022
  • Sepp Straka (Winner): 1^st in GIR
  • Shane Lowry (2^nd): 2^nd in SG: Approach / 5^th in GIR
  • Kurt Kitayama (3^rd): 3^rd in SG: Approach / 5^th in GIR
  • Daniel Berger (4^th): 13^th in SG: Approach / 4^th in GIR
  • Alex Noren (5^th): 7^th in SG: Approach / 2^nd in GIR
• 2021
  • Matt Jones (Winner): 7^th in SG: Approach / 5^th in GIR
  • Chase Seiffert (3^rd): 2^nd in SG: Approach / 5^th in GIR
  • Russell Henley (3^rd): 12^th in GIR
  • T. Pan (3^rd): 5^th in GIR

SG: Off-the-Tee (SG: OTT) and/or Driving Accuracy

Driving it strongly has also been vital at this course historically. With strategic fairways, more punishing rough, and hopefully firmer surfaces, it should carry extra significance this week.

• 2025
  • Joe Highsmith (Winner): 14^th in SG: OTT / 10^th in driving accuracy
  • J. Spaun (2^nd): 19^th in SG: OTT
  • Ben Griffin (4^th): 3^rd in driving accuracy
• 2024
  • Austin Eckroat (Winner): 4^th in SG: OTT / 3^rd in driving accuracy
  • Jake Knapp (4^th): 3^rd in SG: OTT / 15^th in driving accuracy
• 2023
  • Chris Kirk (Winner): 15^th in SG: OTT
  • Eric Cole (2^nd): 14^th in SG: OTT
  • Tyler Duncan (3^rd): 2^nd in SG: OTT / 2^nd in driving accuracy
  • Justin Suh (5^th): 4^th in SG: OTT / 1^st in driving accuracy
  • Shane Lowry (5^th): 6^th in SG: OTT / 7^th in driving accuracy
  • Sepp Straka (5^th): 2^nd in driving accuracy
• 2022
  • Sepp Straka (Winner): 1^st in SG: OTT / 1^st in driving accuracy
  • Shane Lowry (2^nd): 3^rd in SG: OTT / 4^th in driving accuracy
  • Daniel Berger (4^th): 15^th in SG: OTT / 12^th in driving accuracy
• 2021
  • Matt Jones (Winner): 10^th in SG: OTT / 16^th in driving accuracy
  • Brandon Hagy (2^nd): 3^rd in SG: OTT
  • Denny McCarthy (3^rd): 4^th in driving accuracy

SG: Putting (bermudagrass)

Players now need to adjust from putting the largely poa annua surfaces on the West Coast, to bermudagrass on the East. Few have managed to contend around this layout without getting a handle of the large, sloping greens.

• 2025
  • Joe Highsmith (Winner): 7^th in SG: Putting
  • Jacob Bridgeman (2^nd): 5^th in SG: Putting
  • J. Spaun (2^nd): 14^th in SG: Putting
  • Ben Griffin (4^th): 8^th in SG: Putting
• 2024
  • Austin Eckroat (Winner): 15^th in SG: Putting
  • Erik Van Rooyen (2^nd): 1^st in SG: Putting
  • David Skinns (4^th): 2^nd in SG: Putting
• 2023
  • Chris Kirk (Winner): 9^th in SG: Putting
  • Eric Cole (2^nd): 2^nd in SG: Putting
  • Tyler Duncan (3^rd): 5^th in SG: Putting
  • Ben Taylor (5^th): 1^st in SG: Putting
  • Ben Martin (5^th): 4^th in SG: Putting
• 2022
  • Sepp Straka (Winner): 4^th in SG: Putting
  • Shane Lowry (2^nd): 17^th in SG: Putting
  • Kurt Kitayama (3^rd): 7^th in SG: Putting
• 2021
  • Brandon Hagy (2^nd): 13^th in SG: Putting
  • Russell Henley (3^rd): 1^st in SG: Putting
  • Brendan Steele (3^rd): 6^th in SG: Putting
  • Denny McCarthy (3^rd): 6^th in SG: Putting
  • T. Pan (3^rd): 6^th in SG: Putting

CORRELATING EVENTS (COURSES)

Sony Open (Waialae Country Club)

The coastal and often wind-affected Waialae Country Club is a suitable place to start. This flat and strategic venue has large bermudagrass greens that pose similar short-game questions to PGA National, whilst the challenge in approach also compares closely, requiring frequent approaches between 150-200 yards.

Notable correlating form:

• Russell Henley: Cognizant (1^st, 3^rd) / Sony (1^st, 2^nd, 4^th)
• Justin Thomas: Cognizant (1^st) / Sony (1^st)
• Chris Kirk: Cognizant (1^st) / Sony (2^nd, 2^nd, 3^rd)
• Michael Thompson: Cognizant (1^st) / Sony (5^th, 6^th)
• Ryan Palmer: Cognizant (2^nd, 4^th) / Sony (1^st, 4^th)
• Gary Woodland: Cognizant (2^nd, 5^th, 6^th) / Sony (3^rd, 6^th, 7^th)
• J. Spaun: Cognizant (2^nd) / Sony (3^rd)
• Jacob Bridgeman: Cognizant (2^nd) / Sony (4^th)
• Eric Cole: Cognizant (2^nd) / Sony (5^th)
• Brendan Steele: Cognizant (3^rd, 4^th) / Sony (2^nd, 4^th)
• Byeong Hun An: Cognizant (4^th, 5^th) / Sony (2^nd)
• Ryan Gerard: Cognizant (4^th) / Sony (2^nd)
• Ben Taylor: Cognizant (5^th) / Sony (4^th)

RBC Heritage (Harbour Town Golf Links)

Harbour Town is another East Coast course connected to Jack Nicklaus. Contenders often lay up for position around this strategic, densely tree-lined layout, resulting in over 40% of approaches falling into that 150-200-yard range. This allows quality mid-to-long iron players to thrive.

Notable correlating form:

• Justin Thomas: Cognizant (1^st) / Heritage (1^st)
• Sepp Straka: Cognizant (1^st, 5^th) / Heritage (3^rd, 5^th)
• Camilo Villegas: Cognizant (1^st, 2^nd) / Heritage (5^th, 7^th, 9^th)
• Russell Knox: Cognizant (2^nd, 3^rd) / Heritage (2^nd)
• Daniel Berger: Cognizant (2^nd, 4^th, 4^th) / Heritage (3^rd, 3^rd)
• Luke List: Cognizant (2^nd) / Heritage (3^rd)
• Mackenzie Hughes: Cognizant (2^nd) / Heritage (3^rd)
• Shane Lowry: Cognizant (2^nd, 4^th, 5^th) / Heritage (3^rd, 3^rd)
• T. Pan: Cognizant (3^rd) / Heritage (1^st)
• Wesley Bryan: Cognizant (4^th) / Heritage (1^st)
• Cameron Young: Cognizant (4^th) / Heritage (3^rd)
• Ben Martin: Cognizant (5^th) / Heritage (3^rd)

RSM Classic (Sea Island Resort)

As a flat and exposed course located on the East Coast, the conditions at the Sea Island Resort mirror what we see in Florida. The venues feature a tonne of water in play, and with the bermudagrass greens of an equivalent size and difficulty, it's a strong comp.

Notable correlating form:

• Camilo Villegas: Cognizant (1^st, 2^nd) / RSM (2^nd)
• Chris Kirk: Cognizant (1^st) / RSM (4^th)
• Austin Eckroat: Cognizant (1^st) / RSM (8^th)
• Mackenzie Hughes: Cognizant (2^nd) / RSM (1^st, 2^nd, 2^nd)
• Daniel Berger: Cognizant (2^nd, 4^th, 4^th) / RSM (2^nd)
• J. Spaun: Cognizant (2^nd) / RSM (2^nd)
• Eric Cole: Cognizant (2^nd) / RSM (3^rd)
• Luke List: Cognizant (2^nd) / RSM (4^th)
• Tyler Duncan: Cognizant (3^rd) / RSM (1^st, 3^rd)
• Blayne Barber: Cognizant (3^rd) / RSM (2^nd)
• Denny McCarthy: Cognizant (3^rd) / RSM (5^th, 8^th)
• Billy Horschel: Cognizant (4^th, 8^th, 9^th) / RSM (2^nd)
• Max McGreevy: Cognizant (4^th) / RSM (2^nd)
• H. Lee: Cognizant (4^th, 7^th) / RSM (5^th)

Houston Open (Memorial Park Golf Course)

Memorial Park is a flat, loosely tree-lined parkland course with an open feel. Situated in Texas, wind has been a factor, whilst the sizeable bermudagrass-based greens can be conquered by high-class mid-to-long iron play.

Notable correlating form:

• Sepp Straka: Cognizant (1^st) / Houston (5^th)
• Min Woo Lee: Cognizant (2^nd) / Houston (1^st)
• Gary Woodland: Cognizant (2^nd, 5^th, 6^th) / Houston (2^nd)
• Alex Noren: Cognizant (3^rd, 5^th) / Houston (4^th)
• David Skinns: Cognizant (4^th) / Houston (7^th)
• Ben Taylor: Cognizant (5^th) / Houston (3^rd)

Phoenix Open (TPC Scottsdale)

I'll finish with TPC Scottsdale and the Phoenix Open. The fairways at this flat, exposed venue are of a similar width, whilst the challenges in approach into the overseeded greens are akin to what we see here, with approaches from 150-200 yards again prevalent.

Notable correlating form:

• Rickie Fowler: Cognizant (1^st) / Phoenix (1^st)
• Brooks Koepka: Cognizant (2^nd) / Phoenix (1^st, 1^st)
• Gary Woodland: Cognizant (2^nd, 5^th, 6^th) / Phoenix (1^st)
• Daniel Berger: Cognizant (2^nd, 4^th, 4^th) / Phoenix (2^nd)
• Ryan Palmer: Cognizant (2^nd, 4^th) / Phoenix (2^nd, 2^nd)
• J. Spaun: Cognizant (2^nd) / Phoenix (4^th)
• Brendan Steele: Cognizant (3^rd, 4^th) / Phoenix (3^rd, 5^th)
• H. Lee: Cognizant (4^th, 7^th) / Phoenix (2^nd)
• Byeong Hun An: Cognizant (4^th, 5^th) / Phoenix (6^th, 9^th)

THE FIELD

Away from the elite, limited fields of the previous two weeks, eight of the world's top 50 will be in action in Florida. Following the withdrawals of the top two players, Ben Griffin and Jacob Bridgeman, Ryan Gerard is now the highest-ranked player at No. 26 in the world.

Defending champion Joe Highsmith is one of seven past winners in attendance. He is joined by Austin Eckroat (2024), Chris Kirk (2023), Keith Mitchell (2019), Adam Scott (2016), Camilo Villegas (2010), and Matt Kuchar (2002).

Will Zalatoris continues his injury return with a Cognizant Classic debut. Meanwhile, Brooks Koepka tees it up at the course where he finished 2^nd in 2019.

SELECTIONS 

2.25 pts Ryan Gerard each-way (1/5 - 6 places) @ 20/1

With three runner-up finishes across his last six starts, there is nobody in this field in better form than Ryan Gerard. He's complementing his quality ball-striking with stronger putting performances at the beginning of this year, and as an East Coast man with excellent form at PGA National (both as an amateur and a pro), he's the standout candidate this week.

Gerard ended 2025 with that important runner-up finish in Mauritius to earn himself a Masters spot, and he hit the ground running in 2026, finishing 2^nd at both the Sony Open and The AmEx on his first two appearances. He was then 11^th at Torrey Pines and while finishes of 45^th at Pebble Beach and 28^th at Riviera aren't quite as impressive, his long game has remained sound.

His irons are the standout clubs in the bag, ranking 26^th in SG: Approach in 2025, and after a fourth-ranked display last week, he's 8^th overall this year. He's been especially effective from 150-175 yards, ranking 5^th, and as a reliable driver – blending reasonable amounts of power and accuracy – who has a newfound comfort on the greens, he ticks every box.

Gerard won the Ralph Lauren Junior Classic at PGA National all the way back in 2015, and he transferred that ability to perform here to the pro game, finishing 4^th on debut at the 2023 Cognizant Classic. He now resides just north in Jupiter, Florida, and with that runner-up finish at the Sony Open another plus, he's evidently comfortable in these conditions.

1.5 pts Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen each-way (1/5 - 6 places) @ 33/1

The weakening fields at this event have allowed for a couple of breakthrough winners in the last two editions. That trend has every chance of continuing this year, and I’m backing sweet-striking Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen to make his mark on debut.

The Danish rookie earned his PGA Tour card via the DP World Tour (DPWT) in 2025, securing it on the final day of the season with a 3^rd-place finish at the DPWT Championship. He duly celebrated this career progression with a first victory at that level at the Australian Open two starts later, holding off a high-class group of contenders including Cam Smith and Si Woo Kim.

He began this year with a promising 19^th-place finish at the Dubai Invitational but was disappointing the following week when 45^th at the Dubai Desert Classic. That said, his iron play shone in those starts and he’s carried that form over to the PGA Tour, with his driver also picking up during solid finishes of 49^th at the Farmers Insurance Open and 41^st at the Phoenix Open.

That all-round long-game quality should come as no surprise for a player who ranked 6^th in SG: OTT, 17^th in GIR and 18^th in SG: Approach on the DPWT in 2025. His precise yet powerful game was also on show in last year’s U.S. Open, where he was 9^th in ball-striking on his way to a 12^th-place finish.

It’s a skillset that should serve Neergaard-Petersen well at this penal layout, and with much of his best work coming on open, exposed courses (such as a runner-up finish in Qatar), he could take advantage of this weaker field at PGA National.

1 pt Johnny Keefer each-way (1/5 - 6 places) @ 45/1

I’m going to take a chance on another rookie in the shape of Johnny Keefer. The leading Korn Ferry Tour (KFT) graduate has hit the ball as well as anyone at the beginning of this year but has been found wanting with the short game. He’s had three weeks to work on that, and with the move to the East Coast hopefully bringing about improvement for the Maryland native, he’s worth having on side here.

Keefer won twice on the KFT last year and also recorded two runner-up finishes among 13 other top-25s. He impressed when 7^th in similar conditions at the RSM Classic towards the end of the year, and he’s continued to look comfortable at this higher grade in 2026, making each of his four cuts, including a best of 27^th in Phoenix.

He’s leading the tour in GIR, also ranking 9^th in SG: OTT and 10^th in SG: Approach. The power he possesses (ranking 12^th in driving distance) is balanced by a handy level of accuracy, and while the short game has lacked sharpness, he did rank 2^nd in scrambling and 10^th in putting on the KFT in 2025.

Keefer is a hugely exciting talent who has made winning look easy as a pro. His long game makes him a great fit for this challenge, and with the 7^th at Sea Island backing that up, he can add a PGA Tour trophy to his cabinet at PGA National.

1 pt Sami Valimaki each-way (1/5 - 6 places) @ 60/1

Sami Valimaki was in superb form at the end of 2025, which culminated in him breaking his PGA Tour duck at the RSM Classic. He was slow to get going this year, but he’s been better in recent weeks, and as a player who excels on exposed, windswept layouts, he holds plenty of appeal.

The Finn’s victory at Sea Island came after two close calls in the preceding weeks, finishing 2^nd at both the Omega European Masters on the DPWT and World Wide Technology Championship on the PGA Tour. He failed to keep that flame alight at the beginning of 2026, missing the cut at The AmEx and Farmers Insurance Open, though he has improved to finish 41^st at the Phoenix Open, 34^th at Pebble Beach, and 37^th at the Genesis Invitational.

The irons were superb in 2025, ranking 18^th in SG: Approach, and he particularly excelled with the mid irons, ranking 16^th from 150-175 yards. They’ve started to fire in his latest appearances, ranking 9^th last week, and as a top-10 putter who finds plenty of fairways, he’s got the game to tackle this layout.

That hasn’t quite been evident for Valimaki so far, as he missed the cut here in 2024 and followed with a 48^th-place finish 12 months ago. However, his comp form catches the eye, winning the RSM Classic and finishing 4^th in Houston in 2025, and he’s also picked up two titles on similarly open setups in the Middle East on the DPWT.

1 pt David Ford each-way (1/5 - 6 places) @ 90/1

Hailing from Georgia and attending college in North Carolina, David Ford has tonnes of amateur form in this part of the world. Indeed, the former No. 3 amateur won here in 2020. He’s started this year positively after improving towards the end of 2025, and as a superb driver who has upgraded his approach play, he’s another youngster I’m keen to be on the right side of.

Ford was flying in the amateur ranks at the start of 2025, winning the prestigious Valspar Collegiate and Augusta Haskins Award Invitational. He gained a PGA Tour card via the PGA Tour University Accelerated program when turning pro in May, and after struggling to adjust, he finally gave us a taste of his potential when 3^rd at the Bank of Utah Championship.

He’s been solid in the early weeks of 2026, claiming a best of 13^th at The AmEx, but more importantly he’s thriving with his ball-striking. The top-20 ranking in SG: OTT is reminiscent of the quality he was showing last year, though he does appear to have added length to enhance his pin-point accuracy. Meanwhile, he’s improved significantly with his irons, ranking 12^th in SG: Approach and has notably been hitting his mid-to-long irons strongly.

Ford destroyed a high-quality field by seven shots at PGA National at the 2020 Rolex Tournament of Champions, firing rounds of 65 and 68 at the Champion course. He was also 7^th in that event the previous year, and as a player whose ceiling could be absolutely anything, he gets the nod at this tempting price.

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