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⛳ Cognizant Classic: Key takeaways
- Best early bet: Adam Scott to win (+2200) – Former winner paces field in true strokes gained tee-to-green to start 2026 and is coming off a solo-fourth last week.
- Best early value: Nicolai Hojgaard to win (+2500) – Has case to be betting favorite with pair of Top 5s across past three events and elite ball-striking numbers.
- Course: The Champion Course at PGA National Resort has water in play on 15 of 18 holes and is famous for the "Bear Trap" (holes 15-17).
- Weather: Early forecasts call for periodic rain and potential thunderstorms on Friday, plus windy playing conditions throughout the tournament.
- Expected cut: Standard PGA Tour rules apply for this full-field event. The Top 65 and ties will advance to the weekend. The cut line has hovered around +1 or +2 historically before dropping to -5 in 2025 due to soft conditions.
Cognizant Classic odds: favorites & full field
The Cognizant Classic runs February 26 to March 1 at the Champion Course. Below are the latest outright odds, followed by the picks and market-by-market best bets we like this week.
| Golfer | |
|---|---|
| Ben Griffin | +1400 |
| Jacob Bridgeman | +1800 |
| Shane Lowry | +1800 |
| Adam Scott | +2200 |
| Ryan Gerard | +2200 |
| Nicolai Hojgaard | +2500 |
| Michael Thorbjornsen | +2800 |
| Rasmus Hojgaard | +2800 |
| Aaron Rai | +3300 |
| Brooks Koepka | +3300 |
| Keith Mitchell | +3300 |
| Daniel Berger | +3500 |
| Christiaan Bezuidenhout | +4000 |
| Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen | +4000 |
| Thorbjorn Olesen | +4000 |
| Will Zalatoris | +4000 |
| Alex Smalley | +4500 |
| Davis Thompson | +4500 |
| Haotong Li | +4500 |
| Max Homa | +5000 |
Odds as of February 23 at 10 am ET.
Check out the full Cognizant Classic field here.
Best bets card
- Outright: Adam Scott (+2200): Ball-striking wiz is a former winner here and paces this field in true strokes gained tee-to-green to start the season.
- Outright: Nicolai Hojgaard (+2500): Has a strong case to be the betting favorite given his elite statistical profile and current form with two Top 5s in past three events.
Course breakdown: What wins at the Champion Course?
Notorious for being one of the toughest stops on the PGA Tour, the Champion Course requires precision because of its small landing areas and exposure to wind. Water is also in play on 15 of the 18 holes, which means danger lurks on nearly every shot.
The Tom Fazio design is a 7,223-yard Par 71 with three Par 5s, large greens surfaces featuring Tifeagle Bermudagrass, and the highlighted "Bear Trap," one of the most demanding three-hole stretches on the PGA Tour circuit.
Talking about the "Bear Trap," course redesigner Jack Nicklaus said, "It should all be won or lost here. It’s not about length, it’s about precision. It’s about guts. It’s all about what do you have in your chest that you can finish those holes."
Wet conditions and overseeding the fairways and rough with rye grass helped scoring in 2025 because the track wasn't as firm or fast.
Still, players rarely have the luxury of having wedges in hand. The most common approach distances are between 125 and 200 yards, with PGA National a true second-shot track. Additionally, players often club down from driver on several tees to leave longer approaches into the large greens.
- Water hazards in play on 15 of 18 holes
- Second-shot course emphasizing precision on approaches
- Notorious "Bear Trap" a true round wrecker
- Large Bermudagrass greens
- Bogey avoidance critical to success
Key stats & player profiles to target
- True strokes gained tee-to-green
- Bogey avoidance
- Scrambling percentage and true strokes gained around-the-green
- Approaches from 150-175 and 175-200 yards
- Total driving
- Birdie or better percentage
Odds movement & market notes
With the tournament bookended by Signature Events, there is potential for significant moves in the Cognizant odds this week.
The field at PGA National is solid, but it also lacks many of the PGA Tour's best players. A long shot of +10000 odds or higher has also won three of the past four years, and interestingly, defending champion Joe Highsmith is +20000 to win at BetMGM to open the week.
Additionally, 2024 champ Austin Eckroat is +7000.
I’m expecting to see Will Zalatoris be a popular target for bettors, and his odds to shorten from +4000. Other golfers with the potential to shorten are Ryan Gerard (+2200), Adam Scott (+2200), and Michael Thorbjornsen (+2800).
How to watch & tee times (quick links)
How to watch:
- Thursday-Friday: 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Golf Channel)
- Saturday: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Golf Channel); 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
- Sunday: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Golf Channel); 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
Tee times:
Round 1 and 2 tee times should be released on the official PGA Tour website on Tuesday, February 24.
Cognizant Classic betting FAQ
When is the 2026 Cognizant Classic?
The 2026 edition of the Cognizant Classic is Thursday, February 26, to Sunday, March 1.
Where is the 2026 Cognizant Classic being played?
The 2026 Cognizant Classic is being played at The PGA National Resort (The Champion Course) in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
What is the “Florida Swing?”
The Cognizant Classic serves as the traditional opening event and first stop of the "Florida Swing," a series of tournaments played on the state's challenging Bermudagrass courses.
Who is the 2026 Cognizant Classic favorite?
Three-time PGA Tour winner Ben Griffin opened as a +1400 betting favorite to win the 2026 Cognizant Classic. He finished tied for fourth last year.
What are the Cognizant Classic FRL markets?
First Round Leader (FRL) markets center around which player(s) will be in the lead following the first 18 holes of the tournament.
How do Cognizant Classic matchup bets work?
When betting Cognizant Classic matchups, you're selecting which golfer will score better between the two players listed in that specific market. There are 18-hole, single-round matchups, in addition to tournament-long, 72-hole matchups.
What is the Cognizant Classic cut line?
Standard PGA Tour rules apply for this full-field event. The Top 65 and ties will advance to the weekend. The cut line has hovered around +1 or +2 historically before dropping to -5 in 2025 due to soft conditions.
Are Cognizant Classic odds the same across all sportsbooks?
You'll see slight variations in odds across sportsbooks for the Cognizant Classic; it's always good practice to check multiple sports betting sites for the best odds.
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