Cognizant Classic Golf Betting Tips: Why the tournament favourites stand out at PGA National

The PGA Tour lands in Florida this Thursday for the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches at the PGA National Champion Course, and the outright betting market is wide open for shrewd punters. 

With big names like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler sitting out, opportunities abound for those looking for value.

Early favourites Jacob Bridgeman, Ben Griffin and Adam Scott have all withdrawn, shining the spotlight on proven contenders. Shane Lowry and Ryan Gerard now dominate the market, but each offers a unique combination of form, course history, and home advantage that makes them strong bets at generous odds.

Joe Highsmith won the tournament last season by two shots over Bridgeman and US Open champion J.J. Spaun. But Highsmith has been badly out form of late, testament to his pre-tournament odds of 250/1. 

In this preview, we break down our top three outright picks and highlight why these players are the ones to watch for profitable wagers. 

Cognizant Classic Betting Tips

Shane Lowry – 16/1

Shane Lowry is the pre-tournament favourite for good reason. 

The Irishman arrives in peak form, with seven straight top-30 finishes — including three top-10s — and boasts a remarkable 68.58 scoring average over his last 24 rounds at this course. 

He has recorded second, fifth, fourth, and 11th-place finishes in his last four starts here.

Living in Florida gives him home comforts, while his ball-striking and course management suit the water-laden layout perfectly. 

After closing with a 67 at last week’s Genesis Invitational, Lowry looks ready to convert his consistency into a long-awaited PGA Tour win.

Ryan Gerard – 18/1

Ryan Gerard has quietly been one of the most consistent performers lately and has shown he thrives at PGA National with a leading 67.88 scoring average over eight rounds. 

Despite a couple of off weeks lately, Gerard closed last weekend with rounds of 69-67, giving him momentum heading into the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches.

Living in Florida like Lowry provides the comfort of playing at home, and with three consecutive runner-up finishes recently (Mauritius Open, Sony Open and The American Express) he has proven he is more than ready to pick up a second career title on Tour. 

Gerard, who won the Barracuda Championship in July 2025, has finished fourth and 25th in his sole two appearances at PGA National, proving he very much fancies it here. 

At 18/1, he represents a strong betting option with both form and course fit on his side.

Nicolai Hojgaard - 25/1

Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard is trending for a first PGA Tour title, and given the depleted field there might be no better chance for him here. 

Hojgaard arrives in Florida well rested after a week off and he also just happens to be in some of the form of his life following two top-five finishes in his last three starts on Tour. 

The 24-year-old finished T4 at the Dubai Desert Classic and T3 at the Phoenix Open.

Hojgaard, a three-time DP World Tour winner, has only played at PGA National once, but he did not disgrace himself with a T18 in 2025. 

At the odds, 25/1 looks more than reasonable for a player riding a wave in a weakened field. 

And if you believe in these sorts of things, adidas athletes have won the last two PGA Tour events in Bridgeman and Collin Morikawa.

As always, please gamble responsibly. Scroll below to check out all the players and their prices ahead of the Cognizant Classic...