Pre-tournament favourites withdraw from Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches

The Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches has been rocked by three high-profile withdrawals.

This week's tournament at PGA National marks the start of a four-week Florida Swing consisting of the Cognizant Classic, Valspar Championship, Arnold Palmer Championship and The Players Championship. 

PGA Tour stars WD from Cognizant 

Ben Griffin, Jacob Bridgeman and Adam Scott have all withdrawn from the $9.6m tournament at PGA National. 

The trio's absence opens the door for Jackson Suber, Lanto Griffin and Chan Kim to enter. 

Bridgeman had already hinted at a break after landing his first PGA Tour title at the $20m Genesis Invitational on Sunday.

The newly-promoted World No.20 told reporters late Sunday he would “see” whether he’d play. But some 12 hours later, he made the call to enjoy a well-deserved week off, now $4m richer in the process. 

Bridgeman took down Rory McIlroy at Riviera, and was then presented his first PGA Tour trophy by tournament host and his childhood hero Tiger Woods.

The omission of both Griffin, ranked 11th in the world, and 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott mark two further blows to the tournament.

Griffin represented the US Ryder Cup team for the first time during a season he won three times, while 14-time PGA Tour winner Scott played some stunning golf at Riviera last week with two rounds of 63 en route to a solo fourth. 

Bridgeman, Griffin and Scott were three of the top five favourites when bookmakers installed odds for the tournament on Monday. 

Elsewhere, Patrick Rodgers has also pulled out of the tournament, and he's been replaced by Brandt Snedeker.

Nine-time PGA Tour winner Snedeker is in the mix to be named 2027 US Ryder Cup captain at Adare Manor in Ireland.

As it stands, Woods and Jim Furyk are joint favourites for the captaincy. 

Lowry headlines Cognizant field

With three of the pre-tournament favourites now out of the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches, attention now turns to Shane Lowry who heads the betting at 16/1. 

Lowry arrives in his residence of Florida off the back of seven straight top-30 finishes.

The Irishman has not won on the PGA Tour since teaming up with Rory McIlroy to win the Zurich Classic team event in 2024, but his last individual win on the circuit was the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush. 

Lowry's last individual win anywhere around the world came at the 2022 BMW PGA Championship on the DP World Tour. 

Ryan Gerard (18/1) is also prominent in the market after a number of impressive results on both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour. 

Gerard recently strung together three runner-up finishes in a row at the Mauritius Open, Sony Open and The American Express. 

The field, though thinned at the top, still includes eight of the world’s top 50. 

Only one player, Gerard, sits inside the top 30, highlighting the tournament’s unique timing between the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Genesis Invitational, and the upcoming Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship. 

Home favourites Brooks Koepka, Billy Horschel and Gary Woodland are in the field. 

Koepka is making his third start back on the PGA Tour, and first in Florida, since quitting LIV Golf at the end of 2025.

The five-time major champion was able to return to the PGA Tour via a new Returning Membership policy. 

Koepka enters the tournament off the back of indifferent finishes of T56 at the Farmers Insurance Open and a missed cut at the WM Phoenix Open.

The big-hitting American is 263rd in the world. 

The Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches takes place at PGA National Resort’s famed Champion Course – a venue renowned for hosting not only this event but also the Ryder Cup and the PGA Championship.

Joe Highsmith returns to defend his title after a stellar performance last year, finishing 19-under par and edging out J.J. Spaun and Bridgeman by two strokes.