The Florida Swing kicks off this week with the 2026 Cognizant Classic at PGA National in the Palm Beaches. The first round begins on Thursday morning in West Palm Beach, Florida, as players take on the daunting Bear Trap on the Champion Course. Below, we search for the best value prop bets for the Cognizant Classic from BetMGM Sportsbook’s odds and make our PGA Tour picks and predictions.
It’s a weaker field this week after 2 consecutive signature events, especially after Ben Griffin, Jacob Bridgeman and Adam Scott all withdrew Monday. The top players are resting up following the Genesis Invitational and getting ready for the big, upcoming tournaments on the schedule, like the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship. Ryan Gerard and Shane Lowry are co-favorites here at +1600.
The Champion Course at PGA National is 7,223 yards long and is a par 71, featuring water hazards on 15 of the 18 holes. It’s a stark contrast to Riviera Country Club last week, where there were no water hazards anywhere on the Los Angeles property. Joe Highsmith (+20000) is the defending champion after winning last year at 19-under par, setting a tournament record with a score of 265.
Watch the PGA Tour on Fubo!
Cognizant Classic – Top-5 picks
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET.
Ryan Gerard (+320)
Gerard has gotten off to a great start this season, finishing second twice already in 2026. His best finish in this event was fourth in 2023, and he also came in 25th last year. In a weaker field, he’s a decent bet to finish top 5.
Shane Lowry (+320)
Lowry has 3 top-5 finishes in the last 4 years alone, showing he knows how to take apart PGA National and all of the trouble that lurks. He’s come in eighth and 24th in his 2 starts so far this season, entering the week in good form.
Cognizant Classic – Top-10 picks
Nicolai Hojgaard (+200)
Hojgaard came in 18th last year and has gotten off to a strong start in 2026, ranking seventh in SG: tee-to-green. In his last start at the WM Phoenix Open, he tied for third at 15-under par.
Davis Thompson (+350)
Thompson has been abysmal on the greens this season, ranking 162nd in SG: putting. His ball-striking has been quite good, though, sitting 14th among players in the field in SG: tee-to-green in the last 3 months.
Will Zalatoris (+350)
Zalatoris is No. 1 in the field in SG: tee-to-green in the last 3 months, according to Data Golf, showing how well he’s struck the ball compared to everyone else playing this week. Once again, his putter is failing him, but maybe Bermudagrass will be the change he needs.
Cognizant Classic: Best outright winner bets
Cognizant Classic – Top-20 picks
Beau Hossler (+350)
In the last month, Hossler is seventh in strokes gained from tee-to-green in this week’s field. His course history is good, too, finishing between 16th and 32nd in his last 3 starts at the Cognizant.
Nico Echavarria (+230)
Echavarria has missed the cut twice and finished 21st once in 3 starts here, so it’s been an up-and-down showing at PGA National. But he’s a good player in windy conditions, so if the wind picks up, he’s someone to watch.
Cognizant Classic – Matchups
Suggested play is golfer in bold.
Davis Thompson (-105) vs. Max McGreevy (-118)
Thompson shouldn’t be an underdog to McGreevy in this matchup, even with his poor course history. He’s been hitting the ball great and should get the putter going on Bermuda greens.
Cognizant Classic – Top Brit and Irish
Shane Lowry (+188)
It’s not a terribly strong field to begin with, and the group of British and Irish players are particularly weak. Aaron Rai (+450) is a threat to Lowry in this market after his solid showing at the Genesis, but Lowry still has better course history and is off to an impressive start to the PGA Tour season.
Cognizant Classic – First-round leader
Daniel Berger (+4000)
Berger fired an opening-round 63 last year to sit tied for second and also opened with a 65 in 2022, a shot behind Kurt Kitayama as the first-round leader.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Golfweek:
Genesis Invitational prize money payouts for PGA Tour golfers at Riviera
Winner’s Bag: Jacob Bridgeman, 2026 Genesis Invitational