2025-02-26

Cognizant Classic Betting Tips

It's time for the start of the 'Florida Swing' on the PGA Tour and this week the action heads to the PGA National Champion Course at Palm Beach Gardens for the Cognizant Classic.

Formally known as the Honda Classic from 2002-2023, the event was renamed for the 2024 edition when American Austin Eckroat finished three strokes ahead of Min Woo Lee and Erik van Rooyen to claim the spoils.

American Russell Henley has been installed as the 18/1 joint favourite alongside Irishman Shane Lowry and 22/1 Daniel Berger and Sepp Straka.

Tip 1 – Sepp Straka to win and each-way @ 22/1

Austrian Sepp Straka will have his eye on a spot in Europe's Ryder Cup team for the event at Bethpage Black in September and he has already given his chances an early boost with victory at the American Express in January.

That was the 31-year-old's third PGA Tour success and he now returns to the course where his career took off, with his breakthrough coming at the 2022 Honda Classic as he outlasted Shane Lowry by one shot.

Straka returned the following year to finish tied-fifth and, although disappointed to miss the cut in the 2024 edition, he has a strong record here and his game is in solid shape ahead of this visit.

Navigating this tricky test safely from tee to green is essential to success and Straka is 11th in driving accuracy, sixth in greens in regulation and 17th in strokes gained tee-to-green.

Tip 2 – Taylor Pendrith to win and each-way @ 28/1

Taylor Pendrith has made a strong start to the season, recording two top-10s and T13 from his five starts, and he will be eager to improve on his best finish of 25th in this event.

The Canadian, who broke his PGA Tour duck at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in May last year, has been razor-sharp with his approach play and ranks third in greens in regulation.

Also sitting 11th in strokes gained tee-to-green and 33rd in driving accuracy, Pendrith has the attributes required to contend in Florida and he looks to have a strong chance of being in the mix.

Tip 3 – Nicolai Hojgaard to win and each-way @ 55/1

Nicolai Hojgaard has improved with every outing in 2025, having finished T65 at the Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour before then going T36 at the Phoenix Open and eighth at last week's Mexico Open.

That performance at Vidanta Vallarta was pleasing to see and the fact he was second in greens in regulation and in the top 10 in strokes gained off-the-tee, approach and total, only strengthens his claim for a good showing in Florida.

Hojgaard is one of the best drivers of the ball and if he can keep it on the short stuff, his accurate approach play should give him plenty of opportunities to sink some putts.

The Dane leads the way in GIR on the PGA Tour this season and is 10th in SG: tee-to-green, two factors that will be key this week, while he also has the dangling carrot of a potential second Ryder Cup appearance for Europe after his 2023 outing.