Cognizant Classic Picks, Predictions & Odds

• The Cognizant Classic tees off Thursday, February 26th
• Ben Griffin is the +1425 favorite over Genesis Invitational champion Jacob Bridgeman
• See my 2026 Cognizant Classic picks, best value bets, and the odds to win the tournament

After Jacob Bridgeman won The Genesis Invitational, a selection I was all over at +7800 pre-tournament, the PGA Tour leaves California for Florida. With a pair of signature events on the calendar completed, the Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens unfortunately has failed to attract a ton of big names. One decorated player, who once was runner-up at this event in 2019 is teeing it up, and that’s Brooks Koepka.

Pay attention to whether or not Bridgeman commits for this event, where he finished in second last year, or if he withdraws following his first career triumph on the PGA Tour at Riviera. Holes 15-17 at PGA National cause players fits, with a watery grave waiting for any errant shots, making for an exciting and unpredictable closing stretch.

Cognizant Classic Odds (2026)

I’m starting my card this week with Aaron Rai, who was in a tie for fourth entering the final round of the Genesis Invitational. Sure, he fell well off the pace with a poor final day, but that only means his odds are longer at +4100, compared to perhaps +3000, had he placed in the top-five. The Englishmen has a victory to his credit, the 2024 Wyndham Championship.

Odds as of 10:45pm ET on Sunday, February 22nd, at DraftKings. Check out the full list of DraftKings deposit methods.

Last Five Cognizant Classic Winners

Aaron Rai took down Tommy Fleetwood in a playoff to claim the DP World Tour’s Abu Dhabi Championship in November, and while he isn’t a huge name in the sport yet, he’s the fourth highest ranked player in the field (behind Ben Griffin, Shane Lowry and Ryan Gerard). To get him with odds longer than the top-14 golfers competing is a bonus, particularly because he was in the top-five entering the final round of the Genesis Invitational.

Cognizant Classic 2026 Picks & Value Bets

1. Haotong Li +4900: I’m going with a player to win their first PGA Tour event in back-to-back weeks with Haotong Li. Before a missed cut in Phoenix, Li popped with a T-8th at The American Express, and T-11th at the Farmers Insurance Open. Last year on the DP World Tour, Li posted eight top-10s, including a victory at the Qatar Masters and had a top-five at the Open Championship. He’s due to break through stateside.
2. Nico Echavarria +7400: Talk about a player who is incredibly streaky, Nico Echavarria and his two titles fits the bill. In his last eight starts, Echavarria has ripped off three top-10s, including four top-15s, but also missed three cuts and placed T-46th. He did win in 2023 and 2024, and lost a playoff in 2025, so you could do a whole lot worse than a golfer at +7400 odds.
3. Erik van Rooyen +18500: I won’t beat around the bush, two-time winner Erik van Rooyen has been miserable of late, missing five straight cuts. However, he comes alive when he’s at this track, finishing T-2nd in 2024 and T-9th in 2025, ranking first in total strokes gained, second in putting, and third off-the-tee, so he’s worth a flier at this price.
4. Nick Dunlap +34000: In the PGA Tour fall series events, I was high on Nick Dunlap as the perfect boom-or-bust candidate. He won twice in 2024 (once as an amateur), and has a ridiculous skill set as a phenom, but is coming off a down year. Still, against a watered down field, I’m taking him every time at this number, as he showed signs of life with a T-8th at the WWTC in November. He’ll be interesting to monitor in the top 10/20 markets.

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