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The Florida swing kicks off this week at the 2024 Cognizant Classic, formerly known as the Honda Classic. It’s still being hosted by PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., presenting players with a difficult test at a course that features the daunting Bear Trap. The 1st round begins on Thursday morning.
Below, we look at the 2024 Cognizant Classic odds and make our PGA Tour picks and predictions.
There’s no question about who the top-ranked golfer in the field is this week as Rory McIlroy tees it up at PGA National for the 1st time since 2018. McIlroy was the 2012 champion here and lost in a playoff 2 years later, but he’s taken the last 5 years off from this event. Cameron Young is the 2nd-favorite at +2000, followed by Eric Cole and 2014 champion Russell Henley at +2500.
The Champion course at PGA National is a par 71 and plays at 7,147 yards after the par-4 10th hole was lengthened a bit and turned into a 530-yard par 5. The Bear Trap spans holes 15-17 and features 2 difficult par 3s, as well as a long par 4. There are water hazards on all 18 holes so players will need to tread carefully around this challenging track. The winning score last year was 14-under by Chris Kirk, who beat Cole in a playoff.
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Cognizant Classic – Expert picks
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 2:15 p.m. ET.
Eric Cole (+2500)
Cole had a great chance to win this event last year, but Kirk stuffed it to about a foot on the 1st playoff hole and won with a birdie after Cole missed a 10-footer to tie. The reigning Rookie of the Year has already played a bunch this season, making 7 starts, which include 5 top-21 finishes and 1 top-10 at the Genesis Invitational.
Russell Henley (+2500)
Henley didn’t play this event in 2022 or 2023, but he was excellent at PGA National previously. He finished 3rd in 2021, 8th in 2020, 20th in 2019 and 24th in 2018. Oh, and he won this tournament in 2014, beating McIlroy in a playoff. The smooth-swinging Henley knows how to position himself off the tee, which is essential around this course.
Shane Lowry (+3300)
Lowry hasn’t gotten off to the best start this season, finishing better than 60th only once (T-25 at the Farmers Insurance Open), but that hasn’t mattered much in the past when coming to PGA National. When he finished 2nd in 2022, he had missed back-to-back cuts in his last 2 starts. He then got hot after the Honda Classic and didn’t finish worse than T-32 in a stroke play event until the U.S. Open in June. Buy low on Lowry now.
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Cognizant Classic picks – Contender(s)
Sepp Straka (+5000)
Straka edged Lowry here in 2022, winning the event before finishing 5th last year. He’s finished 33rd or better in this event in 4 straight years and although he’s missed 2 of 4 cuts this season, he also has a T-12 and T-26 on his record in 2024. His odds feel a bit too low at +5000.
Stephan Jaeger (+5000)
Jaeger’s improved distance off the tee has made a big difference in his game as he’s notched 3 top-20 finishes, including a T-3 at the Farmers Insurance Open and Mexico Open. Fresh off a 65 at the Mexico Open, he could be primed for another strong week at the Cognizant Classic where he came in 14th last year.
Beau Hossler (+5000)
I love the way Hossler is playing right now. He’s finished 47th or better in all 5 starts this season, including a T-6 at the Farmers Insurance Open, T-14 at Pebble Beach and T-24 at the Genesis Invitational. He’s 30th on tour in total strokes gained and in his last start here, he finished 16th in 2022.
Cognizant Classic picks – Long shot(s)
Carson Young (+12500)
Let’s run it back with Young, who finished 29th here in his debut last year and just came in 8th at the Mexico Open on Sunday. He’s made 4 straight cuts and has 2 top-20 finishes this season, building some good momentum heading into the Florida Swing.
Gary Woodland (+8000)
Woodland is still making his way back from brain surgery to remove a tumor, and he’s steadily improving each week. After missing the cut in his first 3 starts, he finished 39th at the Genesis Invitational in a strong field. Furthermore, he’s finished 5th and 8th in his last 2 starts at this tournament (2022, 2020), while also coming in 2nd in 2017.
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