2026 Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches - Player Deep Dives
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Legend:
Odds - Betting Odds as of publication
Stats: Non Filtered Season Stats
Rank: Based on Season Stats Rank in this Field
SG Gains: Number of weeks where played Gained in that Strokes Gained Statistic
OTT 4/4 = Gained Off The Tee in 4 of his last 4 starts/weeks/tournaments
FORM: Results from a players last 4 starts
Cognizant Results: Finishes at PGA National Resort (The Champion)
Comp Results: Finishes at following courses: The Renaissance Club, Silverado Resort and Spa (North Course) & Ridgewood Country Club
Ryan Gerard
Odds: +1600
Stats: Top 75!! exclude APP 200+ (132), ARD (121), ARD/SCR AVG (86), BOB 175200 (87)
Rank: Top 75 across; Top 25: TG, OTT, APP, GIR, APP 175200, PROX, APP AVG, BS, SCR, BOB, BOB AVG, BA, P3, P4, P5
SG Gains: OTT 3/4, APP 3/4, ARD 1/4, PUTT 3/4
FORM: 28/45/11/2
Cognizant Results: 25/4
Comp Results: 74/MC
Insights: Ryan Gerard is one of the most complete statistical fits in the field at the Cognizant Classic and was my first click of the week — a name I had circled specifically for the Florida swing. He ranks Top 75% in this field across the board with Top 25% marks in tee-to-green, off the tee, approach, GIR, proximity, scrambling, and par-3/4/5 scoring, which is exactly the balanced profile this course rewards. He’s gained off the tee and on approach in three of his last four starts and the putter has cooperated as well, fueling a strong recent run of 28-45-11-2-2-2 over his last six starts. Course history only strengthens the case (25th and 4th here), and the comfort level clearly shows. At +1600, this isn’t a speculative dart — it’s a conviction play. The form, fit, and timing all line up for Gerard to make serious noise and potentially turn this vision into a Florida swing breakthrough. Pony up for this horse or risk the FOMO. -C
Nicolai Hojgaard
Odds: +2000
Stats: Top 75!! exclude APP 175200 (108), PROX (94), ARD (83), BOB 175200 (89)
Rank: Top 75 across; Top 25: TG, OTT, OTT/TD AVG, APP, GIR, APP 200+, APP AVG, BS, SCR, ARD/SCR AVG, PUTT, BOB, BOB AVG, BA, P3, P4, P5
SG Gains: OTT 3/4, APP 4/4, ARD 1/4, PUTT 3/4
FORM: 3/22/4/52
Cognizant Results: 18/MC
Comp Results: 4/6/39/MC
Insights: In a watered-down field this week, Nicolai is going to be a popular click in both the betting markets and DFS, and rightfully so. The Dane is playing great golf right now, finishing 22nd at Farmers and 3rd at WMPO on the heels of 3 Top 11 finishes in Europe from November through January. On top of that, Hoj played well at this event last year, finishing in a tie for 18th while gaining an average of more than 0.8 strokes to the field on Approach and Putting per round. The biggest concern for him this week is his current tendency to be wayward off the tee. He is 111th in the field in Driving Accuracy and 114th in Distance from the Edge of the Fairway over his last 24 PGA rounds, but considering he is 1st in Tee-to-Green, 7th in Approach, 16th in Par 5 Birdie-or-Better% and 19h in Bogey Avoidance should give him a solid floor. Given his popularity and likely inclusion on the Golf Tips Checker weekly chart, I am hesitant to include Hoj on my betting card at reduced odds, but he is a fine selection for placements, One and Done, or DFS — so long as you pair him with some pivots in your lineup. Check Wednesday’s newsletter for this week’s DFS pivots. -S
Shane Lowry
Odds: +1600
Stats: Top 75!! exclude TD (120), OTT/TD AVG (85), BS (78), ARD (127), BOB 200+ (133)
Rank: Top 75 across; Top 25: TG, OTT, APP, GIR, APP175, APP 200+, PROX, APP AVG, SCR, BOB, BOB 175200, BOB AVG, BA, P3, P4
SG Gains: OTT 2/4, APP 4/4, ARD 0/4, PUTT 2/4
FORM: 24/8/26/3
Cognizant Results: 11/4/5/2/36/21/49/53
Comp Results: 12/MC
Insights: Like Hoj, Lowry has played well through the fall and winter in Europe, finishing T12 or better in 4 of 5 events from mid-October through January. His 2026 PGA debut resulted in a T8 at Pebble, and he followed that up with a T24 at Genesis. Now, he returns to PGA national as the co-betting favorite, where he’s had a ton of recent success, finishing T11 in 2025, T4 in 2024, T5 in 2023, and 2nd in 2022 (we were on him this year when Sepp came storming back to steal the win and we still haven’t forgotten about it). In fact, Lowry has had great success in Florida relative to this field, as he sits 1st in SG: Total over his last 24 Florida rounds. He can be loose with his driver, and he’s been known as an iffy putter, but he currently ranks 3rd in he field in 3-Putt Avoidance on Bermuda greens, and he’s 21st in the field in scrambling on these surfaces as well. The betting price is too rich for my blood on someone who has not won a solo event in years, but I wouldn’t hate using Lowry in One and Done. -S
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