The PGA Tour continues this week as we head to Palm Beach, Florida for the Cognizant Championship. Check out our full preview and betting tips for the event from PGA National below.
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PGA Tour: Cognizant Championship Betting Tips
PGA National, Thursday 29th February – Sunday 3rd March
Solid week at the Mexico Open last week as both of our top picks performed well in Tony Finau (13th) and Cameron Champ (24th). We are seeing them well at the moment and will be hunting more winners this week at the Cognizant.
The Field
The Field is largely reduced again as it was last week in Mexico, with one notable exception. Rory McIlroy will make just his third start of the season this week as he looks to jump in the OWGR as well as the FedEx Cup standings in the lead up to a big few months of golf. The No.2 player in the world has been pretty quiet over since the start of the 2024 PGA Tour season but is set to play a big part in the upcoming Arnold Palmer Invitational and Players Championship in March.
Star power in the rest of the field is pretty light on, headlined by the likes of Cameron Young, Russell Henley, Eric Cole, Tom Kim and Matt Fitzpatrick. Past winners of the event who will be looking to add another trophy to the case this week include Chris Kirk, Sepp Straka, Matt Jones, Sung-jae Im, Keith Mitchell, Rickie Fowler and Henley.
The Course
Once again, PGA National will serve as the venue for the event, a role it has held since 2007. The course, originally designed by Tom and George Fazio in 1981, will present a Par 70 layout covering just over 7,100 yards. Jack Nicklaus undertook a redesign in 2002 to enhance its playability for contemporary golfers, giving rise to the famous 'Bear Trap.'
The Bear Trap, encompassing holes 15 to 17, stands out as one of the most formidable golf stretches globally. Successfully navigating this challenging segment on a Sunday afternoon can prove pivotal in determining victory or defeat.
Featuring more than 100 bunkers along fairways and greens, the course consistently ranks toward the lower end in terms of average greens in regulation. Despite its not-so-lengthy layout, the impact of the wind is significant, emphasizing the necessity for strong iron play for those aiming to conquer the Champion Course.
Betting Tips
Rory McIlroy ($9.00/Top 10 $2.05)
How can you look past the No.2 player in the world amongst this field. There is certainly some talent on display here but the Northern Irishman doesn't usually concern hiself with these types of events these days, moreso opting to only play in the elevated events or the majors. To see him playing this weekend was a bit of a surprise and I think he will capatilise on the weaker field.
Chris Kirk
Rasmus Hojgaard ($61/Top 30 $2.40)
Like the look of another European for a bit more value this week in Hojgaard. The Dane has been on a tear in the DP World Tour of late, racking up five straight finishes of 11th or better in his last five starts. Has never played this course before but think the form has to speak for itself here.
