The 2026 Cognizant Classic at PGA National Champion Course marks the beginning of the PGA Florida Swing on Thursday. Although some top players are absent following two Signature Events, the Cognizant Classic roster still includes major champions like Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka, with Koepka participating in his third event since his return to the PGA circuit this season.
According to the most recent 2026 Cognizant Classic betting lines from FanDuel Sportsbook, Lowry holds the favorite position at +1400, trailed by Ryan Gerard at +1900. Koepka’s odds are +2700, having missed the cut in his previous competition, the WM Phoenix Open. Before making any 2026 Cognizant Classic selections or engaging in PGA DFS picks on platforms such as FanDuel or DraftKings, it’s advisable to consult the golf forecasts and predicted leaderboards generated by SportsLine’s established computer model.
The proprietary model developed by DFS expert Mike McClure for SportsLine has simulated every PGA Tour event 10,000 times, consistently providing highly profitable golf betting recommendations.
This precise model has also accurately predicted an impressive 16 major tournaments up to this weekend, including the 2025 Masters—its fourth consecutive Masters success—along with this year’s PGA Championship and Open Championship. Those who have followed its sports wagering advice could have experienced substantial gains on betting sites.
Now that the 2026 Cognizant Classic player lineup is finalized, the model executed 10,000 tournament simulations, yielding unexpected outcomes. Visit SportsLine immediately to view the anticipated leaderboard.
Anticipated Results for the 2026 Cognizant Classic
One significant revelation from the model’s projections for the 2026 Cognizant Classic is that Lowry, despite being the week’s top pick and the 2019 Open Championship victor, is not expected to finish among the top three. The model suggests he is a player to disregard for this event. Lowry has not achieved an individual PGA Tour victory since his major championship win, though he did secure a team victory with Rory McIlroy at the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. His T8 finish at Pebble Beach earlier this month was his first top-10 performance since May 2025. See who else to fade here.
Another surprising forecast: the model shows considerable optimism for Daniel Berger, listed as a +3000 longshot, predicting he will be a top-six competitor despite his lower ranking on the odds sheet. Berger faced challenges in his last two competitions, yet he has recorded two top-20 finishes this season—one at the Sony Open and another at the WM Phoenix Open. He has previously achieved three top-five placements at this competition, formerly known as the Honda Classic, including one in 2022. See who else to pick here.
Additionally, the model has identified four other longshots, with odds of +3000 or greater, as potential top-10 finishers. The model’s specific recommendations are available only here.
Who is poised to claim victory at the 2026 Cognizant Classic, and which considerable underdogs are set to astound the golfing community? Examine the 2026 Cognizant Classic betting odds listed below, then access SportsLine for the predicted leaderboard, all sourced from the model that has successfully predicted 16 golf majors, including three in 2025.
Favorite and Current Odds for the 2026 Cognizant Classic
Access comprehensive 2026 Cognizant Classic selections, optimal wagers, and forecasts here.
(odds presented by FanDuel and subject to alteration)
Shane Lowry +1400
Ryan Gerard +1600
Nicolai Højgaard +2000
Rasmus Højgaard +2200
Michael Thorbjornsen +2200
Keith Mitchell +2700
Brooks Koepka +2700
Daniel Berger +3000
Christiaan Bezuidenhout +3000
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen +3000
Aaron Rai +3300
Thorbjørn Olesen +3300
Davis Thompson +3300
Will Zalatoris +3500
Max McGreevy +3500
Richard Hoey +4000
Max Homa +4000
Kristoffer Reitan +4000
Alex Smalley +4000
Chris Kirk +4000
Michael Brennan +4500
Jordan Smith +4500
Johnny Keefer +4500
Mac Meissner +4500
Haotong Li +4500
Sami Valimaki +5000
Stephan Jaeger +5000
Mackenzie Hughes +5000
John Parry +5500
Seamus Power +5500
Garrick Higgo +5500
Nico Echavarria +5500
Austin Eckroat +6000
Tom Kim +6000
Kevin Yu +6000
Matt Wallace +6000
Ricky Castillo +6000
Doug Ghim +7000
Dan Brown +7000
Eric Cole +7000
Vince Whaley +7000
Kris Ventura +7500
Billy Horschel +7500
Lee Hodges +7500
Gary Woodland +7500
Emiliano Grillo +7500
Zecheng Dou +8000
David Ford +8000
Jesper Svensson +8000
Adrien Dumont de Chassart +8000
S.H. Kim +8000
Kevin Roy +8000
Matt Kuchar +8000
Steven Fisk +8000
Chad Ramey +8000
Sam Ryder +8000
