Cognizant Classic DFS picks 2025: I'm taking a flier on Eric Cole

The Cognizant Classic kicks off the annual Florida swing, which is characterized by swirling winds, copious water hazards and firm, Bermuda greens. For many years, the Cognizant Classic played as one of the most challenging golf courses on the PGA Tour, with the infamous Bear Trap (holes 15-17) consistently beguiling players down the stretch. Yet a lack of wind and softer conditions have provided far easier scoring conditions over the last two years, and Austin Eckroat cruised to victory last year at 17-under par. The scoring was also heavily influenced by the change in the par four 10th hole into a short par-five, and with rain in the forecast once again, I would expect the trend of easier scoring conditions to continue at PGA National.

Despite many of the PGA Tour’s stars living nearby Palm Beach Gardens, many of the game’s biggest names will be taking a week off before next week’s Signature Event at Bay Hill. Shane Lowry, Russell Henley, Sepp Straka, Sungjae Im and Jordan Spieth will still all look to rise to the occasion at PGA National, while Austin Eckroat will return to defend his title.

$9,000 range

Play: Daniel Berger, $9,900

Daniel Berger’s play has steadily been improving since the end of last year, and he has now recorded back-to-back top-12 finishes at the Waste Management Open and Genesis Invitational. Berger already has three top-five finishes in eight appearances at PGA National, and impressive track record of success of positional, middle iron intensive Southeastern Bermuda courses such as TPC Sawgrass and TPC Southwind.

Fade: Byeong Hun An, $9,100

While Byeong Hun A possesses some impressive course history at PGA National, his recent iron play remains a major concern. An has now lost lost strokes on approach in five consecutive starts, which may certainly spell trouble on a course with some of the hardest par three holes on the PGA Tour.

$8,000 range

Play: Kurt Kitayama, $8,300

Kurt Kitayama was a massive disappointment last week at the Mexico Open, but I’m still willing to buy low on a player with tremendous upside. Kitayama has already recorded a third-place finish in one of two prior appearances at PGA National, and he also won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, another challenging, water-heavy Bermuda golf course.

Fade: Jordan Spieth, $8,600

While Jordan Spieth’s top-five finish at the Waste Management Phoenix Open was certainly a step in the right direction, the three-time major winner still has a lot more proving to do before I invest in him on this style of golf course. Spieth’s approach play regressed significantly at Torrey Pines, and I remain highly dubious of his ball-striking on a golf course as difficult as PGA National.

$7,000 range

Play: Billy Horschel, $7,900

PGA National is right up Billy Horschel’s alley, as he ranks top 20 in this field in strokes-gained/total in Florida and SG/putting on pure Bermudagrass greens. Horschel has unsurprisingly recorded five top-25 finishes and three top-10 finishes in 12 appearances at the Fazio design, and he is coming off his best approach week of the season in his prior start.

Fade: Rickie Fowler, $7,600

Similar to Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler continues to be priced up on name brand alone, while the results simply haven’t been there. Fowler has failed to finish in the top-20 in all four of his PGA Tour starts this year, and he is coming off a mediocre 39th-place finish at Torrey Pines where he lost 2.5 strokes on approach. He will face an uphill battle on the difficult par threes at PGA National this week as well.

Flier: Eric Cole, $7,200

Eric Cole lost in a playoff at this event in his 2023 debut, and I expect him to find his way onto the first page of the leaderboard at PGA National once again. If Cole can mitigate disaster off the tee, this is a perfect golf course for his middle iron approach play and Bermudagrass putting to shine.

$6,000 range

Play: Adam Svensson, $6,900

I always have interest in Adam Svensson on positional, middle iron intensive, Southeastern Bermuda courses, and PGA National falls firmly into the bucket. The Canadian has already recorded a ninth at the Fazio design in 2022, and presents some intriguing approach upside in a weak six thousand dollar range this week.

Andy Lack is a PGA Tour writer and podcaster from New York City who now resides in Los Angeles. Andy is the founder and CEO of Inside Sports Network, a website devoted to the predictive quality of advanced analytics and golf course architecture. He came to Golf Digest’s betting panel after previously writing for Run Pure Sports, RickRunGood.com, the Score and GolfWRX. In his free time, Andy can likely be found on a golf course. Follow him on Twitter: @adplacksports

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