By: Jake Friedman
Introduction
The PGA TOUR starts their Florida swing at PGA National this week for the Cognizant Classic (formerly The Honda Classic). This is a better field than we generally see with Rory McIlroy headlining. Chris Kirk is the defending champion and is returning to defend his title. This is one of the more unpredictable tournaments where big numbers can be found on any hole. Doubles, triples, and even quadruple bogeys can be in play with 1 bad shot.
As always, please refer to Nate's article for a very in-depth breakdown of the tournament's field, course, and more!
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DFS Guide
10k Range
Rory McIlroy ($12,200) - At this price point, you'd expect to get a golfer in great form, which is not what you are getting here with Rory. In his first 2 PGA Tour starts of the year, he has a T-66 and a T-24 which is less than impressive when it comes to a player with the caliber of Rory McIlroy. For that reason, I'm hoping to be getting a discount ownership on an elite golfer. We know Rory is as long as they come off the tee and is a great iron player and putter. He won here back in 2012 and I'm hoping he can get himself back into form with a top 5 finish this week.
Cameron Young ($10,700) - Young has started the year playing some good golf and I'm turning to him this week in DFS. In his 5 times teeing it up in 2024, Young has a T-33, 3rd, 70th, T-8 and T-16. Not bad for a guy who rode the struggle bus all of 2023. Being extremely long off the tee and fantastic with the irons suits this course well. It'll come down to the putter where Young is about average on tour and has gained on the field in his last 2 starts. I think he will garner some ownership but not enough to deter me from playing him this week.
9k Range
J.T. Poston ($9,800) - I'm hoping everyone's love for Eric Cole in general and at this event makes a few people over look Poston this week. In his 6 starts this season he has 5 top 20 finishes and has been extremely consistent in his play to start the season. He's a bit shorter off the tee than the tour average but he is above average in the other main categories I consider (driving accuracy, approach, around the green, and putting). He will have a bit of ownership this week but for good reason.
Byeong Hun An ($9,500) - When I think of players who play their best golf in Florida, Ben An is one of the first people that comes to mind. To add to that, he's coming into the Florida swing in some great form with 3 top 20 finishes in his first 5 starts of the PGA Tour season. Extremely long off the tee and above average when it comes to the irons, around the green, and putter if Ben An can control the driver I think he's going to have a great week here. He also has 2 top 5 finishes at this course in 5 appearances and a T-21 last year. All the signs are pointing to a great week for Ben An.
8k Range
Rasmus Hojgaard ($8,500) - Coming over to the PGA Tour for the first time this season, I'm going with Nicolai's brother Rasmus to carry a my lineups. Although they are all DPWT events, in his last 8 starts his worst finish is a T-16. Similar to his brother who's taken the PGA Tour by storm since getting his Tour card, he is extremely long off the tee and a great putter. It comes down to the driving accuracy and iron play for how high the ceiling is for Rasmus. I'm hoping people just look over Rasmus coming from the DPWT and we can get a discounted ownership on a guy playing some great golf.
Luke List ($8,100) - My favorite DFS and outright play of the week, I think List will be lifting a trophy come Sunday. Fresh off of a T-2 at the Genesis in his last start, List has impressed me to start the year. Not necessarily from his results, but from how well he's been putting. Usually the dark cloud hanging over List week in and week out, List has gained over 1 stroke per round with the flat stick in his last 2 starts. Couple that with his distance off the tee and elite approach play I think List gets the job done this week.
7k Range
Tom Hoge ($7,900) - With a red hot start to the season, I'm turning to Hoge to continue his form her at PGA National. In his last 4 times teeing it up he has a T-17, T-56, T-17, and 8th. I think Hoge is going to round that form out and get a top 5 finish this week. We know he is elite with the irons gaining over 2 strokes per round in 2 of his last 3 and is a positive putter. If he can figure out the driver and put himself in the fairway consistently, I like his chances this week.
Adam Schenk ($7,200) - If we throw out Schenk's last time teeing it up at the Genesis, he was trending in the right direction. With a T-25, T-47, and T-17 in his 3 appearances before the Genesis, Schenk was getting himself into form. I'm more than willing to throw one bad tournament out and see a player through on the way they were trending before. Schenk is a well rounded golfer who is above tour average in driving distance, approach, around the green, and putting. As of recent, the approach play has not been great and the accuracy off the tee is a little iffy, but at this price point I'm willing to take the chance he can pull it together this week.
6k Range
Akshay Bhatia ($6,900) - To start the year Akshay has 2 missed cuts and 3 top 15 finishes. To get the ceiling of top 15 finishes from a 6k range player is rather rare and something I plan to take advantage of this week. Outside of his last appearance where he lost heavily with the putter and on approach, Akshay has been gaining with the putter and with the irons. He is also a great player off the tee gaining on the field in both distance and accuracy. I'm taking my chances here that he can find a top 15 finish over a missed cut.
Davis Thompson ($6,800) - In my DFS lineups and on my outright betting card last week, I'm not ready to give up on Thompson just yet. Finishing T-24 last week brings him up to 3 top 25 finishes in 5 appearances this season. Above average in distance off the tee, approach, around the green, and putting, if he can put himself in the fairway enough times to score I think he can have a great finish here.
Outright Betting Card
Luke List +5000
Tom Hoge +6600
Lee Hodges +17000
I'll be adding a couple more bets as the week progresses. Follow me on X @THEJakeFriedman for my full betting card for both the PGA TOUR Cognizant Classic and DP World Tour SDC Championship!
Good luck in all your action this week and please remember to gamble responsibly!