- The PGA tour heads to PGA National Resort in Palm Beach, FL, for the 2024 Cognizant Classic this week
- Previously known as the Honda Classic, Chris Kirk is the reigning champion, beating Eric Cole in a playoff last year
- See the 2024 Cognizant Classic odds to win, plus top-five and top-ten finish predictions and best bets
Coming off a win in the 2024 version of The Match, world no. 2 Rory McIlroy returns to PGA action this week at the 2024 Cognizant Classic at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
With only one other top-ten player (Matt Fitzpatrick) in the field, McIlroy is in a league of his own in the 2024 Cognizant Classic odds.
Cognizant Classic Odds 2024
| Golfers | Odds to Win | Top Five | Top Ten |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rory McIlroy | +650 | +190 | +100 |
| Cameron Young | +2000 | +500 | +250 |
| Russell Henley | +2200 | +500 | +260 |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | +2500 | +550 | +280 |
| Tom Kim | +2800 | +650 | +320 |
| Eric Cole | +2800 | +650 | +320 |
| Min Woo Lee | +3000 | +700 | +330 |
| JT Poston | +3000 | +700 | +330 |
| Byeong Hun An | +3000 | +700 | +350 |
| Sungjae Im | +3500 | +750 | +360 |
| Stephan Jaeger | +3500 | +800 | +400 |
| Shane Lowry | +3500 | +750 | +360 |
| Keith Mitchell | +3500 | +750 | +360 |
| Daniel Berger | +3500 | +750 | +360 |
| Corey Conners | +3500 | +850 | +400 |
| Chris Kirk | +4000 | +900 | +400 |
| Rasmus Hojgaard | +4000 | +900 | +450 |
| Sepp Straka | +4500 | +1000 | +450 |
| Matthieu Pavon | +4500 | +1000 | +450 |
| Adam Svensson | +4500 | +1000 | +450 |
| Luke List | +5000 | +1100 | +500 |
| Justin Rose | +5000 | +1100 | +500 |
| Jake Knapp | +5000 | +1100 | +500 |
| Beau Hossler | +5000 | +1000 | +500 |
| Alex Noren | +5000 | +1000 | +450 |
| Thorbjorn Olesen | +5000 | +1000 | +450 |
At +650, Rory has a 13.3% implied win probability. Second-favorite Cameron Young is all the way back at +2000 with just a 4.76% implied win probability. The second-highest-ranked player in the field, Fitzpatrick, is fourth-favorite at +2500.
Odds as of Feb. 26 at DraftKings. See the latest on the DraftKings app in North Carolina, which is set to launch March 11, 2024.
I made two top-ten picks for last week’s Mexico Championship, both of which missed by a single stroke.
McIlroy Struggles Out of the Gate in 2024 PGA Events
McIlroy has played two PGA tournaments in the calendar year 2024. He finished T66 at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am (Feb. 1 to 3) and T24 at The Genesis Invitational two weeks ago.
His results on the DP World Tour, however, have been impeccable. He fired an 18 under at the Dubai Invitational (Jan. 8 to 11), finishing T2 in a fairly strong 60-player field. The next week, he won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at -14, besting the likes of Cameron Young (-12, third), Nicolai Hojgaard (-9, T7), and Tommy Fleetwood (-6, T14).
McIlroy hasn’t played this event (previously known as the Honda Classic) since 2018, when he finished T59 the cut with an ugly +9 score. He did win the tournament in 2012, though, and lost in a four-man playoff at PGA National in 2014.
Lowry, Straka Both Record Back-to-Back Top-Five Finishes at PGA National
Bettors looking for a “horse for the course” have two readily available options. Sepp Straka (#25 in the world) and Shane Lowry (#56) have both finished in the top five in each of the last two editions of the Honda Classic. Straka won the event in 2022 with a score of -10, besting second-place Lowry by a single stroke. The pair then finished T5 last year with identical -9 scores.
Straka has been hit and miss so far in 2024. He had a solid T12 result at the Sentry in his first event of the year and was T26 at Pebble Beach. But he missed the cut in his other two events (Farmers Insurance Open and The Genesis Invitational).
Lowry missed the cut as his first event of the season (The American Express), then finished T25 at the Farmers and T60 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Cognizant Classic Predictions
I don’t have a lot of faith in McIlroy at these wildly short prices. Yes, he’s won on this course before, but that was over a decade ago, and he didn’t play the Honda Classic each of the last five years.
Shane Lowry has been paired up with Sungjae Im in the head-to-head odds, with both listed at -110. Im finished T42 here last year and missed the cut at PGA National in 2022. After a strong-ish start to the season, the South Korean hasn’t finished better than T44 in his last four events with one missed cut thrown in.
Cognizant Classic picks:
- Sepp Straka top-ten finish: +450
- Shane Lowry (-110) over Sungjae Im
Sascha Paruk’s 2024 PGA Tour betting record:
- Overall: 0-2 (-2.0 units)
- Top-ten picks: 0-2 (-2.0 units)
The 2024 Cognizant Classic is set to take place at the PGA National Members Club, and golf fans are eagerly anticipating the action-packed tournament. With top players from around the world competing for the coveted title, it’s sure to be an exciting event filled with drama and suspense.
For those looking to get in on the action and make some bets on the tournament, here is a guide to the odds, picks, and best bets for the 2024 Cognizant Classic.
Odds:
Before placing any bets, it’s important to understand the odds and how they work. Odds are used to determine the likelihood of a particular outcome happening in a sporting event. In golf, odds are typically presented in fractional form, such as 5/1 or 10/1.
When looking at the odds for the 2024 Cognizant Classic, keep an eye out for the favorites, as well as any dark horses who may have a shot at winning. Some of the top players to watch include defending champion Justin Thomas, world number one Jon Rahm, and rising star Collin Morikawa.
Picks:
When making picks for the tournament, it’s important to consider a variety of factors, including recent form, course history, and overall skill level. Look for players who have been performing well leading up to the event and who have a strong track record at PGA National Members Club.
Some potential picks for the 2024 Cognizant Classic include Rory McIlroy, who has had success at this course in the past, as well as Jordan Spieth, who is known for his clutch performances in big tournaments. Don’t count out underdogs like Viktor Hovland or Scottie Scheffler, who have been playing some of the best golf of their careers.
Best Bets:
When it comes to placing bets on the tournament, there are a few different options to consider. You can bet on individual players to win outright, or you can place bets on things like top-five finishes or head-to-head matchups between players.
For those looking to make some safe bets, consider wagering on players with favorable odds who have a good chance of finishing near the top of the leaderboard. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can take a chance on a long shot and potentially cash in big if they come out on top.
Overall, the 2024 Cognizant Classic promises to be an exciting event for golf fans and bettors alike. By understanding the odds, making informed picks, and placing smart bets, you can enhance your viewing experience and potentially walk away with some extra cash in your pocket. Good luck!
