Cognizant Classic 2026

The Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches is a hallmark event on the PGA Tour, played annually in late February or early March in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Originally established in 1972 as Jackie Gleason’s Inverrary Classic, the tournament has evolved through several title sponsors and venues before settling into its current identity under Cognizant beginning with the 2024–25 seasons. Prior to the sponsorship change, it was widely known as The Honda Classic for more than four decades. 

Since 2007 the event has been contested at the Champion Course at PGA National Resort & Spa, a demanding par-70 layout stretching over 7,100 yards. The course’s design is strategic and unforgiving: water hazards come into play on most holes, and the famed three-hole stretch known as the “Bear Trap” (typically the 15th-17th) represents one of the toughest sequences on the Tour, combining narrow fairways, penal rough, and hazard-lined approaches that test both precision and nerve. 

Over four days of stroke play, the Cognizant Classic draws a strong field of PGA Tour professionals competing over 72 holes. While the level of star power can vary year by year, recent editions have attracted notable names, and past champions include a blend of established winners and breakthrough stars. The tournament’s roll of honor traces back to legends such as Jack Nicklaus, multiple major champions, and rising talents who used their victories here as springboards in their careers. 

Its place on the early spring portion of the calendar makes the Cognizant Classic the launchpad of the Florida Swing and a critical tune-up before the season’s bigger signature events. Beyond the competition, the tournament has grown into a significant spectacle for the region, bringing strong spectator interest, community engagement, and charitable support, notably benefiting organizations like the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation. 

Palm Beach County Sports Commission

In sum, the Cognizant Classic marries classic PGA Tour pedigree with one of Florida’s most challenging golf courses, offering both compelling competition and a deep connection to the sport’s history in the region.

Johnny Keefer 1.5pts ew 33/1 (12 places Powers)

As a 2026 PGA Tour rookie, Johnny Keefer has quietly built a case as a dark-horse contender in any given field. The 25-year-old American began his season with consistent made cuts (making all of his starts so far) and boasts solid season-long strokes gained numbers, particularly Tee-to-Green components: he ranks inside the top tier in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee and Approach-the-Green, reflecting length off the tee and iron-play strength that suit a demanding course like PGA National’s Champion Course. His ability to rack up driving distance and hit greens in regulation bodes well around the water-and-hazard-lined layout, even though his short game and putting have lagged slightly relative to the field. 

While Keefer doesn’t have prior recorded course history at the Cognizant Classic and is still seeking his first PGA Tour top-10, his recent form features flashes of punch — including a top-10 Korn Ferry finish and solid strokes-gained profiles in early Tour starts — that suggest he has the tools to stay in contention over four rounds if his short game steadies. In a week where accuracy and approach play are at a premium on the Champion Course, Keefer’s strengths make him a player to watch as a potential over-performer on a challenging PGA National test. 

Kristoffer Reitan 1.5pts ew 40/1 (10 places Boyles)

Kristoffer Reitan arrives in Florida with momentum from a very strong 2025–26 run overseas, including multiple European Tour victories and quality finishes that highlight his ball-striking prowess. The 27-year-old Norwegian captured the Soudal Open and followed it up with a wire-to-wire triumph at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, showcasing his ability to lead and close under pressure. Those results helped him secure full status on the PGA Tour for 2026 and signal a player in good form despite a challenging start to his stateside campaign. He has made cuts at Sony Open and Farmers Insurance Open recently, with a best result of T30 at Torrey Pines, indicating improving comfort with American courses. 

Statistically, Reitan’s recent strokes gained profile presents a mixed picture: in his last few starts he’s shown positive contributions Off-the-Tee and Approach-the-Green, which align with the strong tee-to-green ball-striking that helps manage a tough layout like PGA National, but he has lagged in Putting and Around-the-Green metrics. In his past five measured events, he’s posted above-field marks in driving and approach metrics while struggling on the greens, resulting in roughly even overall strokes gained over that span — a trend suggesting that if his short game sharpens this week, he could move up the leaderboard quickly. There’s no prior Cognizant Classic course history for him, but his length off the tee and improving familiarity with Tour setups make him a candidate to contend if he finds enough consistency with the flat stick. 

John Parry 1pt ew 50/1 (10 places bet365)

English veteran John Parry arrives in Florida off a season that’s marked a strong resurgence in his career. After earning his PGA Tour card through solid results overseas — including multiple wins on the Challenge Tour and a European Tour victory at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open late in 2024 — Parry has shown he can compete with elite fields. While he hasn’t played the Champion Course at PGA National before, his experience in a wide variety of international conditions and his runner-up finish at the Magical Kenya Open last year reflect a golfer with confidence and momentum. Additionally, he posted a top-20 at the 2025 Open Championship, underscoring that he can handle tough setups and major-caliber pressure. 

From a strokes-gained perspective this season, Parry has a well-rounded profile: his current PGA Tour stats show him gaining modestly approach the green and around the greens overall, and he’s been above average in Strokes Gained: Putting — a key component on courses where short-game performance can separate contenders from the field. He ranks inside the top 25–30 percent of the TOUR in several ball-striking categories and sits well inside the top third for Greens in Regulation, which suggests his tee-to-green game can keep him competitive on a course like PGA National that rewards accuracy and iron play. His recent form has been mixed with the flat stick of late, but if he finds even average putting during the Cognizant Classic, Parry has the game to stay in the mix on the weekend and contend for a top finish. 

Sam Ryder 1pt ew 90/1 (10 places bet365)

American pro Sam Ryder comes into the Cognizant Classic with a résumé built on consistency and ball-striking rather than headline results. The 36-year-old from Winter Park, Florida, has not yet recorded a PGA Tour win, but he’s shown enough form to stick inside tour fields and make cuts, with recent results including a T27 at The American Express and T59 at the Farmers Insurance Open in the early 2026 season. His strength this year has been in his approach game, where Ryder ranks near the top of the field in Strokes Gained: Approach among those with a significant number of rounds, indicating that his iron play can put him in good positions on a course that demands precise long-game execution. 

Ryder also brings notable course history at the Cognizant Classic, with two previous top-10s at PGA National, evidence that his game can mesh well with the strategic tests of the Champion Course, particularly around its tight tee shots and target-oriented approaches over water and hazards. While his off-the-tee and overall strokes gained numbers are modest relative to the best in the field this season, his approach-to-green efficiency and putting have been strong enough to place him among statistical standouts in those areas. If he can keep his ball-striking steady and manage the greens effectively on a layout where scrambling and approach precision matter, Ryder has the profile of a capable contender who could find himself around the top of the leaderboard come Sunday. 

Brice Garnett 1pt ew 150/1 (10 places bet365)

Brice Garnett arrives at PGA National coming off a season where his results haven’t featured headline finishes, but there are elements of his game that lend him sleeper appeal on a challenging layout. This year on the PGA Tour, Garnett’s Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee has been below par relative to the field (averaging roughly –0.57 per round and ranking outside the top tier), and his driving distance sits toward the lower end of the spectrum — factors that make scoring opportunities harder on a course where positioning is critical.  Despite that, his ball-striking — and particularly his Approach-to-Green metrics — can stay competitive enough to keep him in contention if he keeps his tee shots in play and hits a high percentage of greens on a day. 

Garnett also brings some positive course history to the week: at the 2025 edition of this event, he posted a T11 finish, demonstrating that his game can handle the strategic demands of the Champion Course at PGA National when it’s in sync.  His experience — including two PGA Tour victories — and proven ability to grind around difficult greens could help him pick up strokes on the field, especially if he can limit big numbers and make the most of his short-game opportunities. In a field where small advantages in scrambling and approach precision often separate the leaderboard, Garnett has the tools to quietly work his way toward a solid finish through four rounds.