For the first tournament of the Florida swing, the PGA TOUR is hosting the Cognizant Classic at PGA National (par 71, 7,167, Bermuda greens) in Palm Beach Gardens, which has been the home of this event since 2007. This week’s field features 144 golfers and there will be a top-65 and ties cut following the first 36 holes.
Below, I have featured some head-to-head tournament matchup bets to consider for the Cognizant Classic.
Cameron Young over Jordan Spieth (-110)
Young and Spieth are both coming off missed cuts, but Young is in a much better position to bounce back this week. Young has thrived at PGA National, while Spieth has never teed it up at the difficult Florida venue. After finishing T16th in his debut at PGA National in 2022, Young was in the mix for a win in his second attempt at the par 71 with a T4 finish last year. Young has carded two 6-under 65s at PGA National and he is gaining 1.73 strokes per round at the track, which ranks fifth among the players competing this week that have played at PGA National more than once.
On top of the clear edge Young has in experience at PGA National, his longterm form is also better than Spieth. When we compare these two players last 12 starts, Young has made 10 cuts and carded five top-25 finishes, while Spieth has made eight cuts and only recorded two top-25 finishes. Debutants tend to struggle at PGA National—no player has ever won at this track in their first start at the course—and Spieth missing the cut this week wouldn’t be shocking. All in all, Young should finish ahead of Spieth and is an easy choice for this tournament matchup.
Min Woo Lee over Taylor Pendrith (-105)
Lee has been far better at PGA National than Pendrith. After finishing T25th in his debut at the course, Pendrith struggled in his next two visits to PGA National, finishing T42nd in 2023 and then missing the cut last year. While Pendrith has gotten worse each time he tees it up at PGA National, Lee has improved in his two starts at the track, finishing T26th in 2023 and then runner-up last season.
Pendrith has shot over par in three of his 10 rounds at PGA National, while Lee has only shot over par once in his eight rounds at the course. Overall, Lee is gaining 1.8 strokes per round at PGA National, compared to only 0.69 for Pendrith. As for current form, Pendrith has flashed more upside than Lee as of late, but both players last competed at the Genesis Invitational, and at that event, Lee finished T48th, while Pendrith finished T50th. Lee’s huge advantage in course history this week should help him best Pendrith for the second tournament in a row, and Lee is a great bet to win this matchup at this -105 price.
