This week’s Cognizant Classic opens what is known as the “Florida Swing” on the PGA Tour at the PGA National in Palm Beach. Check out our best bets with odds from the top sportsbooks.
Picks Summary
- C. T. Pan to Win Outright (+20000)
- C. T. Pan to Finish in Top 5 (+3500)
- C. T. Pan to Finish in Top 20 (+600)
- Keith Mitchell to Win Outright (+4000)
- Keith Mitchell to Finish Top 10 (+400)
*All odds from Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)
Cognizant Classic
February 29–March 3, 2024 at Palm Beach Gardens
Cognizant Classic and PGA National – Cliffs Notes
A par 71 track just over 7200 yards historically provides one of the sterner tests of skill. This year, however, the par has been changed to 71 from 70 after the par 4. 10th became a par 5, so expect a lower winning score.
Renowned course designer, Tom Fazio, and his brother George were responsible for putting together this test of skill on an exposed piece of terrain. The weather forecast looks a reasonable one with a little rain forecast for the weekend, but the players will be relieved to hear that the winds are likely to be modest.
One player who often plays Tom Fazio designs well is Rory McIlroy, as they often seem to fit his eye. The Northern Irishman was an interesting entrant on Friday given his strong record here on the occasions that he has teed it up, with a win in 2012 and a runner-up finish two years later.
Certainly, the Northern Irishman looks like a standout betting favorite (+700) when you add in the perspective that he has barely added the event to his schedule in the last decade.
Can C. T. Pan Go Back-To-Back Top 5 Finishes?
Yes, we believe that Pan Cheng-Tsung –or C.T. Pan, as he is better known by golf followers– can make it back-to-back top 5 finishes on the PGA Tour this week for the second time in as many years.
This is because Pan has an interesting profile at this event on the PGA National track.
Last week was the first cut made in 2024 by the thirty-two-year-old Taiwanese player after two previous missed cuts and he looked in far better touch, finishing an eye-catching 3rd. Pan usually serves notice of when he is about to play well and last year had back-to-back top 5 finishes from nowhere at the Byron Nelson and Canadian Open.
So, with that context in mind, his strong resume of form at the Cognizant Classic of three top 20 finishes in the last six years, with a 3rd place finish in 2021 as the highlight, there is much to recommend the diminutive Taiwanese golfer this week.
Winning could be a huge ask for Pan this week, but we do like his strong profile in the place props markets, so combine C. T. Pan for back-to-back top 5 finishes again and top 20 finish in this week’s Cognizant Classic.
Don’t forget to have a micro stake on C. T. Pan’s outright win price, it’s been a funny old year!
Golf Pick: C. T. Pan to Finish in Top 5 (+3500) at Bet365
Golf Pick: C. T. Pan to Finish in Top 20 (+600) at Bet365
Golf Pick: C. T. Pan to Win Outright (+20000) at Bet365
Will Keith Mitchell Become a Two-Time Cognizant Classic Champion?
We believe that this week could be the week that Keith Mitchell wins his second PGA Tour title. It would also be his second win at the same event.
Double-winning champions of the Cognizant Classic are a rarity but there have been four, the last of which was Padraig Harrington in 2015.
Mitchell’s 2024 form has put him on our radar this week and last week’s effort in Mexico, when he recovered respectably for a top-20 finish after a poor opening round, was another solid effort.
Birdie fests like last week’s Mexico Open are not really his strength.
He will be more suited by this week’s tougher test to par and after a solid start to 2024. This could be the week that the thirty-two-year-old from Chatanooga gets back in the big time!
Looking around, the biggest price is (+4000) about Keith Mitchell winning a second Cognizant Classic.
Golf Pick: Keith Mitchell to Win Outright (+4000) at Bet365
Golf Pick: Keith Mitchell to Finish Top 10 (+400) at Bet365
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