Who is going to dominate the next PGA Tour event? You can tell it was a thriller if you watched the action in the Mexico Open at Vidanta, which was won by Brian Campbell. Now that the fourth major event of the PGA Tour season has concluded, it’s time to move on to the next halt, the highly awaited Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches 2025, with a purse of $9.2 million, and it promises to be an exciting matchup between the best players in golf.

The event, which is set for February 26–March 2 at the Champion Course of PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, is significant since it officially kicks off Florida’s PGA Tour leg. With a star-studded field and defending champion Austin Eckroat ready to compete, fans eagerly await a thrilling week on the challenging course. Here are the top five players to bet on for this event.

Top 5 picks for the Cognizant Classic 2025

As excitement mounts, PGA TOUR Communications tweeted: “The PGA TOUR’s Florida Swing begins next week at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches, where Austin Eckroat defends his title at PGA National.” This post included the official field roster for the Cognizant Classic 2025. Top contenders like Shane Lowry, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, Sepp Straka, and others are in the mix, but a few late surprises like Karl Vilips have given the competition some much-needed flavor. However, who will be the stars of this course? Thus, the following five players should be on your radar:

1. Shane Lowry:

Shane Lowry is the clear favorite for victory in the Cognizant Classic in 2025. He has consistently praised this event and calls PGA National home. A few years back, he was devastated by a sudden Florida hurricane on the last hole, which ruined his chances of winning. He is returning this time with a goal: retribution. Over the last five seasons, Lowry has ranked #1 in SG: Total, demonstrating how well he does on Florida courses. He compensates for his lack of distance off the tee with accuracy and technique, and he is ready for victory following a recent second-place performance at Pebble Beach.

2. Sungjae Im:

At PGA National, Sungjae Im is an athlete you can’t overlook. Following his 2019 Rookie of the Year victory, many anticipated that he would have more than two PGA Tour victories by now. But if he performs exceptionally well anywhere, it’s Florida, particularly on this course, which he won in 2020 using a fill-in caddie. Im is a wonderful fit for the Champion Course, as he ranks #1 on water-heavy layouts and #2 in Florida in terms of strokes gained in total. His superior iron play offers him an advantage, and he is eager for another win after more than three years have passed since his previous one.

3. Sepp Straka:

PGA National is the ideal venue for Sepp Straka, who is on fire in 2025, to maintain his momentum. He is strongly arguing for another Ryder Cup appearance after winning at The American Express. Straka won in 2022 and finished in T5 in 2023, so he understands how to take control here. He has the most strokes scored at PGA National in this field and has won three times on the PGA Tour, so he poses a real chance to win again!

4. Daniel Berger:

For weeks now, Daniel Berger has been a favorite to win the Cognizant Classic, and with a valid explanation. He’s on the right track, and PGA National is the ideal venue for his style of play. He had the best off-tee accuracy at the WM Phoenix Open, another course with a lot of water. Having placed fourth here twice in 2020 and 2022, Berger is eager to return to the winner’s circuit now that he has recovered completely. 

5. Russell Henley:

At PGA National, Russell Henley understands how to get things done. The 2014 Honda Classic champion has demonstrated that he thrives on this difficult course by finishing in the top 20 five times in his career. Despite playing fewer matches this season, he is still playing at his best, finishing T5 at Pebble Beach and T10 at the Sony Open. These shorter, more difficult courses are a wonderful fit for Henley given his streaky putting and precision with wedges.

The 2025 Cognizant Classic is set to be an absolute must-see event due to its loaded field. Not only is the tournament being redesigned, but this year’s organizers have also made significant adjustments to improve the audience experience. Significantly, the number of grandstands and suites will be reduced due to a decrease in attendance and the PGA TOUR’s emphasis on profitability. Nevertheless, the objective is still the same: to provide fans, whether they are present or watching from home, an experience they won’t soon forget. With February 26 drawing near, anticipation is growing for what looks to be an exciting week of Florida golf!