Things are moving fast on the PGA Tour, and before you know it, we’ll be teeing off at the ninth event of the season—the Cognizant Classic at PGA National Members Club from February 27 to March 2. If you’ve been missing some big names on the course after the Mexico Open, this is the event to watch. Sure, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are sitting this one out, but don’t worry—the field is still stacked. We’ve got 16 of the top 50 players in the world.

In this 72-hole stroke play tournament with a 36-hole cut, players are battling for a whopping $9.2 million purse, with the winner taking home $1.62 million and 500 crucial FedEx Cup points. The big question is—without the Top 10 ranked players in the field, does this make it an easier win for those looking to add to their resume, or does it just make things even more unpredictable?

Either way, the 7,125-yard PGA National course is no joke, and it’ll take serious skill to come out on top. So, who do you think will conquer it this time?

1. Sepp Straka

Alright, so Sepp Straka didn’t make the cut at the Genesis Invitational—not ideal. But let’s not forget, this is the same guy who won the 2025 American Express and has been playing some seriously consistent golf this season. Just look at his record so far: two Top 10 finishes and four Top 25s—that’s solid.

Now, with three PGA Tour wins under his belt, he’s back in the mix at the Cognizant Classic, eyeing that fourth trophy. Sure, he went winless last year, but he’s off to a strong start this season, and who’s to say he won’t make up for lost time? At the American Express, he carded a steady 70 in the final round, finishing with a total score of 263—pretty impressive.

If he can keep that momentum going and bring a little bit of that American Express magic to PGA National, he’s got a real shot at another victory.

2. Charley Hoffman

After missing the cut at the Mexico Championship, Charley Hoffman isn’t sitting around feeling sorry for himself—he’s diving straight into the Cognizant Classic, hungry to prove he’s still got it. And honestly? With a winless streak dating back to 2007, you know he’s itching to taste victory again.

But don’t let that gap fool you—Hoffman hasn’t forgotten how to swing a club. He put on a great show at the American Express, finishing T5, and even though his T25 at the Farmers Insurance Open and T59 at the Sony Open weren’t great for a 4 times PGA Tour winner, they show he’s staying consistent. And the fact that he’s rolling straight into this tournament without a break tells you what showing up and competing really means for this man.

But if he wants to make a statement, he’ll need to push harder, climb that leaderboard, and turn all that momentum into a long-awaited victory.

3. Rickie Fowler

Yes, the orange man is here in the mix. While he is definitely shining at the TGL, the real course is where he belongs. The six-time PGA Tour winner’s last season was all dry with 0 wins. His last victory came at the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic, where he shot a solid 68 in the final round to claim the title.

So far this season, Fowler has been steady but not spectacular. He finished T21 at the American Express, T53 at the AT&T, and T39 at the Genesis, meaning he’s been making cuts but hasn’t cracked the Top 10 yet. However, there’s one thing working in his favor—familiarity with the Cognizant Classic. He was here last year and finished T41, so he knows this course. Maybe that gives him the edge he needs this time.

Could this be the week Fowler finally breaks through and bags his first win of the season? If he can find his groove, don’t be surprised to see him contending on Sunday!

4. Austin Eckroat

Do you know who the first back-to-back winner of this event was? Jack Nicklaus, who pulled off an insane three-peat from 1976 to 78. Now, last year’s champ, Austin Eckroat, is back in the mix, and maybe—just maybe—he can recreate history by winning again on the same turf.

Eckroat sealed his first PGA Tour win right here at the Cognizant Classic, thanks to a clutch 67 in the final round. He didn’t stop there—he also snagged a victory at the World Wide Technology Championship later that year. So, with two wins under his belt, it’s no surprise he’s itching for a third. But consistency has been a challenge. He’s played in six events this season but missed the cut in four of them. Ouch. Yet if we look on the brighter side, he secured T15th position at The Sentry and T13th at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which is indeed impressive.

Being a past champion on a familiar course is definitely a confidence booster, but if he wants to defend his title, he’s got to bring his A-game. If optimism counts for anything, we’re hoping he pulls off another win and gets back in the winner’s circle.

5. Jordan Spieth

His comeback has been a mixed bag so far. Spieth has teed it up three times this year, with a T-69 at Pebble Beach, an impressive T-4 at Phoenix, and a missed cut at Genesis. The journey back hasn’t been easy, but his mindset? Relentless. He recently admitted on The Smylie Show that just two weeks before Pebble, he was playing like a legit 4- to 6-handicap—a humbling reality check for a player of his caliber.

“Honestly, the meteoric rise from then until now has been some of the most impressive improvement in my game that I’ve ever had,” Spieth told Smylie Kaufman, “but that’s not saying a whole lot because I started lower than I had since I was probably 9 [years old].”

Three years without a win is a long time—too long for someone like Spieth. He can’t and shouldn’t wait any longer. If he’s going to prove the lion is still king, the time is now.

So, who are you rooting for this week? Let us know in the comments!