The 2025 Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches kicks off this year's Florida swing at one of the most demanding locales on the PGA Tour schedule, PGA National.
With The Players Championship on the near horizon and another signature event to come next week, a plethora of big names have elected to bypass this year's edition of the Cognizant Classic. This year's field is headlined by several top 20 OWGR-ranked players with Russell Henley, Shane Lowry, 2022 champion Sepp Straka, Billy Horschel, and 2020 champion Sungjae Im all set to tee it up.
Last year's Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches winner, Austin Eckroat, returns to defend his title and will be joined by last week's surprise winner of the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld Brian Campbell. Additionally, while Rory McIlroy's absence will certainly be felt this time around, Jordan Spieth brings star power to this year's championship after his late commitment to the field. The Cognizant will mark Spieth's fourth start of the season following appearances at Pebble Beach (T69), the WM Phoenix Open (T4), and the Genesis Invitational (MC) leading into this year's Florida swing.
While PGA National typically provides a stern test, this event is not without its fair share of Dark Horse winners, including last season's champion, Austin Eckroat, who surprised many en route to his first career victory on the PGA Tour. Fresh off of Brian Campbell's stunning win a week ago, will another Dark Horse contender emerge? This year's event feels wide open, so let's explore a few potential Dark Horse winners who could make their mark at the 2025 Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches.
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Golf betting record in 2025: 0-0-0 (0.00 units)
5 Dark Horses who could win The Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches
5. Victor Perez (+15000, 0.50 unit)
Opened with a 4-under 67 in Mexico last week before fading away on the weekend. The Frenchman's form in 2025 has been sporadic but he did finish T16 at the Cognizant Classic on his debut last year. Ranks 6th in total driving on the PGA Tour this season, something which could bode well for him at one of the more difficult driving venues on the schedule.
4. Nico Echavarria (+8000)
A winner at the ZOZO Championship last fall, Echavarria has three top-34 finishes this season including a runner-up finish at the Sony Open in Hawaii last month. An accurate driver of the golf ball who can be lethal with his putter, Nico ranks 10th in putting amongst this year's field over his last 20 rounds. Finished T21 at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches last season.
3. Jake Knapp (+6600)
A popular pick heading into the Mexico Open last week at a locale where he notched his debut PGA Tour win last season, Knapp has been playing some excellent golf thus far in 2025. Has only missed one cut on the season and has four top-33 finishes in seven starts including two top-25 finishes in each of his last two. Ranks 9th in this week's field in approach over his last 20 rounds and finished T4 at PGA National last year. It could be time to go back to Jake Knapp as a potential Dark Horse winner of the Cognizant Classic.
2. Danny Willett (+30000, 0.25 unit)
Hasn't teed it up often in 2025 but was impressive in his last start on another difficult track at Torrey Pines where he sneakily finished T9 at this year's Farmers Insurance Open. The 2016 Masters Champion ranks 23rd in total strokes gained on the PGA Tour this season and is not afraid of a challenging test of golf. Finished T29 in his last start at PGA National in 2023.
1. Ryan Gerard (+5500)
Returns to the Cognizant Classic for the first time since a 4th place finish here in 2023. Comes into this year's event on the back of four consecutive made cuts and finishes of T15 and T17 in his last two starts. Ranks 28th in approach and 22nd in putting in this week's field over his last 20 rounds and has gained strokes on approach in four consecutive starts coming into the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches.