Golf DFS Picks: 4 Longshots & PGA Tour Sleepers For 2025 Cognizant Classic

The PGA Tour heads east to the Sunshine State as we get set to begin the Florida swing at the 2025 Cognizant Classic at PGA National. In last week’s golf DFS picks article, we “successfully” identified Aldrich Potgieter as a longshot contender (as painful as that memory still is). We’ll look to keep that momentum going in search of more diamonds in the rough for your golf betting. 

Under a new name, this event, formerly the Honda Classic, has previously attracted one of the weakest fields on tour. Top players prioritize the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players instead. This year, more star power from Shane Lowry, Sungjae Im, and Jordan Spieth should usher in more palatable odds for longshots to consider. Identifying the right sleepers is crucial for fantasy in weeks like these. So take advantage of the latest Underdog promo code, including a $100 deposit match for those interested in playing these golf DFS picks!

Let’s get to our 2025 Cognizant Classic longshots and sleepers for your DFS lineups and betting cards. Click on the odds anywhere below to bet now at the best available prices in your state. 

2025 cognizant classic ODDS

If you want to add sportsbook bets to your golf DFS picks this week, compare the odds below. You can shop the best odds at sports betting sites and sports betting apps for PGA Tour sleepers and more highly touted players using the pulldown menu in the top left. Best of luck if you choose to bet on these golf DFS picks! Click to bet below.

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2025 Cognizant Classic Underdog Fantasy Draft Rankings

Underdog snake drafts include Cognizant Classic contests that strip away the complexity of traditional DFS lineup-making. John’s golf picks may provide valuable sleepers for your Underdog golf drafts. These rankings and picks can also be applied to DraftKings and FanDuel golf DFS.

Tier 1

Shane Lowry
Sungjae Im

Tier 2

Russell Henley
Sepp Straka
Daniel Berger
Jordan Spieth
Denny McCarthy
Austin Eckroat

Tier 3

CT Pan
Keith Mitchell
Andrew Novak
Ben Griffin
Lucas Glover
Eric Cole
Alex Smalley

Tier 4

Adam Schenk
Doug Ghim
Mac Meissner
Lee Hodges

Tier 5

Bud Cauley
Nate Lashley
Charley Hoffman
Sam Ryder

FINDING VALUE IN GOLF DFS PICKS: Cognizant Classic

To identify “value” any given week on the PGA Tour, I find it’s best first to understand the consensus key stat profile, then take a stance on the elements of the tournament that may go overlooked. At the Cognizant Classic, course history, recent form, and scoring in difficult conditions are consensus key areas factored into each player’s price.

From a sleeper perspective, I will take a stance on the importance of proximity from 150-200 yards and SG: short game on Bermuda as opportunities to buy low on players who may have sputtered on the West Coast swing. I’m leaning on that stance to differentiate my player pool and find value for this week’s tournament.

Below, find my favorite golf DFS picks and longshots for the 2025 Cognizant Classic. Stats were pulled across the last 36 rounds unless otherwise noted. Each player is listed with the best price in Cognizant Classic odds.

Cognizant Classic Course Specs

For a deeper dive into the course, read my Cognizant Classic preview. 

Lee Hodges Lee Hodges +8000 on FanDuel

If you’re looking for this year’s version of Austin Eckroat, look no further than Lee Hodges. He boasts a strikingly similar player profile with the added benefit of proven win equity and course history all wrapped up in this nice discounted price.

Hodges enters this week in solid form, ranking No. 8 in the field in SG: TOT over his last 36 rounds. He boasts four top-16 finishes over that span. Carrying a streak of seven consecutive made cuts into the Florida swing, Hodges is primed to keep that momentum as he returns to his preferred Bermuda putting surface. There’s something about threatening water hazards that also allows Hodges to separate. He dominated to win the 2023 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities and delivered his next-best career result (T3 at the 2023 American Express) on the Stadium Course’s risk-reward layout.

He’ll build on a strong resume at PGA National, including a T9 and T14 finish over three prior appearances.

Eric Cole Eric Cole +500000 on DraftKings

The Cognizant Classic community played over the last two years, and Eric Cole seems to have lost a bit of steam heading into this event in 2025. That creates an appealing buy-low opportunity. Cole came his closest to picking up his first career PGA Tour win here in 2023, ultimately falling short to Chris Kirk in a playoff. It’s no surprise to see this is where Cole has played his best golf. The Delray Beach resident may have played more casual rounds at PGA National than any other player in this field.

It’s a bit of a surprise to see the putter has gone cold on Cole in 2025, as that has been his greatest asset thus far in his career. However, a return to Bermuda greens should be the remedy he’s looking for. His best result in 2025 (fifth at the Sony Open) came at the top correlated course to PGA National.

If the putter returns to baseline, Cole could be the best value on the board from a fantasy perspective.

Sam Ryder Sam Ryder +500000 on DraftKings

Although Ryder is not the greatest threat to win the 2025 Cognizant Classic, he still brings a high floor to this event relative to his price. He has found something from tee to green in 2025, making the cut in his first five starts.

He’s also proven to be a reliable cut-maker at this event, seeing the weekend at PGA National in his first four appearances, including a pair of top-10 finishes in 2022 and 2021. Hailing from Winter Park, Florida, Ryder seems poised to continue his hot start into the Florida swing. He ranks in the top 25 in this field in total strokes gained across Florida courses. As a consistent iron player with spike-putting potential on Bermuda greens, I’ll be eying Ryder in the placement markets and fantasy formats.

Joel Dahmen Joel Dahmen +35000 on DraftKings

This week, a pure value play for me: this field is not deep enough to justify pricing Joel Dahmen beyond 150-1 odds. He is the only player in this price range with multiple top-10 finishes over his last three starts. And his game measures up far better for this 7,100-yard venue.

Dahmen is at his best when the wind picks up. He got his lone PGA Tour victory in severe winds at the 2022 Corales Puntacana Championship. In 2025, that fit for coastal windy venues has persisted, adding a T9 at the Farmers Insurance Open and T6 at the Mexico Open at Vidanta. One of the shorter hitters on tour, it’s surprising to see Dahmen find such success on these longer venues. That is a testament to his accuracy, long iron proximity, and improved putting.

Dahmen has gone on record to say Colonial is his favorite course on the PGA Tour, and considering its similar yardage and intervention of gusting winds, that style of play should translate at PGA National. Ranking No. 2 in Prox: 150-200 and No. 20 in SG: T2G (difficult scoring conditions), Dahmen suits PGA National well. He is due for better results on the heels of his hot recent play.

Best of luck if you bet or play this golf DFS picks for the 2025 Cognizant Classic!

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