FREE 02/27 PGA Cheat Sheet: Cognizant Classic DFS Plays

The Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches kicks off Thursday with a field that’s notably stronger than last week’s Mexico Open but still missing many of the world’s top players as they gear up for the Arnold Palmer Invitational and THE PLAYERS Championship. With five players ranked inside the top-25 and 16 in the top-50, including Shane Lowry, Sungjae Im, and defending champion Austin Eckroat, there’s enough talent to make this slate intriguing. The average salary sits at $7,043, but with no standout value plays and three highly owned options projected above 20%, lineup differentiation will be key on a course that rewards precision over power.

PGA National’s Champion Course is one of the toughest tracks on Tour, demanding strong ball striking and bogey avoidance to navigate its water-heavy layout. Wind conditions will play a pivotal role in scoring this week, but don’t expect a birdie-fest—players who minimize mistakes will rise to the top. With greens in regulation being critical and approach shots from 125-200 yards making up nearly two-thirds of attempts last year, targeting accurate iron players is essential. Let’s dive into our top plays for this slate.

Premium Plays ($10,000+)

Top Play: Russell Henley ($10,700)

Russell Henley ($10,700) comes into the Cognizant Classic with a strong statistical foundation and recent form that makes him an appealing DFS play, even at elevated ownership. His recent fifth-place finish at Pebble Beach showcased his elite ball-striking and putting, as he ranked seventh in SG: Approach and led the field in SG: Putting. This combination should translate well to The Palm Beaches, where precision on approach shots and a hot putter are critical. With a make-cut percentage of nearly 80% and a projected 79.97 DraftKings points, Henley offers both a high floor and solid upside for cash games or tournaments. His salary is steep, but his value (7.47x) is among the best in the upper tier.

The biggest consideration with Henley is his projected ownership of 24.9%, which is significantly higher than the field average. While that level of chalk can be concerning in GPPs, it’s hard to argue against it given his form and course fit. Henley’s consistency—making 8 of his last 9 cuts—and ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities make him worth eating the chalk in many builds. If you’re looking for leverage, pivoting elsewhere could work in large-field tournaments, but fading Henley entirely carries risk given his optimal lineup percentage (17.3%) and proven upside on courses that reward accuracy and short-game strength.

Other Premium Options

• Shane Lowry ($10,500, MakeCut: 72.0%, Own: 21.1%)

Mid-Range Plays ($8,000-$9,999)

Top Play: Taylor Pendrith ($9,500)

Taylor Pendrith ($9,500) enters the Cognizant Classic in strong form, having logged two top-10 finishes in his last three starts. His performance off the tee has been particularly impressive, ranking second in strokes gained off the tee at Pebble Beach and consistently showcasing elite distance (319.4-yard average drive). This skill set should translate well to The Palm Beaches, where longer hitters often gain an edge on a course that rewards length and accuracy from the tee box. Additionally, his 75.3% make-cut rate provides a solid floor for DFS lineups, making him a reliable option in cash games.

However, Pendrith’s projected ownership of 19.1% is significantly higher than the field average, which limits his appeal in tournaments where differentiation is key. While his $9,500 salary and 11.8% optimal lineup rate suggest he offers decent value relative to his upside (7.89x), there are risks to eating this chalk given his middling tournament rank (66th). That said, if you’re confident in his recent form continuing and want to capitalize on his power-driven game at a course that suits it, Pendrith remains a viable play despite the elevated ownership.

Other Mid-Range Options

• Sepp Straka ($9,400, MakeCut: 69.8%, Own: 22.9%)
• Sungjae Im ($9,800, MakeCut: 73.4%, Own: 13.5%)
• Denny McCarthy ($9,300, MakeCut: 68.2%, Own: 15.0%)

Value Plays ($7,000-$7,999)

First Value Play: Lucas Glover ($7,800)

Lucas Glover ($7,800) brings an intriguing mix of recent form and course fit to the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches. His game has been trending upward, highlighted by a T3 finish at Pebble Beach, where his iron play shined, and a strong Sunday showing at The Genesis Invitational, where he led the field in fairways hit and gained strokes putting for the fourth time in five starts. This combination of accuracy off the tee and improved short game aligns well with PGA National’s demanding setup, which rewards precision and scrambling ability. With a 63.2% make-cut rate and a solid projection of 69 DK points (8.85x value), Glover offers both stability and upside at this price point.

At 14% projected ownership, Glover is popular relative to the field average, but the chalk appears justified given his recent consistency and optimal lineup percentage (19.2%). While he doesn’t provide much differentiation in tournaments, his balanced skill set makes him a reliable option in cash games or single-entry formats. If you’re building around higher-risk plays elsewhere, Glover’s combination of high-floor metrics and strong course fit can help anchor your lineup.

Second Value Play: Harry Hall ($7,400)

Harry Hall ($7,400) offers intriguing value at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches. His projection of 68.97 DraftKings points and 9.32x value rank him as one of the best options in his price range, and his 11.18% optimal lineup rate underscores his potential upside. While Hall’s recent T34 at the Mexico Open exposed some weaknesses in his approach game (ranked 63rd in SG: Approach), his elite putting (4th in putts per GIR) and short-game prowess (3.52 strokes gained around the green) are strong assets on a course that often rewards creativity around the greens. With a make-cut probability of 64.4%, he provides solid floor stability for cash formats, where he’s ranked first overall.

At a projected ownership of just under 8%, Hall is moderately popular but far from overexposed, making him a balanced play for tournaments as well. His middling course history here (MC-T74 the past two years) may suppress interest slightly, but his improved form this season and ability to convert birdie opportunities (22 birdies and an eagle last week) suggest he’s capable of outperforming expectations. At $7,400, Hall fits well into balanced builds while offering enough upside to justify consideration across all contest types.

Other Value Options

• Kevin Roy ($7,200, MakeCut: 62.2%, Own: 6.6%)
• Alex Smalley ($7,900, MakeCut: 63.7%, Own: 12.0%)
• Ryan Gerard ($7,300, MakeCut: 61.8%, Own: 7.8%)

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