Pga Tour: Wave of WDs from Cognizant Classic Hints at a Changing Future as Expert Picks and Course Work Come Into Play
The Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches has been jolted by a wave of withdrawals this week, a development that highlights how the pga tour’s calendar and competitive balance are shifting. High-profile absences, concurrent schedule pressures and changes to fantasy and betting formats are converging around a tournament that was once a cornerstone of the Florida swing.
Pga Tour schedule pressure leaves Cognizant Classic in a tenuous spot
The event, formerly the Honda Classic and held at PGA National, was historically the opening of the Florida swing and regularly attracted elite fields. Past champions include Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Adam Scott and Rickie Fowler. Notable names who have teed it up multiple times include Tiger Woods, Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia and Brooks Koepka.
In the mid-2010s the tournament drew top players by offering a challenging layout at PGA National along with purses that were competitive with marquee stops such as Pebble Beach, Riviera and Bay Hill. At that time, the Players Championship was held in May, which left room on the calendar for the Arnold Palmer Invitational later in March and granted the Honda Classic a desirable slot between Riviera and the WGC at Trump Doral. With purses in the $6 million range and many players skipping some West Coast events, the Honda Classic retained strong appeal.
What changed: calendar moves, new event formats and the Signature Event model
Several scheduling shifts began in 2019 when the Players Championship moved to March and the Arnold Palmer Invitational was placed between the Players and the Honda. The field at PGA National remained strong until the arrival of a rival circuit and the introduction of the Signature Event model in 2023. That model created a clear split between limited, star-studded events and full-field events used as paths into the richer tournaments. As a result, the Cognizant Classic now follows two West Coast events with $20 million purses and sits in front of the Arnold Palmer Invitational ($20 million) and the Players ($25 million), leaving it squeezed for top players.
Withdrawals, weakened field and immediate fallout
Withdrawals this week from Ben Griffin, Adam Scott and Jacob Bridgeman—three of the pre-event betting favorites—underscore the tournament’s fragility. This week’s field will include just one player inside the world top 30, Ryan Gerard, and eight players inside the top 50. Brooks Koepka, Billy Horschel and Gary Woodland remain entered, but the overall buzz has dimmed for an event that used to signal the start of the run to the Masters.
Justin Thomas reacted to the weaker field after a recent TGL match, calling it “a bummer” and noting that the event has fallen at an unfortunate time in the schedule. He expressed frustration that scheduling forces players to pick and choose events—citing Torrey Pines South and Colonial as courses he loves but cannot play every year—and lamented the broader limits imposed by the current calendar.
Course work and expert-pick evolutions intersect at the Cognizant Classic
Renovations to a signature stretch known as "The Bear Trap" have been completed for this year at the Cognizant Classic, introducing a fresh tactical element for competitors. At the same time, expert picks and betting analysis have evolved alongside changes to fantasy play. For 2026, the fantasy platform is introducing in-tournament rostering features that alter roster strategy and roster management.
Expert panels will provide weekly picks and analysis for both betting and fantasy. The expert lineup includes Will Gray and Chris Breece, with fantasy analysis contributions from Rob Bolton described as the Fantasy Insider. Golfbet experts are slated to share betting selections. The fantasy lineup format consists of four starters, including a captain, plus two bench players who can be rotated after each round. To add strategic constraint, every golfer can be used only three times per each of the three segments.
Decision makers and next steps for scheduling
The event’s uncertain standing is part of a broader evaluation by the tour’s leadership. New chief executive Brian Rolapp and the Future Competitions Committee, led by Tiger Woods, are reworking the calendar with an eye toward creating "scarcity"—a move that could further reshape where tournaments like the Cognizant Classic fit in the season. The Signature Event model has achieved its aim of elevating certain tournaments, but it has also segmented fields and shifted player priorities.
Risks, warnings and lingering questions
- Fowler played the Cognizant last year but is not entered this year after punching his—unclear in the provided context.
- Withdrawals of key betting favorites have immediate impact on event perception and betting markets.
- Renovations to The Bear Trap change course strategy, while new fantasy mechanics alter viewer engagement for 2026.
For those concerned about gambling harm, a confidential toll-free hotline is available by phone or text at 1-800-522-4700. Recent developments indicate these storylines may continue to evolve as the tour finalizes scheduling choices; details may change as leaders assess priorities and event viability.
