Steve Rawlings said that Nicolas Echavarria is a strong longshot candidate for the Cognizant Classic, pointing to his runner-up finish at January’s Sony Open as a notable indicator for success. Although Echavarria endured a brief slump with missed cuts at The American Express and the Phoenix Open, he showed signs of improvement by placing 34th at the Genesis Invitational. Rawlings emphasized the Colombian’s ability to find form unexpectedly, referencing Echavarria’s missed cut at this event last year right before he won the Puerto Rico Open. These factors, along with his previous post-victory run of top-30 finishes, make Echavarria an appealing high-odds pick this week.

Steve Rawlings said that Thriston Lawrence is a standout longshot at massive odds for the Cognizant Classic. The four-time DP World Tour winner gained wider recognition by placing fourth at last year’s Open Championship and finishing runner-up at both the British Masters and the BMW PGA Championship. Despite a slow start on the PGA Tour, Lawrence’s decision to skip the South African Open to play here underscores his commitment. Rawlings believes the switch to Bermuda greens will suit Lawrence’s skill set and sees him as excellent betting value given his proven track record.