Jason Sobel said Denny McCarthy’s superb putting skills make him a high-upside pick on a demanding course like Bay Hill. Sobel pointed to McCarthy’s success at long, tough venues, including a near-win at Muirfield Village and a top-five at Torrey Pines earlier this season. Sobel explained that McCarthy’s short-game edge is especially valuable when pars become premium, expecting his consistent eight-foot par saves to propel him up the leaderboard in windy conditions.

Jason Sobel recommended an aggressive top-5 play on Denny McCarthy, pointing to McCarthy’s elite putter and underrated performances on difficult layouts like Muirfield Village and Torrey Pines. Sobel noted that while McCarthy is often picked for birdie-fests, his ability to save par on tough tracks could be crucial at Bay Hill. Sobel expects McCarthy’s putting strength to keep him near the top of the leaderboard in challenging conditions.

Brad Thomas recommended betting on Denny McCarthy to win at +3500 odds, highlighting his success on difficult tracks, such as his recent top-five finish at the Genesis Invitational. Thomas pointed out McCarthy’s strong iron play and excellent putting, traits that helped him excel at Torrey Pines despite lacking elite distance. With PGA National placing a premium on accuracy over length, Thomas noted that McCarthy’s precision off the tee and overall ball-striking could give him a major edge this week.

Matt said that Denny McCarthy looked really strong in his Tuesday rounds for PGA National. He noted McCarthy finished in the top five among roughly 60 players he observed, and the course setup appears to complement McCarthy’s strengths. Although McCarthy has five missed cuts over seven starts here, he also placed T3 in 2021, suggesting the volatility of the track. Matt emphasized that McCarthy and his team seemed focused on how to approach these Bermuda greens, potentially setting him up for a strong betting opportunity this week.

Cameron DaSilva endorsed Denny McCarthy at +100 in a matchup against Taylor Pendrith, citing McCarthy’s consistency off the tee and excellent putting. DaSilva mentioned Pendrith’s up-and-down form and the overall volatility of PGA National, making McCarthy a worthwhile underdog bet.

Patrick McDonald identified Denny McCarthy as his pick to win the 2025 Cognizant Classic. He emphasized McCarthy’s near-victory at Torrey Pines, noting his elite putting on Bermuda grass and improved iron play as major strengths. McDonald believes that if McCarthy can straighten out his driver, it may be enough to secure the golfer’s first career PGA Tour victory this week.

Keith Stewart tipped Denny McCarthy at 40-1 as a strong contender, calling him the ‘true flat-stick aficionado’ who can score on any surface. Stewart pointed to McCarthy’s well-rounded performances in 2025, including top finishes on varied course setups and his resumé as a Florida resident.

Stephen Hennessey advised fading Denny McCarthy at 30-1, pointing out McCarthy’s surprising lack of success at PGA National despite his putting skills. Hennessey believes the track may not align with McCarthy’s eye, adding further doubts to his short odds.

Sia Nejad labeled Denny McCarthy a potential winner at the Cognizant Classic, underscoring broad improvements in McCarthy’s ball striking and a reliably elite short game. While long-iron play remains a modest question, Nejad pointed to McCarthy’s gains on approach in three of his last four starts and believes he has the profile to thrive on a tougher layout. Sia sees McCarthy as an under-the-radar DFS option with true upside.

Mike McClure echoed support for Denny McCarthy in DFS lineups, citing his T5 at the Genesis and multiple top-20 finishes this season. McClure noted that while McCarthy’s distance is lacking, his improving approach play and busy tournament schedule keep him sharp. The strong short game should give him an edge on the challenging greens at the Cognizant Classic, making McClure confident that McCarthy’s $9k salary can pay off in a big way.

Sia Nejad said he likes Denny McCarthy quite a bit for $9,300 in DFS, pointing to McCarthy's recent form that includes a T5 at the Genesis Invitational and T16 finishes at both the Waste Management Phoenix Open and the Sony Open. Nejad emphasized that McCarthy’s solid approach play and strong short game should flourish on a course where distance off the tee is less critical. He added that the weaker field also justifies paying the elevated price, despite the potential risk in switching to a new putting surface.

Andy Lang advised passing on Denny McCarthy due to his miserable record at this course, where he has missed the cut in five of his seven appearances. Despite McCarthy’s good current form, Andy cannot overlook that alarming history and plans to look elsewhere in DFS and betting matchups.

Jake Friedman said Denny McCarthy is worth an outright bet at +4000 due to his excellent 2025 form, with five made cuts in five starts and three Top-20 finishes. McCarthy is historically a short but accurate driver, has above-average iron play, and possesses an elite short game. Friedman noted that McCarthy’s irons look sharper than ever, and while his past results at PGA National have been unremarkable aside from a T3 in 2021, this could be the week he finally breaks through for his first PGA Tour win.

Jake Friedman sees Denny McCarthy as a strong DFS play at $9,300 due to McCarthy’s steady performance in 2025: five made cuts and three Top-20s. Famous for superb putting and accurate driving, McCarthy has sharpened his iron play this season. Although his track record at PGA National is largely forgettable outside of a T3 in 2021, Friedman is optimistic that McCarthy’s improved ball striking could power him to contention in both DFS and the tournament.

Mike McClure said his SportsLine model sees Denny McCarthy as a top under-the-radar contender at long 40-1 odds for the 2025 Cognizant Classic. Despite still chasing his first PGA Tour win, McCarthy has shown promising form with top-16 finishes in three of his last four starts, including a T-5 at the Genesis Invitational. His 22nd-ranked scoring average and 48th-ranked greens in regulation percentage suggest he has the consistency needed to contend this week at PGA National, making him a strong value bet.