Dave Tindall advised backing Russell Henley for a strong first-round performance at Bay Hill. He highlighted Henley’s impressive opening-round form, including a 63 that placed him second after 18 holes the previous week, and noted that Henley was FRL at Pebble Beach earlier this season. Tindall emphasized that Henley has placed inside the top 25 after Round 1 in each of his last nine outings, and pointed to his halfway lead here last year, when he was fourth following the first round. With three top-10 finishes in his last four starts, Tindall sees Henley as an in-form pick poised for a fast start.

Brandon Gdula called Russell Henley a top-10 value play at +360, noting three top-10 finishes in his past five events. Gdula believes Henley’s form is better than the posted odds, even with Bay Hill not favoring shorter hitters.

Stephen Hennessey recommended Russell Henley for a top-10 at +360, echoing Henley’s own claim that his ball-striking feels as sharp as ever. Hennessey added that Bay Hill’s long rough and tricky greens reward Henley’s strong short game, setting him up for another high finish.

Christopher Powers is backing Russell Henley at 44-1, pointing to Henley’s strong recent form, including multiple Sunday chances and a gain of over five strokes tee-to-green at the Cognizant Classic. He believes Henley’s improved ball-striking in Florida courses should help him finally convert against a strong field.

Keith Stewart indicated that Russell Henley may be a strong play at the Arnold Palmer Invitational due to his recent work with coach Mark Blackburn. Stewart noted that Henley has been a consistent performer on hard golf courses but needs to win more given his level of play over the past 18 months. With the coaching change, Stewart believes Henley is trending upward and could earn a lot of points in DFS lineups, though he might not win the event. He also mentioned that Henley played well at this event last year.

Brian Kirschner recommended betting on Russell Henley at 65:1 odds for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Despite Henley's recent struggles, including a T5 finish at the Honda where he crumbled on Sunday, Kirschner believes Henley is a good value due to his strong ball striking. Henley was priced at 25:1 last week and hit the ball well, and the increased odds present an opportunity. Kirschner acknowledges Henley's shortcomings but feels the number is favorable.

Kyle recommended betting on Russell Henley at 65-1 odds for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Despite Henley finishing T5 at the Honda Classic after a disappointing final round, Kyle pointed out that Henley was priced at 25-1 last week and hit the ball very well. He believes that the increased odds present good value, especially since Henley is playing well in terms of ball striking and could perform well this week.

Alex Hunter sees Russell Henley as a strong DFS choice. Henley has finished inside the top 10 in three of his four starts in 2025 and placed T4th at Bay Hill a year ago, gaining strokes in every major category. This season, he's 19th in SG: Putting and continues to pair strong iron play with improved putting, making him a favorite for another high finish.

Rick Gehman expressed optimism about Russell Henley's prospects at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, citing his recent strong performance and favorable course conditions. Henley finished T6 last week and has a history of success when playing from the fairway. His recent results at Bay Hill include T13, T53, and T4 finishes. Gehman noted that Henley's performance significantly improves when he gains strokes off the tee, even slightly. The West Coast swing was challenging for Henley due to his driving style, but Gehman expects him to benefit from the more accuracy-friendly courses ahead.

Kenny Kim included Russell Henley as one of his cash game cornerstones for DFS lineups this week. Henley has three top tens in his last five events and has a good course history at Bay Hill. Priced at $8,800, Henley offers solid value and consistent performance, making him a reliable option for cash games. Kenny noted that while Henley may not be a likely winner, a top five or top ten finish would be sufficient at his price point.

Neil Parker said Russell Henley is a strong bet to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational due to his remarkable consistency and course fit. Henley has played the weekend in 18 consecutive events dating back to April of last year. During that span, he's gained true strokes across the board, ranking 10th in approach, 12th in tee-to-green, and 15th in putting. Parker highlighted Henley's third-place mark in driving accuracy as a key factor, given Bay Hill's demands for precise navigation. Henley's T4 finish in this event last season further underscores his suitability for the course.

Seán Miniter recommended Russell Henley at 33/1 each-way for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, noting his strong form at Bay Hill (T13, T53, T4) and improved tee-to-green metrics. Henley also has three top-10 finishes this season, including a T6 in the recent Cognizant Classic. Miniter highlighted that Henley’s top-10 ranking in his stats analysis and first-class putting, combined with improved ball-striking, make him an excellent value play in a competitive field.

Dave Tindall advised backing Russell Henley, citing his excellent showing at PGA National (sixth place) and a strong 2025 campaign featuring top-10 finishes at the Sony Open and Pebble Beach. Henley ranks 26th in Strokes Gained: Approach, 19th in Putting, and ninth in Driving Accuracy—key metrics for a course demanding both precision and short-game prowess. Tindall also highlighted Henley’s fourth-place finish at Bay Hill last year and pointed out Henley’s overall track record of success on difficult setups, making him a solid each-way play this week.

Redkacheek said Russell Henley’s usual lack of distance off the tee will be less of an issue at PGA National. He emphasized that the course demands hitting fairways rather than bombing drives, which plays into Henley’s accuracy strengths. He noted Henley’s poor off-the-tee metrics often stem from bigger, longer events, so this course setup should boost Henley’s DFS appeal this week.

Derek Farnsworth said he ultimately chose Russell Henley over Sungjae Im to headline his betting card this week. Henley hasn’t won on the PGA Tour since 2022 but has been in contention often, posting seven top-5 finishes in the last 12 months. Farnsworth highlighted Henley’s strong track record in Florida, his comfort on shorter courses that reward accuracy, and his past success at PGA National, including two top-10 finishes in the last five years plus a 2014 victory. He noted that Henley’s recent consistency and penchant for playing well on Bermuda make him a strong bet for contention on Sunday.

Blake Schuster selected Russell Henley as his One-And-Done pick, citing Henley’s strong history at PGA National. Despite a T41 here last year, Henley previously collected T3 and T8 finishes and boasts 1.44 true strokes gained on this course per Data Golf. Schuster emphasized Henley’s ability to contend in higher-stakes events, noting that only a Top 10 or better payout would be truly impactful in this $9.2 million purse tournament.

Matt [Host Unknown] praised Russell Henley’s ball-striking in recent appearances and observed him looking sharp in practice rounds. Henley’s history of success on Bermuda courses, including a past win here, bolsters confidence. Matt also noted Henley’s caddie was doing thorough solo prep, suggesting a focused approach. At 25 to 1, Henley appears to offer strong value given his comfort level and consistent form this season.

Cameron DaSilva recommended Russell Henley at +100 for a top-20 finish, highlighting his accuracy off the tee and strong course fit. DaSilva pointed out Henley’s three top-20 finishes at PGA National since 2019, emphasizing that even odds on the tournament favorite can present surprising value.

Patrick McDonald emphasized Russell Henley’s history at PGA National, where he previously won in 2014, and noted his strong showings earlier this season at the Sony Open and AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Despite having below-average distance off the tee, Henley’s accuracy and recent form could give him a legitimate chance to contend for another Cognizant Classic title.

Brandon Gdula named Russell Henley as a top contender at 25-1, highlighting Henley’s top-15 rankings in both strokes-gained/ball-striking and strokes-gained/short game over his last 50 rounds. Gdula also pointed to Henley’s strong history at PGA National, including a 2014 win, and his accurate driving.

Andy Lack backed Russell Henley at 25-1, describing him as the top ball-striker in a weaker field. Lack credited Henley’s middle-iron prowess and his past success at PGA National as core reasons one should trust him to contend.

Len Hochberg recommended Russell Henley, citing his 2014 victory at this venue, two top-10 finishes this season (at the Sony Open and Pebble Beach), and multiple strong results at PGA National. Hochberg noted Henley's improved form and questioned whether he can finally close the deal, concluding that this course provides an ideal setting for him to succeed.

Ryan Noonan said he’s backing Russell Henley due to his elite ball-striking and strong track record at PGA National. Henley has recorded eight top-10 finishes in 18 starts since last season’s Cognizant Classic, and Noonan emphasized that Henley’s comfort on Bermudagrass greens and in the southeast region amplifies his upside. Noonan believes Henley’s tee-to-green consistency and his proven success in big events make him a strong outright bet this week.

Brian Giuffra said he is picking Russell Henley at +4500 for first-round leader, citing Henley’s early tee time, 68.9 first-round scoring average at PGA National, and formidable putting ability. Giuffra sees Henley’s accuracy and short-game prowess as keys to a hot start.

Dave Tindall advised betting on Russell Henley each-way for a first-round leader (FRL) wager at the Cognizant Classic. Tindall highlighted Henley’s strong history at PGA National, including a past win and two opening rounds of 64 which both placed him second after day one. He also pointed out Henley’s first-round leader status at Pebble Beach just two starts ago and noted he has been in the top 25 after 18 holes in each of his last eight starts. Tindall emphasized Henley’s early tee time from the 10th hole, which aligns with the course’s historical pattern of morning wave FRL success.

Pat Fitzmaurice singled out Russell Henley as a dangerous contender at PGA National given his success on Florida tracks with Bermuda grass. Henley placed eighth here in 2020 and third in 2021, and he enters the event with two top-10 finishes in his last three tournaments. Fitzmaurice noted that Henley’s comfort on Bermuda greens and solid approach game make him a serious threat to post a winning score at this course.

Mike McClure advised against paying up for Russell Henley at $10,700 in DFS contests for the Cognizant Classic. Despite Henley’s past success at this venue, including a 2014 victory, McClure cited Henley’s recurring losses off the tee in six of his last seven starts. He believes the current form doesn’t justify the premium price, especially given the depth of appealing options in the 9k range.

Savannah Leigh Richardson picked Russell Henley to win at +2200 odds, citing his consistent play and strong start to the year, which includes two top-10 finishes in four events. Although Shane Lowry is considered a favorite too, she believes Henley’s reliability and momentum make him a prime choice to claim another PGA Tour title this week.

Jake Friedman labeled Russell Henley a standout DFS option at $10,700 thanks to Henley’s high floor and substantial upside. In 2025, Henley has made four cuts with two Top-10 finishes, showcasing his consistent accuracy off the tee, strong irons, and reliable putting. Friedman noted Henley’s past success at PGA National, including a win in 2014 and multiple Top-25 finishes, making him a prime choice to excel on this challenging layout.

Mike McClure said his SportsLine model projects Russell Henley to struggle at the 2025 Cognizant Classic. The model points to Henley’s shaky recent form, highlighted by the fact he hasn’t posted a PGA Tour win since 2022. The model also cites Henley’s ranking of 99th in total driving, 148th in strokes gained off the tee, and 179th in driving distance this season as signs he could fall short of expectations. Additionally, Henley only managed a T-41 finish at this tournament last year, further dampening his outlook.

Brian Kirschner acknowledged Russell Henley's strong course history at the Sony Open but stated he is not investing on anyone below 30 to 1 odds, including Henley, despite expecting him to play well.