Jason Sobel said he would have Ryan Gerard as the rightful favorite this week, highlighting three top-25 finishes over five starts and above-average iron play. Sobel noted the 23-year-old continues to trend positively, which makes him a worthwhile betting option despite a relatively short track record. He compared Gerard’s current trajectory to other young players who have parlayed strong recent form into victories in weaker-field events.

Andy Lack singled out Ryan Gerard at 80-1 as a solid under-the-radar pick, highlighting Gerard’s 17th-place finish at the Mexico Open where he gained over 1.5 strokes in key ball-striking categories. Lack believes a return to a course where Gerard finished fourth previously could spark another big result.

Cody Williams said he is picking Ryan Gerard at +8000 after Gerard’s consecutive top-20 finishes in his last two starts. Williams noted Gerard’s strong ball-striking at PGA National in 2023, where he posted a fourth-place finish and gained 8.5 strokes tee to green.

Sia Nejad highlighted Ryan Gerard as a strong DFS pick, pointing to his T4 finish at the 2023 Honda Classic and a string of top-20 results. Nejad praised Gerard’s ball striking and noted that his putter has been hot since November. He expects Gerard’s recent consistency to continue, providing a high-floor, high-upside option in this salary range.

Rick Gehman highlighted Ryan Gerard’s recent form with consecutive top-20 finishes at the Farmers Insurance Open and Mexico. Gerard first played this event two years ago, gaining seven strokes on approach and 8.4 tee-to-green. Gehman expects Gerard to continue his strong ball striking while returning to a course where he’s shown significant upside.

Ben Coley praised Ryan Gerard’s readiness for a standout performance at the Cognizant Classic, noting his five-for-five made cuts on the PGA Tour this season and a history of significant finishes (three top-20s) in fields similar to this one. Gerard has roots in Florida golf, previously winning a junior event at PGA National in 2015 and finishing fourth here in his PGA Tour debut two years ago. According to Coley, Gerard’s combination of solid driving, quality iron play, and strong putting makes him a clear value pick in this field.