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.

Derek Farnsworth spoke highly of Keith Mitchell’s form and ball-striking entering the Cognizant Classic. He emphasized Mitchell’s top-5 ranking in strokes gained off the tee and top-20 in strokes gained approach this season. Farnsworth pointed to Mitchell’s recent consistency with finishes of T33 or better in four 2025 starts, each time gaining at least 1.9 strokes off the tee. With bermudagrass being Mitchell’s best putting surface and good vibes from his 2019 win at PGA National, Farnsworth sees Mitchell as a strong wager if his short game remains steady.

Derek Farnsworth identified Ben Griffin as a favorite long-shot play at +4500. He cited Griffin’s T4 finish at the Mexico Open, where Griffin gained 8.9 strokes tee to green and 3.1 strokes putting. Farnsworth noted Griffin’s overall elite profile in every area except off the tee, an aspect that should be minimized at PGA National’s less-than-driver setups. He also referenced Griffin’s previous success in Florida, including a T21 here in 2023, and believes the course sets up well for Griffin to make a run at his first PGA Tour victory.

Derek Farnsworth suggested Lucas Glover as a viable long-shot pick at +6000. He highlighted Glover’s ball-striking pedigree and noted his major improvements on the greens, with Glover gaining strokes putting in seven of his last nine starts. Farnsworth also pointed to Glover’s recent string of high finishes—three top-3 results in his last 10 PGA Tour appearances—and his comfort level at PGA National, evidenced by three straight top-35 finishes in this event. Farnsworth believes a continued spike in Glover’s putting could vault him into serious contention.