The PGA Tour moves to Palm Beach, Florida for the first event of the Florida Swing at the Honda Classic and a strong field is on hand, led by defending champion Adam Scott +1000. Joining Scott are Sergio Garcia +1400, Justin Thomas +1200, Rickie Fowler +1500, Jimmy Walker +4550, Zach Johnson +3100, Daniel Berger +2400 and Brooks Koepka +3450.
The event also attracted a strong international contingent that includes last week’s runner-up Thomas Pieters +3550, Martin Kaymer +5000, Tyrrell Hatton +3000, Masters champion Danny Willett +4500, Paul Casey +2750, Matthew Fitzpatrick +3900, Rafa Cabrera-Bello +4750, Italy’s Francesco Molinari +5250 and Ian Poulter +9500.
Former world No. 1 Tiger Woods had to withdraw due to his ongoing back issues, or maybe it’s his broken down ego.
The Course: PGA National - Champion has hosted the event since 2007 and the layout is one of the hardest on the PGA Tour. The track measures 7,140 yards and plays to a par 70 but the swirling winter winds play havoc and make club selection very difficult, especially on the final four holes, better known as the “Bear Trap” where par’s are as good as gold and you will see some crooked numbers on those holes, which adds to the drama on Sunday coming down the stretch.
TV Coverage: Golf Channel - Thursday-Friday, 2-6 p.m. ET. Saturday, 1-2:30 p.m. - Golf Channel, 3-6:00 p.m. - NBC. Sunday, 1-2:30 - Golf Channel, 3-6:30, NBC.
Current Honda Classic Golf Odds at BookMaker.eu:
Adam Scott +1000
Justin Thomas +1200
Sergio Garcia +1400
Rickie Fowler +1500
Louis Oosthuizen +1800
Russell Knox +2000
Brendan Steele +2200
Daniel Berger +2400
Gary Woodland +2550
Paul Casey +2750
Tyrrell Hatton +3000
Zach Johnson +3100
Branden Grace +3250
Brooks Koepka +3450
Charles Howell III +3500
Thomas Pieters +3550
Kevin Kisner +3700
Matthew Fitzpatrick +3900
Russell Henley +4000
J.B. Holmes +4050
Danny Willett +4500
Jimmy Walker +4550
Raf Cabrera-Bello +4750
Jason Dufner +4999
Martin Kaymer +5000
Francesco Molinari +5250
Graeme McDowell +5500
Keegan Bradley +5750
Luke Donald +5950
Marc Leishman +6000
Ollie Schniederjans +6500
Emiliano Grillo +6750
Ryan Palmer +7000
Graham DeLaet +7250
Billy Horschel +7500
Brian Harman +7550
Lucas Glover +8000
William McGirt +8100
J.J. Spaun +8500
Patrick Rodgers +8850
Harris English +9000
Ian Poulter +9500
Scott Brown +10000
Camilo Villegas +10000
Paddy Harrington +10000
Stewart Cink +11000
FIELD - Any Other Player +475
ODDS ANALYSIS
If I’m picking a winner this week, I have to go with a solid ball-striker who is in form and has played well before at this venue. Arguably the two best ball strikers on the planet are Sergio Garcia +1400 and Adam Scott +1000, and by the way, those two finished first and second a year ago. The Champion course at PGA National is tough and sometimes brutally tough if the wind starts blowing. Both players are in good form and both players will be in the mix Sunday afternoon in Florida. I like both Scott and Garcia this week in all formats.
SLEEPER - Camillo Villegas +10000 is a sneaky play this week in all formats. The Colombian lives close to the course, won this event in 2010 and is accustomed to playing on bermuda. Load him up on your fantasy team and take a shot with him at 100-1.
FADE: Danny Willett +4500 won the Masters last year but since is just an average player and I continue to FADE the one-hit wonder Willett. In his last start he held a 3-stroke lead after 54 holes in Malaysia before choking his brains out and blowing the lead and finishing with a final round 73 to finish well back. Continue fading the over-valued Willett!
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