The Honda Classic
PGA National Resort & Spa
Champion Course
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Champion Course
Yards: 7,110 per the scorecard
Par: 70 (35-35)
Greens: Tifeagle Bermudagrass (6,400 square feet on average)
Rough: Bermudagrass with perennial ryegrass at 3”
Stimpmeter: 11’ to 11.5’
Bunkers: 78
Water Hazards: 26. TWENTY SIX.
Course Architect: Tom and George Fazio (1981); Jack Nicklaus (2001)
Purse: $6,000,000
Winner’s Share: $1,080,000
FexExCup Points: 500 to the winner
Defending Champion: Rory McIlroy held off Tiger Woods and Tom Gillis by two shots to win the first event of the “Florida Swing” last year.
Dates: February 28 – March 3
Notes: No more match play, thankfully. Top 70 and ties advance to the weekend in stroke play.
History Lessons
The Champion Course has been the site of this tournament since 2007. Please remember this when you are researching “horses-for-courses” this week.
Only Jack Nicklaus (1977-78) has successfully defended his championship.
McIlroy was the fifth consecutive foreign player to win at The Honda Classic. In the first eight tournaments of 2013, all of the winners have been American. SOMETHING MUST GIVE.
In the six tournaments held at the Champion course, two winners have been maidens (Mark Wilson 2007 and Y.E. Yang 2009). Only Mark Wilson has won in his first appearance at this course. It’s not easy to do so. Here’s the full list:
2007: Mark Wilson (-5); First win on TOUR; 12 players broke par
2008: Ernie Els (-6); 14 players broke par
2009: Y.E. Yang (-9); First win on TOUR; 26 players broke par
2010: Camilo Villegas (-13); 16 players broke par
2011: Rory Sabbatini (-9); 16 players broke par
2012: Rory McIlroy (-12); 25 players broke par
Four winners have been by one shot. Mark Wilson won in a playoff. Rory McIlroy won by two shots last year. A tight course and a tough finish will make for exciting times. Is there another “Rory” in the field who can make it three in a row? Half of the winners have won a major championship. The other half do not. #math.
Brian Harman (T12) and Harris English (T18), both from the University of Georgia, were the two, best rookie finishers in 2012. English was also the 54-hole leader before his final round 77 knocked him back.
Rank and File
By my count, as of Monday afternoon,15 of the top 30 OWGR players are in the field this week.
All six former champions at the Champions course are in the field this week as well.
Of Course
The Champion Course at PGA National Resort & Spa is the host of The Honda Classic for the seventh year running. Last year was the first year of six that the Champion Course did NOT rank inside the top 10 of hardest courses played on TOUR. It was ranked 12th.
All righty then!
Must be easy now!
No.
No it’s not.
The Champion Course is home to “The Bear Trap” which, trust me, you will hear about once or 49,499,593 times over the course of the broadcast. Nicklaus decided that the tournament will be won over this stretch of holes. Well, hang on a minute. It’s not like the rest of this course is punch and cookies either. Tight fairways are protected by strategic bunkers and/or doglegs. The greens, which run into and across some of the TWENTY SIX water hazards and are also well-bunkered, are not very easy to read and putt if you hit them in regulation. Throw in unpredictable wind and breezes in early March in Southeast Florida and we have now dissected why this course is usually in the top 10% of most difficult on TOUR annually.
This week, I’ll be looking for the better iron players on TOUR to make the most noise. As we saw at another Jack Nicklaus course last week at the Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain, Jack will leave pins in accessible spots for the premium players who can control distance. Those who are not as accurate must bring A or better short game to get up and down. As you can tell by the average winning score, birdies will not be growing on trees this week so players who can make a few and avoid the big numbers will be in the hunt come Sunday. “The Bear Trap”, holes Nos. 15-17, will test the players’ nerves down the stretch as they navigate two par-threes, a par-four and plenty of wind and water. Rory McIlroy only made five bogeys last year as he (and Tom Gillis) fired all four rounds in the 60s. McIlroy led the field in scrambling as well so there is more than one way to skin the cat! It can be done but Nicklaus will not let it be done easily.
The “Florida Swing 2013” begins this week in Palm Beach Gardens and will continue next week at Doral, followed by Innisbrook and concluding at Bay Hill. Keep in mind the four winners of the “Florida Swing” last year were Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Luke Donald and Tiger Woods. Who’s in your dream foursome?
The Honda Classic
PGA National Resort & Spa
Champion Course
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Champion Course
Yards: 7,110 per the scorecard
Par: 70 (35-35)
Greens: Tifeagle Bermudagrass (6,400 square feet on average)
Rough: Bermudagrass with perennial ryegrass at 3”
Stimpmeter: 11’ to 11.5’
Bunkers: 78
Water Hazards: 26. TWENTY SIX.
Course Architect: Tom and George Fazio (1981); Jack Nicklaus (2001)
Purse: $6,000,000
Winner’s Share: $1,080,000
FexExCup Points: 500 to the winner
Defending Champion: Rory McIlroy held off Tiger Woods and Tom Gillis by two shots to win the first event of the “Florida Swing” last year.
Dates: February 28 – March 3
Notes: No more match play, thankfully. Top 70 and ties advance to the weekend in stroke play.
History Lessons
The Champion Course has been the site of this tournament since 2007. Please remember this when you are researching “horses-for-courses” this week.
Only Jack Nicklaus (1977-78) has successfully defended his championship.
McIlroy was the fifth consecutive foreign player to win at The Honda Classic. In the first eight tournaments of 2013, all of the winners have been American. SOMETHING MUST GIVE.
In the six tournaments held at the Champion course, two winners have been maidens (Mark Wilson 2007 and Y.E. Yang 2009). Only Mark Wilson has won in his first appearance at this course. It’s not easy to do so. Here’s the full list:
2007: Mark Wilson (-5); First win on TOUR; 12 players broke par
2008: Ernie Els (-6); 14 players broke par
2009: Y.E. Yang (-9); First win on TOUR; 26 players broke par
2010: Camilo Villegas (-13); 16 players broke par
2011: Rory Sabbatini (-9); 16 players broke par
2012: Rory McIlroy (-12); 25 players broke par
Four winners have been by one shot. Mark Wilson won in a playoff. Rory McIlroy won by two shots last year. A tight course and a tough finish will make for exciting times. Is there another “Rory” in the field who can make it three in a row? Half of the winners have won a major championship. The other half do not. #math.
Brian Harman (T12) and Harris English (T18), both from the University of Georgia, were the two, best rookie finishers in 2012. English was also the 54-hole leader before his final round 77 knocked him back.
Rank and File
By my count, as of Monday afternoon,15 of the top 30 OWGR players are in the field this week.
All six former champions at the Champions course are in the field this week as well.
Of Course
The Champion Course at PGA National Resort & Spa is the host of The Honda Classic for the seventh year running. Last year was the first year of six that the Champion Course did NOT rank inside the top 10 of hardest courses played on TOUR. It was ranked 12th.
All righty then!
Must be easy now!
No.
No it’s not.
The Champion Course is home to “The Bear Trap” which, trust me, you will hear about once or 49,499,593 times over the course of the broadcast. Nicklaus decided that the tournament will be won over this stretch of holes. Well, hang on a minute. It’s not like the rest of this course is punch and cookies either. Tight fairways are protected by strategic bunkers and/or doglegs. The greens, which run into and across some of the TWENTY SIX water hazards and are also well-bunkered, are not very easy to read and putt if you hit them in regulation. Throw in unpredictable wind and breezes in early March in Southeast Florida and we have now dissected why this course is usually in the top 10% of most difficult on TOUR annually.
This week, I’ll be looking for the better iron players on TOUR to make the most noise. As we saw at another Jack Nicklaus course last week at the Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain, Jack will leave pins in accessible spots for the premium players who can control distance. Those who are not as accurate must bring A or better short game to get up and down. As you can tell by the average winning score, birdies will not be growing on trees this week so players who can make a few and avoid the big numbers will be in the hunt come Sunday. “The Bear Trap”, holes Nos. 15-17, will test the players’ nerves down the stretch as they navigate two par-threes, a par-four and plenty of wind and water. Rory McIlroy only made five bogeys last year as he (and Tom Gillis) fired all four rounds in the 60s. McIlroy led the field in scrambling as well so there is more than one way to skin the cat! It can be done but Nicklaus will not let it be done easily.
The “Florida Swing 2013” begins this week in Palm Beach Gardens and will continue next week at Doral, followed by Innisbrook and concluding at Bay Hill. Keep in mind the four winners of the “Florida Swing” last year were Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Luke Donald and Tiger Woods. Who’s in your dream foursome?
Top 10, Plus None
Tiger Woods: His closing 62, his lowest Sunday round on TOUR, last year saw him jump to T2 in his first appearance in this tournament. With one win in one stroke-play event, I see no reason why he can’t continue his excellent ball striking again this week. Remember, he went out in the second round in Match Play last year so I wouldn’t read too much into last week’s result.
Justin Rose: “The Bear Trap” on Sunday knocked two shots off Rose’s final score last year as he made bogey on Nos. 15 and 17 to finish T5. In four starts here, he’s finished T15, MC, third and T5 last year. He’s a premium ball-striker on a ball-striker’s course.
Graeme McDowell: McDowell’s second round 64 in 2012 put him right in the mix and shows he likes the layout at PGA National. His finishes of T31, T6 and T9 the last three seasons confirm that suspicion as well. The harder the course, the more I like McDowell.
Charl Schwartzel: In eight rounds here in the last two years, he’s been under par in six of them. That’s what I’m looking for if nine-under-par is the average winning score. He would have been right there at the end at Riviera except for a couple of doubles that haunted his score card. He’s finished T14 and T5 in his only two appearances at the Honda and has won twice in the previous five months.
Jason Day: Last year, Westwood and McIlroy were in the final four in Match Play and carried it over here. Day and Poulter are the only two from that final four are playing this week so let’s see if the trend fits. Trend or no trend, Day has been on the brink of breaking through in 2013 as he now has banged three top 10s in four starts. His only start here was MC in 2008 but the way he played last week, I wouldn’t hesitate in pulling the trigger. Jason Day WD Tuesday afternoon
Fredrik Jacobson: The perfect storm for “The Junkman” this week as we head to the “Florida Swing”. He’s hit the top 10 in his last three starts after MC in Phoenix and he’s finished T5, T6, T29 and T16 in his last four appearances at PGA National. His putter will keep him out of trouble and near the top of the leaderboard.
Lee Westwood: Two top 10 finishes in his last three at PGA National, including firing 63 on Sunday last year, gives off the vibe that the Englishman and his excellent iron play will thrive this week. He’s moved to the area and established his home base so I expect big things from him this week after only playing one match last week.
Rory McIlroy: Well, another week and another premium player that has left us all scratching our heads. McIlroy also has a home in the area and maybe a few nights in his bed will help straighten out his game. His two-shot victory here last year should bring him some happy thoughts and with his talent, he’s impossible to write off ANY week he plays. “He’s just 23” I have to keep reminding myself.
Louis Oosthuizen: In January, he won the Volvo Golf Champions and also had a T34 in Qatar so he’s shown some early form. His arrival in the states last week saw him get knocked out by the very temperate Robert Garrigus so I’m not worried as he tees it up in Florida. His ball-striking has never been the issue; it’s his putter that has to get going.
Jeff Overton: After just buying a house in the area and getting engaged, it wouldn’t surprise me if this would be the week that Overton jumps back into the top 10. In his last five starts here he’s MC, T9, MC, T6 and T18 last year. He’s made four of five cuts this year with a T8 at Sony for his best finish.
Don’t Overlook
These guys just missed out on the premium list but should not be dismissed this week.
Rickie Fowler: After not breaking par in his first two visits (both MC) to PGA National, Fowler closed with 67-66 on the weekend here in 2012 to finish T7. In three starts this year he’s been T6, T6 and MC before his first-round exit to Carl Pettersson last week in a snow-delayed match. He’s top 20 GIR.
Dustin Johnson: The magical mystery tour is going to take you away…In his four events after winning the HTOC, Johnson has finished T51, MC, MC and had a first round defeat at Match Play. Expectation levels have risen and so has his Q-rating since he’s started dating Wayne Gretzky’s daughter. Too much nasty to omit.
Jason Dufner: Another example that a hot start overseas does not AUTOMATICALLY translate to early season success on TOUR. Dufner tore apart Australia, China and the Middle East but has done nothing (MC, first-round exit Match Play) on his home soil. I’ll patiently wait for his ball-striking to kick in. (HURRY UP, MAN!)
Billy Horschel: According to his website (billyhorschelgolf.com) he’s excited to play these four tournaments in Florida in front of his friends and family. Plus, he grew up playing Bermudagrass and has plenty of rounds on these four courses after playing his college golf at Florida. Oh, and he’s made 16 cuts on the bounce. I’m buying.
Henrik Stenson: Since winning on the European Tour in November, Stenson has quietly put five events in a row T26 or better before he was knocked out in the first round last week in Match Play.
Ernie Els: The 2008 champion is five-for-five at the Champion Course with two additional top 22 finishes. His T13 at Riviera shows he’s dialed in as he heads to Florida and The Open Champion started his 2012 reign of terror (T5 Transitions; T4 Bay Hill) with a T21 here last year.
Chris Kirk: He’s finished T29 and T56 in his only two starts here but he already has made four of five cuts with a second and a T5 in 2013. His worst finish is T33. I’ll ride the hot hand and hot putter (11th strokes-gained putting).
Keegan Bradley: His solid finish, T16, at the NTO didn’t carry into the Match Play last week but that was his second straight top 25. Bradley has played so well over the last two seasons that we expect him to bang top 10s every week but that hasn’t been the case so far. Also, he’s been bothered by all the talk on the anchoring of the putter. The good news is that he’s won on long, difficult par-70 tracks before so don’t be surprised if he finds something this week.
Kevin Stadler: After missing three years, Stadler returned last year to poach T9. He’s already posted his best finish on TOUR since 2009 (T3 Pebble Beach) and has made four cuts in a row.
James Hahn: Why not?
Cameron Tringale: In 22 rounds this season, he’s been over par three times. He now has eight rounds under his belt at this challenging track (T43, T47) the last two years and could surprise.
Off the Beaten Path
Either “horse-for-course” or guys off the radar
Paul Casey: Shhhhhhhhhh.T4 back in the day and a nice, quiet start in Europe in 2013.
Harris English: Don’t forget this 2012 rookie from Georgia was the 54-hole leader before a final round 77 sent him all the way back to T18. His 66-69-66 first three rounds should be your reminder. The big round is still giving him a problem in 2013 but he should have 75% good memories when he returns this week.
Jerry Kelly: In his last six starts here, he’s been the traditional “all-or-nothing” that I love to point out each week. He’s MC three times and has finished third, T12 and T20. Stretching a bit but high risk equals high reward.
Brian Harman: Speaking of 2012 rookies from Georgia, Harman fired a second round 61 last year and finished T12 after bookend 73s. He’s made four cuts on the bounce.
Justin Hicks: He has two finishes in the top 15 in four starts in 2013. He was T17 here two years ago.
Ben Crane: His uneven form to start 2013 keeps him on this list but he loves this course. In his last 12 rounds, he’s fired over par only three times and that has led to finishes of T12, third and T30.
Ted Potter, Jr.: Like GMAC, Potter popped a second round 64 last year on his way to T30 in his first start at PGA National. He’s trending in the right direction as he’s gone T24, T16 and T10 in his last three starts on TOUR.
Matt Jones: In four events this year, Jones has posted T15, T23, MC and T30. He finished T4 here in 2008. It’s scraping the barrel at bit but worth a flyer.
William McGirt: He was heading in the right direction before a MC at Riviera. His ball-striking makes him a sleeper this week.
Brian Stuard: Only one (bad) appearance here but if you are looking for somebody in a deep format that has been cashing checks this year, Stuard is four-for-four with two top 10s, T39 and T30. There are worse chances you can take. Don’t tell anyone he’s 10th in the all-around ranking.
Buyer Beware
Current form plus course history or injury has chased me away this week. As sure as the sun will rise in the east, one of these guys usually contends each week…
Tommy Gainey: Yes, he was fifth here in 2011 but he’s missed five cuts in a row THIS year.
Geoff Ogilvy: If you are searching history, please remember all six of Ogilvy’s impressive starts at this event were NOT at PGA National. He’s missed four of five cuts in 2013.
James Driscoll: Unless “chat guy” returns to change my mind, Driscoll is out this week for me as he’s missed all three of his tries at “The Bear Trap”.
Ken Duke: His best finish in four starts was last year’s T62 (MC in the other three). His best finish this season is T43.
Brian Gay: Already a winner in 2013 at Humana, Gay is two out of four but those finishes are T55 and T52. I’d go with Henley here if you are looking for a previous champ from this season.
Rookie of the Week Last Week
I keep an eye on the youngin’s each week to see who is making the most noise.
Sony: Russell Henley WIN
Humana: David Lingmerth P2
Farmers: Brad Fritsch T9
WMPO: James Hahn T16
AT&T: James Hahn T3
NTO: Luke Guthrie T21
WGC-Match Play: Russell Henley 2nd round
One-and-Done
SEASON TOTAL: $1,676,800
HTOC: Steve Stricker (2nd; $665,000)
Sony: Charles Howell III (T3; $324,800)
Humana: Tim Clark (MC)
Farmers: Rickie Fowler (T6; $204,350)
WMPO: Jason Dufner (MC)
AT&T Pebble: Hunter Mahan (T16; 94,250)
Northern Trust: Bill Haas (T3; 343,200)
WGC-Match Play: Charl Schwartzel (T33; 46,000)
Honda: Lee Westwood
GolfChannel.com Fantasy Challenge
Honda Classic
Mike Glasscott (Rank: 8,284; $4,605,134)
Group 1: Tiger Woods
Group 2: Fredrik Jacobson
Group 3: Jeff Overton
Group 4: Justin Hicks
Ryan O’Sullivan (Rank: 10,903; $4,271,173 )
Group 1: Tiger Woods
Group 2: Fredrik Jacobson
Group 3: Harris English
Group 4: Camilo Villegas
Ned Brown (Rank: 1,634; $5,970,265)
Group 1: Tiger Woods
Group 2: Fredrik Jacobson
Group 3: Jeff Overton
Group 4: Matt Jones
Rob Bolton (Rank: 20,466; $3,235,562)
Group 1: Tiger Woods
Group 2: Fredrik Jacobson
Group 3: Billy Horschel
Group 4: Justin Hicks
Ned said, “…
Ned Brown is a long-time contributor for Rotoworld Golf. He’s had documented success in Yahoo!’s game for years. Even if you’re confident in your selections for that game, give his insight a read. Ned also provides us with his GolfChannel.com Fantasy Challenge selections as well!
“Pure Spin”
Rank last week: N/A
Overall Ranking: 388
Total Points: 1,214
GROUP A
Tiger Woods- Woods disappointed last week at the Match Play, but he does have a victory in his last stroke play event and he returns to a course that he tied for second place last year.
Graeme McDowell-- I hate to fade Rory McIlroy, but he really hasn't played that well this year. McDowell played well in the Match Play and he has played well in the last two Honda Classics with a T6 in '11 and a T9 last year.
SUPER SUBS
Rory McIlroy, Jason Dufner, Charles Howell III
GROUP B
Justin Rose-- Rose has played well this year, with the highlight being a T2 in Abu Dhabi, and he has a nice record in his last two starts at PGA National as he was third in '10 and T5 last year.
Louis Oosthuizen-- It could be argued that he was the hottest golfer at the end of last year into the start of this year, with five consecutive top fives, including a championship at the Volvo Champions. He has withdrawn from the last two editions of the Honda, so this week he is more about playing the hot golfer.
Fredrik Jacobson-- Jacobson is hot right now with top 10s in his last three starts on the Tour, including an impressive T9 at last week's Match Play.
Ernie Els-- I think this pick is a real tossup between Keegan Bradley and Els. Els is a past winner of this event, which earns him the spot on this week's roster.
SUPER SUBS
Keegan Bradley, Peter Hanson, Dustin Johnson, John Merrick
GROUP C
Charl Schwartzel-- He disappointed at the Match Play, but before that he was one of the hottest players on the planet with top 5s in seven consecutive worldwide starts. His best finish at The Honda Classic came last year when he tied for fifth place.
Lee Westwood-- Jason Day just dropped out of this week's field, so instead I'm going with Lee Westwood, who has a pair of top 10s ( T9 in '10 and a fourth place last year) in his last three starts at PGA National.
SUPER SUBS
Y.E.Yang, Matteo Manassero, Russell Henley, Henrik Stenson
Coming Wednesday
And the analysis doesn't end here. Rotoworld's Rob Bolton and I will be co-hosting a one-hour live chat WEDNESDAY at NOON ET. We will be breaking down the field at The Honda Classic and answering your questions. Simply return to the golf home page to join in on the chatter.