(GOLF) The Honda Classic Preview and Betting Tips
The Honda Classic
The PGA Tour heads to Florida this week at The Honda Classic. The event will be played at PGA National (Champion), a Par 70 course measuring a lengthy 7140 yards. It is often one of the toughest tests of the season for PGA Tour players, with only one event in the past 5 years having been won with a score of 10 under par or more. (Rory McIlroy -12 in 2012) The course is also home to one of the most famous series of holes in the sport, with holes 15, 16 and 17 comprising one of the toughest series of holes for players; a set of holes most commonly referred to as 'The Bear Trap'.
Last year: Adam Scott was able to fend off the challenge of Sergio Garcia to win by a margin of 1 stroke. But will he retain it this year? In this article, I will examine player's form at this event over the past 5 years as well as their form in recent months. Using this information, I will then come up with a judgement of who I think will be the players to look out for in the upcoming event.
My Tips:
Adam Scott: The world number 7 is a genuine contender to win the event for a second consecutive year. He has only played the event twice in the past 5 years, racking up a tie for 12th in 2014 alongside his win last year. He is also in hot form, having finished in the top 15 in 10 of his 11 last events worldwide. Scott is a force to be reckoned with and it will be no surprise to see him contending for the title come Sunday.
Justin Thomas: Justin Thomas is just having one of those seasons that has confirmed his status amongst the world's elite players. He has been in imperious form of late, having won 3 times already this season. He also has good history in this event, having finished in T3 last year in his only start to date. Although he has not performed to his capabilities in the last two events, expect him to be a factor come Sunday afternoon in Florida.
Russell Knox: The Scot has had a stellar last few years and he now finds himself 19th in the official World Golf Rankings. Despite a missed cut in his last start at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, prior to that Knox managed to survive the cut in 17 successive events; including a win at the Travelers Championship. The Scot has also had great success in this event; having finished in a T26, T3 and T2 in his only 3 starts. Knox is in good form, but can he finally break through and win the Honda Classic?
Brendan Steele: Steele is another player having a great year on the PGA Tour. The University of California graduate has already racked up a win this season at the Safeway Open and also has a further 4 top 20 finishes; including a pair of T6 finishes at the Career Builder Challenge and the SBS Tournament of Champions. He also has good history in this event having made the cut in each of his last 5 events; including a T14 and a T11 in 2016 and 2015 respectively.
Russell Henley: The 2014 Champion returns to the event where he won his second PGA Tour title. Although Henley has slipped down the rankings in the past few years, he is showing signs of returning to his best form in recent weeks; having recorded 5 top 25 finishes in his last 6 starts. He has also made the cut 3/4 times at this event, with finishes of T13 and T44 going alongside his win in 2014.
Ryan Palmer: The Texan has been in atrocious form in recent weeks so many would be baffled by this decision. He has missed the cut in 4 of his last 5 starts, but he did managed to stop the rot with a T49 at the Genesis Open. But having looked at his course form, his consistency at the Honda Classic has persuaded me to include him as one of my picks. He has been a model of consistency in his last 5 starts at the Florida event, having finished T26, T25, T2, T41 and T26 in his last 5 starts here.
Others that could contend: Luke Donald, Tyrell Hatton, William McGirt, Paul Casey, Graeme McDowell, Sean O'Hair, Sergio Garcia
Projected winner: Russell Knox
The PGA Tour heads to Florida this week at The Honda Classic. The event will be played at PGA National (Champion), a Par 70 course measuring a lengthy 7140 yards. It is often one of the toughest tests of the season for PGA Tour players, with only one event in the past 5 years having been won with a score of 10 under par or more. (Rory McIlroy -12 in 2012) The course is also home to one of the most famous series of holes in the sport, with holes 15, 16 and 17 comprising one of the toughest series of holes for players; a set of holes most commonly referred to as 'The Bear Trap'.
Last year: Adam Scott was able to fend off the challenge of Sergio Garcia to win by a margin of 1 stroke. But will he retain it this year? In this article, I will examine player's form at this event over the past 5 years as well as their form in recent months. Using this information, I will then come up with a judgement of who I think will be the players to look out for in the upcoming event.
My Tips:
Adam Scott: The world number 7 is a genuine contender to win the event for a second consecutive year. He has only played the event twice in the past 5 years, racking up a tie for 12th in 2014 alongside his win last year. He is also in hot form, having finished in the top 15 in 10 of his 11 last events worldwide. Scott is a force to be reckoned with and it will be no surprise to see him contending for the title come Sunday.
Justin Thomas: Justin Thomas is just having one of those seasons that has confirmed his status amongst the world's elite players. He has been in imperious form of late, having won 3 times already this season. He also has good history in this event, having finished in T3 last year in his only start to date. Although he has not performed to his capabilities in the last two events, expect him to be a factor come Sunday afternoon in Florida.
Russell Knox: The Scot has had a stellar last few years and he now finds himself 19th in the official World Golf Rankings. Despite a missed cut in his last start at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, prior to that Knox managed to survive the cut in 17 successive events; including a win at the Travelers Championship. The Scot has also had great success in this event; having finished in a T26, T3 and T2 in his only 3 starts. Knox is in good form, but can he finally break through and win the Honda Classic?
Brendan Steele: Steele is another player having a great year on the PGA Tour. The University of California graduate has already racked up a win this season at the Safeway Open and also has a further 4 top 20 finishes; including a pair of T6 finishes at the Career Builder Challenge and the SBS Tournament of Champions. He also has good history in this event having made the cut in each of his last 5 events; including a T14 and a T11 in 2016 and 2015 respectively.
Russell Henley: The 2014 Champion returns to the event where he won his second PGA Tour title. Although Henley has slipped down the rankings in the past few years, he is showing signs of returning to his best form in recent weeks; having recorded 5 top 25 finishes in his last 6 starts. He has also made the cut 3/4 times at this event, with finishes of T13 and T44 going alongside his win in 2014.
Ryan Palmer: The Texan has been in atrocious form in recent weeks so many would be baffled by this decision. He has missed the cut in 4 of his last 5 starts, but he did managed to stop the rot with a T49 at the Genesis Open. But having looked at his course form, his consistency at the Honda Classic has persuaded me to include him as one of my picks. He has been a model of consistency in his last 5 starts at the Florida event, having finished T26, T25, T2, T41 and T26 in his last 5 starts here.
Others that could contend: Luke Donald, Tyrell Hatton, William McGirt, Paul Casey, Graeme McDowell, Sean O'Hair, Sergio Garcia
Projected winner: Russell Knox
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