PGA First Look: The Honda Classic

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2018-02-22 13:49:23

The PGA First Look is complete with a course preview, odds, salaries, Official World Golf Rankings, and course history.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Click here to learn how you could win a trip to Augusta with the Tour Junkies and FantasyDraft!

Event Preview

Bubba Watson picked up two wins last weekend. His team won the All-Star Celebrity Game and then he put together a tremendous back nine at Riviera to take down the Genesis Open. The PGA Tour now heads to Florida for the Honda Classic. This is basically the first event on the road to Augusta, which is why you’ll see so many of the big European Tour golfers in the field. We also have some big PGA Tour names set to tee it up including Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas, and Tiger Woods. This tournament is held in Palm Beach Gardens, which is home to many golfers. Just to name a few — Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas, Jason Dufner, Daniel Berger, Russell Knox, Graeme McDowell, and Louis Oosthuizen all have homes in the area.

PGA National is a Par 70 that measures 7,140 yards. It is one of the most difficult courses on the PGA Tour thanks to a number of water hazards and more often than not, windy conditions. Realistically, water is in play on 13 of the 18 holes and with this being an exposed property, it allows the wind direct access to tee boxes, fairways, and greens. An early look at the forecast shows winds in the 15-20 MPH range from Thursday through Saturday. The course is most known for the “Bear Trap,” which is one of the most difficult three-hole stretches on tour. The holes include 15, 16, and 17, so it creates an exciting finish to the tournament and some major cut sweats on Friday afternoon.

With so many hazards in play off the tee, this is a less than driver course for most golfers. Being in the fairway is a lot better than being in the rough or the hazard, as you can quickly make big numbers on this course. The course features Bermuda greens that are fairly big on average, but many are long and narrow, which makes hitting them difficult. The greens that aren’t surrounded by water and guarded by testing bunkers. The course has played a little easier in the last two years, but that’s not expected to be the case this time around. There has been little rain in the area leading up to the tournament and as I mentioned earlier, the wind is expected to be brutal this week.

In terms of the type of golfer, I’m looking for ball strikers that are terrific iron players. Distance off the tee should not be on your radar this week, as many of the holes require less than driver tee shots. With only two par fives, I will be placing a big emphasis on par four scoring. As always, birdie or better percentage should be high on your list, as it directly correlates to scoring in fantasy golf. I will also be taking a peak at greens in regulation, which plays into the ball striking angle. And finally, I will be factoring in putting, especially on Bermuda greens. There are many golfers in the field that will be rejoicing to get away from the bumpy Poa Annua greens in California.

Cut Rule:Top 70 and ties move on after the first two rounds. The MDF rule is in effect if more than 78 golfers make the initial cut.

Recent Winners of this Event:Rickie Fowler (2017), Adam Scott (2016), Padraig Harrington (2015), Russell Henley (2014), Michael Thompson (2013)

Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)

1) Strokes Gained Approach
2) Par 4 Scoring
3) Birdie or Better %
4) Greens in Regulation
5) Strokes Gained Putting (Emphasis on Bermuda)

Hole by Hole Breakdown

Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2013-2017)

Golfer	DK Salary	FD Salary	FDRFT Salary	OWGR	Odds	DK Odds	FD Odds	FDRFT Odds	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013
Rickie Fowler	$11,700	$12,300	$18,200	7	9	0%	0%	0%	1	6	41	24	13
Rory McIlroy	$11,500	$12,100	$17,400	10	11	0%	0%	0%	500	78	95	2	500
Justin Thomas	$11,300	$12,100	$17,400	4	11	0%	-50%	-50%	71	3	95	500	500
Sergio Garcia	$10,500	$11,900	$16,400	11	17	0%	0%	0%	14	2	31	8	500
Alexander Noren	$10,100	$11,500	$15,300	16	31	-60%	-60%	0%	500	500	500	500	131
Gary Woodland	$9,700	$10,700	$15,500	26	29	-17%	22%	-17%	2	61	500	500	68
Tyrrell Hatton	$9,500	$10,600	$15,600	15	26	29%	50%	0%	4	500	500	500	500
Tommy Fleetwood	$9,400	$11,300	$15,500	12	28	25%	0%	0%	500	500	500	500	500
Patrick Reed	$9,100	$10,400	$14,300	25	46	-33%	0%	0%	500	92	7	24	58
Russell Knox	$9,000	$9,400	$14,500	89	44	-10%	59%	0%	117	26	3	2	500
Brian Harman	$8,900	$10,500	$15,000	21	38	18%	18%	0%	48	134	11	58	110
Daniel Berger	$8,800	$10,300	$14,600	35	42	17%	29%	0%	96	86	2	500	500
Brandt Snedeker	$8,700	$11,000	$14,200	67	51	-23%	-129%	-14%	500	500	500	500	500
Jason Dufner	$8,600	$10,300	$14,200	44	51	7%	7%	7%	14	61	17	500	51
Kevin Kisner	$8,500	$10,300	$14,200	31	55	-33%	-43%	-43%	48	70	51	500	500
Ollie Schniederjans	$8,400	$9,300	$14,200	79	51	6%	48%	-7%	48	86	500	500	500
Webb Simpson	$8,300	$10,400	$14,200	45	54	-12%	-58%	-36%	500	500	500	500	500
Tiger Woods	$8,200	$9,100	$13,800	544	67	-56%	15%	-17%	500	500	500	500	37
Rafael Cabrera-Bello	$8,100	$10,800	$14,200	20	51	26%	-75%	0%	37	500	500	500	500
Martin Kaymer	$8,000	$9,400	$13,800	82	67	-45%	-7%	-21%	4	500	44	88	51
Scott Stallings	$8,000	$8,700	$13,900	143	61	-15%	50%	0%	21	140	63	500	29
Louis Oosthuizen	$7,900	$10,100	$13,600	29	66	-14%	-39%	26%	21	500	500	500	120
Bud Cauley	$7,800	$9,100	$13,400	113	81	-65%	-15%	-9%	27	500	500	500	88
Kiradech Aphibarnrat	$7,800	$9,000	$12,700	38	81	-70%	-8%	11%	500	500	500	500	500
Adam Scott	$7,700	$10,200	$14,300	58	52	28%	-6%	-50%	14	1	500	12	500
Chesson Hadley	$7,700	$9,500	$14,000	72	55	16%	13%	0%	500	21	132	24	500
Russell Henley	$7,700	$9,500	$14,200	55	51	32%	29%	-21%	43	92	44	1	13
Keegan Bradley	$7,700	$9,000	$13,200	69	80	-44%	0%	5%	124	92	86	12	4
Dylan Frittelli	$7,600	$8,900	$13,700	47	67	-3%	25%	6%	500	500	500	500	500
Bernd Wiesberger	$7,600	$9,800	$12,600	53	85	-38%	-100%	23%	500	500	500	500	500
Shane Lowry	$7,600	$9,000	$12,700	73	96	-59%	-28%	-5%	500	53	500	500	500
Thomas Pieters	$7,500	$9,500	$13,800	42	67	16%	-13%	-13%	87	500	500	500	500
Emiliano Grillo	$7,500	$8,400	$13,100	86	80	-16%	34%	5%	43	74	500	500	500
J.B. Holmes	$7,500	$9,200	$12,700	88	97	-47%	-47%	-7%	500	500	500	126	132
Byeong-Hun An	$7,400	$9,300	$13,800	98	68	9%	-10%	-33%	500	500	500	500	500
Ryan Moore	$7,400	$9,900	$13,800	66	65	31%	-26%	0%	500	500	500	500	500
Luke List	$7,400	$8,300	$13,100	124	98	-37%	20%	-23%	52	10	500	500	110
Jhonattan Vegas	$7,400	$8,400	$12,700	49	90	-20%	25%	5%	4	500	95	12	500
Peter Uihlein	$7,400	$8,700	$12,700	62	98	-40%	-7%	-11%	500	500	500	109	500
Sung Kang	$7,400	$8,000	$12,400	91	121	-60%	19%	-2%	52	10	500	500	500
Patton Kizzire	$7,300	$9,600	$14,000	60	59	46%	0%	-5%	66	26	500	500	500
Charles Howell	$7,300	$9,700	$13,800	64	69	20%	-57%	-38%	52	78	44	55	29
Ryan Palmer	$7,300	$9,300	$13,800	99	69	17%	-17%	-42%	37	26	25	2	41
Graeme McDowell	$7,300	$9,100	$13,700	208	66	37%	21%	19%	14	5	72	46	9
Scott Piercy	$7,300	$9,600	$13,800	120	67	24%	-41%	-29%	500	129	31	500	500
Jimmy Walker	$7,300	$8,600	$12,700	87	100	-22%	-2%	-14%	21	43	500	500	500
Vaughn Taylor	$7,300	$8,300	$12,100	236	131	-49%	-2%	-3%	117	500	500	500	25
Grayson Murray	$7,300	$8,900	$13,000	115	101	-27%	-30%	-27%	96	500	500	500	500
Harris English	$7,300	$8,000	$11,800	226	145	-54%	9%	0%	60	500	72	500	76
Ian Poulter	$7,200	$9,000	$12,700	61	79	30%	3%	20%	43	43	3	500	500
Chris Kirk	$7,200	$8,800	$13,300	168	89	18%	5%	-14%	500	103	72	12	51
Nick Watney	$7,200	$8,500	$12,200	349	126	-16%	-9%	-2%	14	500	41	24	500
Lucas Glover	$7,200	$8,200	$11,800	96	119	-10%	14%	13%	21	78	117	88	4
Patrick Rodgers	$7,200	$8,500	$13,300	161	95	12%	17%	-22%	131	140	44	500	500
Aaron Wise	$7,200	$7,800	$12,000	194	179	-44%	11%	-20%	500	500	500	500	500
Seamus Power	$7,200	$8,100	$11,400	346	207	-68%	-27%	-11%	71	500	500	500	500
Robert Garrigus	$7,200	$7,900	$11,400	204	213	-70%	-16%	-12%	124	500	31	109	500
Cheng-Tsung Pan	$7,200	$7,500	$11,400	193	192	-52%	25%	0%	37	500	500	500	500
Camilo Villegas	$7,200	$7,400	$11,200	392	238	-86%	13%	-9%	137	14	16	41	76
Michael Thompson	$7,200	$7,200	$10,900	356	270	-100%	15%	-1%	133	53	44	120	1
Sam Saunders	$7,100	$8,400	$12,700	197	96	26%	20%	-2%	500	14	500	500	500
Brian Gay	$7,100	$8,300	$12,200	141	124	7%	5%	0%	60	500	500	500	51
Billy Horschel	$7,100	$8,400	$13,000	81	91	30%	23%	-5%	4	8	86	126	46
John Huh	$7,100	$8,100	$12,300	240	126	5%	12%	-4%	105	14	17	500	101
Ted Potter	$7,100	$7,900	$12,000		153	-10%	8%	-12%	500	500	500	41	76
Retief Goosen	$7,100	$7,900	$11,000	328	224	-46%	-22%	3%	105	43	86	120	64
Bronson Burgoon	$7,100	$7,200	$11,400	421	226	-48%	23%	-18%	500	14	500	500	500
Chris Stroud	$7,100	$7,600	$11,000	177	233	-49%	3%	1%	500	78	500	12	13
Robert Streb	$7,100	$7,600	$10,600	185	282	-74%	-13%	0%	87	26	59	500	18
Abraham Ancer	$7,100	$7,100	$10,400	255	328	-89%	5%	3%	500	500	500	500	500
Richy Werenski	$7,100	$7,600	$10,400	305	364	-92%	-24%	1%	105	500	500	500	500
Ben Martin	$7,000	$8,700	$11,900	217	141	14%	-35%	0%	500	72	31	500	500
Tom Hoge	$7,000	$7,900	$11,700	191	159	3%	4%	3%	500	37	500	500	500
Anirban Lahiri	$7,000	$8,800	$12,600	77	100	29%	-19%	2%	11	92	500	500	500
Hudson Swafford	$7,000	$8,600	$11,800	104	151	10%	-33%	-3%	105	65	140	61	500
Luke Donald	$7,000	$8,500	$11,800	171	128	17%	-13%	5%	27	61	7	8	500
Talor Gooch	$7,000	$7,800	$11,200	202	189	-3%	9%	13%	500	500	500	500	500
David Lingmerth	$7,000	$7,900	$11,600	157	201	-8%	-7%	-7%	71	53	25	8	101
John Peterson	$7,000	$7,800	$11,500	715	207	-13%	0%	-8%	87	500	31	105	500
Corey Conners	$7,000	$7,900	$10,700	590	271	-40%	-38%	0%	500	500	500	500	500
Peter Malnati	$7,000	$7,600	$10,200	667	495	-81%	-38%	-7%	71	120	500	500	500
Jonathan Randolph	$7,000	$7,000	$10,200	261	461	-72%	3%	-2%	500	500	500	500	500
William McGirt	$6,900	$8,800	$12,600	114	105	35%	-26%	-4%	71	8	22	71	125
J.J. Spaun	$6,900	$8,000	$11,800	127	147	23%	7%	-2%	21	500	500	500	500
Rory Sabbatini	$6,900	$7,800	$11,200	311	207	2%	0%	5%	71	134	11	33	110
Jim Furyk	$6,900	$8,600	$11,200	230	221	-5%	-78%	-2%	500	500	500	500	500
Ryan Blaum	$6,900	$7,600	$10,700	340	263	-19%	-5%	2%	37	500	500	500	500
Padraig Harrington	$6,900	$7,300	$11,600	179	186	12%	35%	0%	117	43	1	88	500
Brice Garnett	$6,900	$7,500	$11,300	211	276	-24%	-2%	-24%	500	500	106	75	500
Alex Cejka	$6,900	$7,700	$10,700	218	261	-18%	-10%	3%	133	21	95	500	500
Tom Lovelady	$6,900	$7,200	$10,600	355	331	-40%	1%	-9%	500	500	500	500	500
Nicholas Lindheim	$6,900	$7,100	$10,200	309	492	-54%	-6%	-6%	500	500	500	500	500
Kelly Kraft	$6,900	$7,100	$10,600	234	311	-37%	6%	-8%	71	500	500	500	500
Cody Gribble	$6,900	$7,000	$10,200	336	476	-52%	2%	-4%	70	500	500	500	500
Greg Chalmers	$6,900	$7,000	$10,100	492	542	-64%	-6%	-4%	57	500	500	88	51
Jamie Lovemark	$6,800	$8,900	$12,900	111	104	45%	-33%	-23%	71	120	31	75	500
Martin Flores	$6,800	$7,600	$11,200	270	189	23%	21%	13%	128	500	17	12	101
Brian Stuard	$6,800	$7,900	$11,300	215	217	10%	-18%	-4%	27	500	72	24	29
Troy Merritt	$6,800	$7,700	$11,800	379	153	29%	24%	-8%	500	500	500	46	500
Wesley Bryan	$6,800	$8,100	$11,800	80	152	31%	0%	-5%	4	500	500	500	500
Sean O’Hair	$6,800	$8,300	$11,800	125	161	26%	-18%	-13%	11	14	25	88	18
Harold Varner	$6,800	$7,800	$11,400	166	207	16%	0%	-7%	57	78	500	500	500
Stephan Jaeger	$6,800	$7,300	$10,200	295	418	-25%	-7%	1%	500	500	500	500	500
Andrew Putnam	$6,800	$7,300	$10,600	364	388	-24%	-6%	-12%	500	500	130	500	500
Lanto Griffin	$6,800	$7,400	$10,900	351	421	-26%	-13%	-22%	500	500	500	500	500
Michael Kim	$6,800	$7,400	$10,300	337	305	-18%	-6%	6%	105	53	500	500	500
Billy Hurley	$6,800	$7,000	$10,100	279	500	-36%	-2%	0%	52	500	106	5	500
Joel Dahmen	$6,800		$10,000	570	656	-43%		1%	500	500	500	500	500
Bob Estes	$6,800	$7,000	$10,000		944	-45%	-9%	-1%	500	500	500	500	23
Andrew Filbert	$6,800	$7,000	$10,000		1000	-46%	-9%	-1%	500	500	500	500	500
Stewart Cink	$6,700	$8,600	$11,800	147	157	38%	-41%	-10%	27	26	31	58	41
Ryan Armour	$6,700	$8,200	$11,400	165	201	30%	-22%	-3%	71	500	106	500	500
Tyrone Van Aswegen	$6,700	$8,000	$11,400	320	203	28%	-16%	-5%	27	72	500	24	500
Andrew Landry	$6,700	$7,600	$11,000	116	221	22%	7%	5%	500	500	500	500	500
Sam Burns	$6,700	$7,700	$10,700	597	239	15%	-6%	7%	500	500	500	500	500
Scott Brown	$6,700	$7,800	$11,000	137	234	17%	-14%	0%	57	10	95	75	500
Blayne Barber	$6,700	$7,500	$11,200	393	239	15%	7%	-11%	62	3	58	500	500
Chad Campbell	$6,700	$7,800	$10,600	254	271	9%	-25%	5%	96	92	59	500	101
Benjamin Silverman	$6,700	$7,500	$11,000	247	246	13%	4%	-5%	500	500	500	500	500
Ben Crane	$6,700	$7,500	$11,000	446	292	2%	-8%	-18%	62	108	68	69	64
Morgan Hoffmann	$6,700	$7,100	$11,200	214	279	5%	13%	-24%	2	61	500	80	500
Mac Hughes	$6,700	$7,700	$10,600	174	382	-6%	-33%	-11%	66	500	500	500	500
Vijay Singh	$6,700	$7,000	$10,200	468	276	6%	19%	14%	500	6	125	63	500
Xin-Jun Zhang	$6,700	$7,000	$10,200	303	506	-19%	-3%	-9%	500	500	500	500	500
Tyler Duncan	$6,700	$7,000	$10,100		533	-22%	-5%	-3%	500	500	500	500	500
Kevin Tway	$6,600	$7,900	$11,000	210	243	24%	-32%	-4%	500	500	500	500	500
Derek Fathauer	$6,600	$7,500	$10,600	307	193	39%	24%	27%	117	26	59	58	500
Danny Lee	$6,600	$7,800	$10,700	144	300	13%	-36%	-9%	87	500	95	500	500
Adam Schenk	$6,600	$7,300	$10,600	308	458	2%	-10%	-16%	500	500	500	500	500
Cameron Tringale	$6,600	$7,300	$10,600	357	292	14%	4%	-2%	65	86	44	41	125
Dominic Bozzelli	$6,600	$7,700	$10,600	267	284	15%	-20%	-1%	96	500	500	500	500
J.J. Henry	$6,600	$7,000	$10,200	481	466	1%	2%	-3%	105	500	106	109	500
Martin Piller	$6,600	$7,400	$10,600	222	300	13%	-3%	-4%	500	500	500	500	500
Rob Oppenheim	$6,600	$7,400	$10,600	241	300	13%	-3%	-4%	500	500	500	500	500
Shawn Stefani	$6,600	$7,100	$10,200	374	479	-1%	-5%	-5%	87	500	106	500	500
Smylie Kaufman	$6,600	$7,200	$10,200	282	447	3%	-4%	-1%	87	37	500	500	500
Matt Every	$6,600	$7,000	$10,100	771	492	-2%	-1%	2%	500	137	63	24	101
Fabian Gomez	$6,600	$7,100	$10,100	541	521	-6%	-11%	-2%	105	103	70	500	64
Denny McCarthy	$6,600	$7,100	$10,100	629	509	-6%	-10%	-2%	500	500	500	500	500
Jon Curran	$6,600	$7,000	$10,100	563	742	-10%	-8%	-5%	96	120	71	500	500

Color Coding
Course history in BLUE indicates a top ten finish.
Course history in GREEN indicates a top 25 finish.
Course history in YELLOW indicates a made cut with a finish outside of the top 25.
Course history in RED indicates a missed cut.

Legend