PGA First Look: The Honda Classic

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

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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

Term Description
Site Odds The percentage differential between a golfer’s salary rank and odds rank. The higher the %, the better.
OWGR Official World Golf Ranking
Cuts Cut record of each golfer at this course in the last five seasons.
2013 – 2016 Columns Course history at this event in the last five seasons.

About the Author

Notorious
Derek Farnsworth (Notorious)

Derek Farnsworth (aka Notorious) is a lead RotoGrinders Expert and one of the most recognizable names and faces in all of DFS. Before joining the RotoGrinders team, Derek received a Master’s Degree from the University of Utah. When he’s not busy providing content, he’s dominating the DFS industry as evidenced by his consistent top rankings in several sports and multiple Live Final appearances. Noto provides expert NBA, NFL, MLB, and PGA analysis for RotoGrinders Premium members on a daily basis and has also been nominated for five different Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association (FSWA) awards. Follow Noto on Twitter – @RG_Notorious