Honda Classic Picks

After a one week shift outside the United States, the Tour is back on American soil this week for the start of the Florida swing. The month-long stretch gets started this week at PGA National for the Honda Classic. Here is who we all like this week.

Here are our overall records.

(2019 – 7 Events) Correct Incorrect
The Stiff Shaft 2 6
D Money 1 7
Two Inches Short 0 5

Here is who we are going with this week:

Dan Hauser (@DanHauserGolf)

Two quick notes before I give my pick for the week. First off, your boy is on the board finally after correctly nailing that DJ pick last week. I’m coming for you TSS! Second, it’s a home game for me this week at the Honda.

Not only is it a home game for me this week, but the same can be said for a large majority of the field (#JupLife). I’m sticking with that home cooking theme this week with my pick as well and going with Justin Thomas.

Not only is JT the defending champion, he went crazy low on Sunday tying his own course record in Mexico with a 62. For a while on the back too it looked like 59 was in site before he cooled off a little. He said one of the reasons he went low was his “grip it and rip it” mentality on pretty much every tee. If he does that again this week, and can keep the ball in the fairway, I see no reason why he doesn’t repeat again this week.

Two Inches Short (@TwoInchesShort)

Riding an impressive cold streak this season (0-5), we’re attempting to heat things up during the first stop of the Florida Swing by picking the hottest, aka most attractive player in the field at the Honda Classic – Adam Scott.

Scotty finished top-15 in all 4 of his previous trips at PGA National, including a win back in 2016. The man eats the Bear Trap for breakfast.

With a swing already as pretty as his jawline, his biggest improvement this year has been with the putter. He currently sits 18th in strokes-gained putting, a stat he’s gained on the field in each of his last 4 events.

Who cares if he looks ridiculous with his armlock grip and rattles tap-ins off the flagstick … whatever works as long as it’s not illegal, amirite?!

The Stiff Shaft (@TheStiffShaft)

Congrats to D Money for FINALLY making a correct pick. I have to mention that my pick last week was Rory, and if it weren’t for DJ going scorched Earth I would have correctly picked a 3rd winner this season. I digress…

This week, even though it’s not a “home event” for me, I wanted to give you a different option than the other two, but after passing on DJ last week and throwing out Rory, I can’t take that chance this week … so, I’m sticking with my gut. So……

I am going with Adam Scott.

While Scott hasn’t won yet on Tour this season, he did finish second at the Farmers and then T7 at the Genesis. He won this event in 2016 and currently ranks 18th in strokes gained putting and 19th in strokes gained total.

Scott is also rested, where as JT and Fowler are not.

He finished T13 last season at PGA National and T14 in 2017.

The other guy I was leaning towards is Sergio, but I just couldn’t make myself pick him to actually win.

Author: Dan Hauser

Dan is the co-founder of The Stiff Shaft and the website's Senior Writer. A South Florida native, Dan has been covering golf since 2013 and playing it his entire life. He is still waiting for his first hole-in-one.