Honda Classic Picks

The Tour has finally made its way to the East Coast, which can only mean 1 thing. The Masters is right around the corner! Before we get to Augusta though, it’s time for the Florida Swing. The first event of the Florida Swing is the Honda Classic coming to you from beautiful Palm Beach Gardens. Since it’s Honda week, it’s the perfect time to go into the vault and pull out this shot that Rory hit on 18 back in back in 2014:

I was standing off to the side of Rory when he hit this. I couldn’t believe he pulled this shot off then and 6 years later I still can’t believe it.

Before we get into who we like this week, let’s take a look at where we stand up to this point in the season:

We clearly aren’t experts.

So, without further ado, let’s get right into who we like this week.

Dan Hauser (@DanHauserGolf)

Not only has the Tour finally made its way to Florida, it’s also a home game for yours truly this week. It’s also a home game for many of the top players on Tour. Unfortunately, many of those players are choosing not to tee it up at PGA National this week despite the fact that they could practically walk to the course from their homes. That includes Tiger, Rory, and JT.

While they aren’t teeing it up this week, you know who is? None other than Viktor Hovland.

Coming off a win at last week’s opposite-field Puerto Rico Open, Hovland finally broke through with his first Tour win. Funny that I’m saying “finally” for a guy who this time last year was still playing college golf but he’s so talented it feels like his first win should have come sooner.

Hovland will now look to make it two in a row at a golf course that was practically built for his game. Just how well-suited is his game for this golf course? This stat from Justin Ray should tell you all you need to know:

The field at PGA National had more than 3,000 approach shots last year between 150 and 200 yards, most of any course on the PGA Tour.

The player with the best average proximity from 150 to 200 yards this season: Viktor Hovland, by more than two full feet per shot.

— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) February 25, 2020

No arguing with facts like that. As long as Viktor can avoid the chipping issues around the tough PGA National greens this week, he walks away with the win and the Masters invite 500 FedEx Cup points.

Michael Shamburger (@mshamburger1)

I really like Dan’s pick of Hovland this week, but since we can’t pick the same guys I’m going with someone else who hasn’t played in the Honda in five years.

Justin Rose.

Rose has good results at PGA National.

2015 – MC
2013 – T4
2012 – T5
2010 – 3
2009 – MC
2008 – T15
2005 – T14
2004 – T36
2003 – T57

That’s all.

Enjoy the tournament.

Two Inches Short (@TwoInchesShort)

Tommy Fleetwood is our pick to win this week’s Honda Classic and it isn’t because of his perfectly coiffed hair or European Tour status.

Even in the Florida humidity, Fleetwood manages to maintain his flow in the most extreme conditions, a lot like his golf game which tends to shine when the going gets tough.

PGA National requires precise ball striking and the Englishman is one of the best there is in the world. The evidence lies in his solo fourth finish in his only start here back in 2018 and the media’s consistent touting of his strong iron play.

Plus he’s finished no worse than T18 in his last 5 worldwide starts, which includes a win down in South Africa at the Nedbank Golf Challenge and consecutive runner-ups in the UAE.

Tommy ‘Fly’ Fleetwood eats bear traps for breakfast. Being the betting favorite doesn’t hurt either.

For the record, maintaining status on both tours is a heck of a lot easier AND justifiable when you win.