The Honda Classic - Preview

The Honda Classic
The Champion Course, PGA National GC, Florida
Thursday Feb 23rd - Sunday 26th 2017
by David Barwise

 

Photo: www.priceless.com

 

Time for a nice relaxing trip to Florida, just beware the bear...

 

The Course
Once an event without a home, The Honda Classic has benefitted greatly since moving to the PGA National.  The 7045-yard Champion Course was redesigned by Jack Nicklaus who had the notorious three-hole stretch of 15, 16 and 17 named after him – The Bear Trap. As the 18-time major champion states, “it’s not about length... it’s about guts”. This sums up the entire course, as blustery conditions put a premium on precision and ball striking (European Tour players tend to perform well here).

The Field
As already mentioned, the event has struggled to attract some of the bigger names in the past. With 12 of the top 25 in attendance, 2017’s offering seems much more fruitful. Defending champion Adam Scott will be returning for his second event in as many weeks, as will Justin Thomas and Sergio Garcia who have wins already this season. Other notables include Rickie Fowler, major holders Danny Willet and Jimmy Walker, and Ryder Cup star Thomas Pieters who finished T2 last week.

 

Last Year
Despite a par-3 quadruple bogey on the Saturday, Scott finished the week a stroke ahead of Garcia. Fowler started strong, with a solo lead at the halfway mark, but a third round score of 74 hampered his chance of lifting the trophy. Justin Thomas finished T3.

 

Spotlight
It was this time last year that Scott claimed back-to-back wins and became one of the favourites for the first major of the year. After a good showing last week (especially with the distraction of playing alongside Dustin Johnson as he sought the world number one) all eyes will be watching to see if he can do the same again.

The Honda Classic was more or less Justin Thomas’ break-out event last year - since then he has won three times and in great style. The Kentucky native lives a mere 15 minutes from the Champion Course and has a great chance to make it three wins in five starts.

 

Photo: ReutersUK

 

Prediction
It’s never safe to ignore a defending champion, and Scott looks certain to be a threat come Sunday. Worldwide, he hasn’t finished outside the top-15 since mid-October, placing T9 and T11 in his only starts this year. With his last two starts in this event finishing 1st and T12, Adam Scott is my favourite to win this week.

Russell Knox’s missed cut at the Waste Management Phoenix Open is the only mark on an otherwise unblemished record (he hasn’t finished outside of the top 20 since the TOUR Championship). One of the best ball strikers in golf at the moment, his fundamentally strong swing means he comes into this week with a real chance.

Brendan Steele has a strong track record at this event and is ranked 6^th in both ball striking and bogey avoidance this season. I wouldn’t go as far as to predict a win this week but, with 6 cuts made in as many attempts, I can see him on the leaderboard in this event.

Genesis Open - Preview

Genesis Open

Riviera CC, California

Thursday Feb 16th - Sunday 19th 2017

by David Barwise

It’s the last leg of the West Coast swing, and the stakes are high in the race for world number one.

Photo: westsidetoday.com

The Course

Both historic and well-respected, this 7366 yard par 71 was designed by George Thomas and is a favourite of many pros and golf-savvy celebs. Although the shorter holes don’t “favor any one particular type of player”, the majority of holes at the Riviera Country Club play right into the hands of the big hitters. The main stumbling block is the 315 yard 10^th – a par 4 short enough to tempt the big stick crusaders but well-guarded with a green that slopes front-to-back. As the course’s official website states, it’s a “timeless strategic challenge”.

The Field

Arguably the strongest PGA field of the year so far. Out of the top 10, only European heavyweights Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson won’t be in attendance. FedExCup leader Hideki Matsuyama will be teeing off alongside world number one Jason Day and 59-shooter Justin Thomas. The latter’s close friend Jordan Spieth will be looking to replicate the Kentuckian by winning twice on the trot after his win last week at Pebble Beach. This also marks Thomas Pieters’ first competitive round in the States since impressing at the Ryder Cup.

Last Year

We saw Bubba Watson claim his second win at Hogan’s Alley – his on point short game the difference. His opening round of 66 was second only to Camilo Villegas’ 63 which was the lowest score of the week. Villegas fell away, but Bubba had to fight off Adam Scott and Jason Kokrak, ultimately holding a one stroke at -16.

Photo: golfweek.com

Spotlight

For the first time this season, Jason Day has a real chance of being dethroned as world number one. Dustin Johnson could go top if he wins this week and Day finishes in a three-way tie for T3. Hideki Matsuyama could also jump up to the top spot if he wins and Day finishes T24 or worse.

Also, despite the high quality of golf on show, a lot of air time will be dedicated to an absentee. Tiger Woods had this week earmarked as part of his comeback from injury. However, back spasms have forced him to withdraw from a few events. His high involvement at Riviera CC still meant he was scheduled for a press conference but he has since pulled out of that as well, prompting questions over the severity of his condition.

Prediction

As I’ve already said, the long-hitters have a big advantage this week and it’s impossible to ignore Dustin Johnson’s form at this event (2, T2, 4 in the last three years). Also, apart from his missed cut at the Farmers Insurance Open, the reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year hasn’t finished outside of the top ten in 2017. DJ is my favourite to win this week.

I also don’t envision this to be a happy title defence for Bubba Watson who has got off to a slow start this year (MC, and T25 in 32-man field). He’ll be relying on a good week to jumpstart his season and gear up for the Masters like his he did in 2016.

Waste Management Phoenix Open - Preview

Waste Management Phoenix Open

TPC Scottsdale, Arizona

Thursday Feb 2nd - Sunday 5th 2017 

by David Barwise

It’s the run-up to Super Bowl Sunday, and things are gonna get loud.

Photo: Golficity

The Course

At 7266 yards, this par-71 is a long-hitter’s course. The slow, unassuming, Bermudagrass greens means it’s all about the tee-to-green play. If in doubt, see Hideki Matsuyama’s record here.

But the gem in Scottsdale’s crown is the short par-3 16^th, surrounded by grandstands and dubbed “The Coliseum”. While caddie racing has since been outlawed, keep your eyes peeled for the good, the bad, and the downright bizarre.

The Field

We’ll start this week with 132, with the weekend cut for the top 70 and ties. While the bright lights of Dubai have enticed many top golfers this week, Scottsdale will host 12 of the top 30, including previous winners Matsuyama, Brooks Koepka, and Phil Mickelson.

Justin Thomas, who leads the FedExCup and is currently the name on everyone’s lips, will also be in attendance.

Last Year

Much to the frustration of sports fans who were eager to switch over to the Super Bowl, a then-rare clutch putt from Hideki Matsuyama meant he was tied with Rickie Fowler at -14. They were evenly matched throughout until Rickie found the water on the fourth playoff hole, leaving the door open for Matsuyama to score par and win

Photo: MyGolfBuddy

Spotlight

All eyes will be on Justin Thomas to see if he can be the first player to make back-to-back-to-back wins on the PGA Tour since Rory McIlroy in 2014. His tussle at the top of the FedExCup standings with defending champ Matsuyama will also make for interesting viewing.

Thomas will be partnered with fellow 59-shooter Adam Hadwin and fan favourite Phil Mickelson. The Californian shot a record-tying -28 over his successful 2013 campaign. On top of Mickelson’s three wins at this event, he’s been known to interact well with the crowd at this event – even throwing the pigskin around on the 16^th.

Prediction

I’m not looking for much of an upset here. Although this is a course that suits Justin Thomas’ game perfectly (and I fully expect a top-5 finish from him), Hideki Matsuyama’s record here is just too good – he’s shot a total of 14-under on each visit here and has never finished outside of the top-5.

While Thomas’ putting game has been excellent in his previous two events, it has been uncharacteristic of him, and I don’t see him carrying that form on to a place where he missed the cut only 12 months ago. I’d sooner expect Jon Rahm (another winner this year, T5 in his last appearance here, tee-to-green pro, great desert player) to challenge the defending champion.