The Honda Classic
The Champion Course, PGA National GC, Florida
Thursday Feb 23rd - Sunday 26th 2017
by David Barwise
The Champion Course, PGA National GC, Florida
Thursday Feb 23rd - Sunday 26th 2017
by David Barwise
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| 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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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| Photo: ReutersUK |
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 6th 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.
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