Fantasy Golf Predictions for The Honda Classic Feb. 27th – March 2nd, 2014
Tournament Preview
It’s time to head east to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida for the 2014 Honda Classic as the start of the east cost swing kicks off the PGA TOUR’s top professionals’ final preparations for the season’s first major, the Masters.
This week Tiger Woods and Adam Scott return from a long break and join a tough field packed with TOUR superstars, including the top 7 players in the world and a total of 13 of the top 25 players in the world. Tiger hasn’t been seen on the PGA TOUR since his uncharacteristically disastrous play at Torrey Pines – a course he’s dominated many times in his career. Adam Scott, also not seen since the TOUR’s the Sony’s Open in early January, will make just his second Honda Classic start since 2003. He missed the cut at PGA National in 2011 and has been on a break from the event since then. Phil Mickelson will also be playing the course for the first time. The famous lefty hasn’t competed in this event since the 2002 edition held at the old TPC Heron Bay.
The Course
PGA National (Champion) measures in at 7,241 yards and plays as a par 70. This beautifully designed course was created by George and Tom Fazio in 1981 with the intention to host major events. The track played host to the 1983 Ryder Cup, 1987 PGA Championship and 19 Senior PGA Championships before the Honda Classic claimed the spot in 2007. Jack Nicklaus helped redesign the course 24 years ago by introducing the challenging, and dreaded “Bear Trap,” a spot that has gotten the best of more players than we can count.
“The Bear Trap” includes three of the Senior Tour’s ten toughest holes. Photo by FloridaGolfGuide.com
Weather Forecast for Palm Beach Gardens, FL (from weather.com)
Round 1: Thursday (Feb 27) 74 degrees, 30% chance of rain, few showers.
Round 2: Friday (Feb 28) 75 degrees, 30% chance of rain, isolated T-storms.
Round 3: Saturday (Mar 1) 80 degrees, 20% chance of rain, partly cloudy.
Round 4: Sunday (Mar 2) 79 degrees, 0% chance of rain, partly cloudy.
2013 Results
Michael Thompson broke through on the PGA TOUR winning his first event here in 2013 over Geoff Ogilvy. Thompson took control of his destiny early, drilling a 50-foot eagle putt at No.3, then going on to add three huge par saves down a five-hole stretch to kick off his back 9. He would eventually finish with a 1-under-par 69.
Thompson hasn’t cracked better than a T15 finish yet this season in the 6 events he has played in. His best finish was a T16, to which he’s added a couple of T19s since.
Tiger Woods didn’t look sharp at last year’s Honda Classic. The World No. 1 lost two balls into the water in the final round and tied for 37th while Rory McIlroy walked off after eight holes into Friday’s round with a toothache, although most feel it was just an easy way to avoid missing the cut for the struggling McIlroy.
Fantasy Notes
Don’t be surprised if you see a few big names finish in the Top 10 this week. Almost all of the World’s Top 7 playing this week will be coming into the event relatively fresh. Woods, Scott, and Mickelson all sat out the WGC Accenture Match Play while Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy and Zach Johnson we’re all knocked out before Friday’s rounds, giving them plenty of time to head to sunny Florida to prep for this event.
Tiger Woods is winless in his two starts here at PGA National and if he doesn’t win this week, it will be added to the list of four courses where he has failed to win with at least 3 starts under his belt (Riviera CC, Westchester CC, Dove Mountain, and TPC Scottsdale).
Early season stars Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker, Matt Kuchar and Jason Day will not be in attendance this week, and the picks won’t be easy this time around.
Media
TV:
Thursday-Friday, 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel).
Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (GC); 3-6 p.m. (NBC), with concurrent “Bear Trap” spotlight coverage on Golf Channel.
RADIO:
Thursday- Sunday, noon-6 p.m. ET (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com).
Mobile:
Simultaneous coverage on the Golf Live Extra mobile app by Golf Channel.
Our Top 5 (and Top 2 Sleeper) Picks/Odds to Win The Honda Classic
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Last Week’s Results: Top 5 Picks/Odds to Win the 2014 WGC Accenture Match Play Championship
Dustin Johnson (Golficity Odds 10/1): Loss in 1st Round ($48,000)
Hunter Mahan (Golficity Odds 12/1): Loss in 3rd Round ($148,000)
Rory McIlroy (Golficity Odds 15/1): Loss in 2nd Round($99,000)
Keegan Bradley (Golficity Odds 22/1): Loss in 1st Round ($48,000)
Jason Day (Golficity Odds 30/1): TOURNAMENT WINNER ($1,530,000)
Last Week’s Results: Sleeper Picks/Odds to Win
Jordan Spieth (Golficity Odds 40/1): Loss in 4th Round ($280,000)
Ian Poulter (Golficity Odds 66/1): Loss in 1st Round ($48,000)
Fantasy Golf Predictions Stats: Season to Date
Total Fantasy Dollars: $9,973,164.
Winners picked: 3 selected picked out of 8 tournaments (37.5% winning percentage in 2014).
Top 10s: 21 out of 56 players picked (37.50% of players picked finished in Top 10).
Top 3s: 7 out of 56 players picked (12.5% players picked finished in the Top 3).
Missed Cuts: Only 7 out of 56 players picked.
Let us know what you think of this week’s fantasy golf predictions for the 2014 Honda Classic by leaving us your comments below.
(Cover Photo Credit)