Daily fantasy golf: The Honda Classic preview - USA TODAY
(Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports)
PGA National (The Champion) is the home of this week’s The Honda Classic, held in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. One of the toughest stops on the circuit, it takes a special round to go low on this test of patience and precision.
Holes 15, 16 and 17 â€" “The Bear Trap†â€" can derail even the best pros’ hottest rounds. The course’s bunkers were reshaped following last year’s event. Expect a composite score of 10-under to be in contention to win the event, and even par should be close to the cut line.
Focus on golfers who are safe picks to make the cut, and remember the Celebration Bermuda grass gives roughly 20 yards of extra fairway roll.
Scrambling isn’t as important when there really is no such thing as a “bad lie†on this course, but exact approaches and crafty putting likely will determine the victor.
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Rory McIlroy: His first PGA event in 2015 … World’s No. 1 is the smartest and safest call for a first-place finish. Notched a T2 from a one-hole playoff in 2014 and tied for the best single round (-7). His -12 total in 2012 was good enough for a two-stroke win over Tiger Woods. Three weeks removed from 22-under-par win in Dubai.
Rickie Fowler: Consistently good after missing first two cuts at PGA National. Shot -3 in 2014, with three rounds under par; T13 (-1) in 2013; minus-6 tie for seventh the year before. Attractive all-around skill set; improved ball striking since nesting under Butch Harmon’s wing.
Draws
Dustin Johnson: He isn’t just a bomber, folks, and Johnson really should have won at Riviera. Coming off a second-place finish (and a fourth at Pebble Beach), coupled with his length, on the short list of contenders. Forgettable history at PGA National, but recent form is his trump card.
Russell Henley: Last year’s winner (-8, playoff) but coming off a disastrous 6-over-par 77 in final round at Riviera. Aggregate score of -31 in prior three 2015 PGA events. Shot minus-1 (T13) in his debut in 2013’s The Honda Classic. 2015 ranks of 132nd in proximity to the hole but fourth in total putting … 10-for-10 cuts, too.
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Ryan Palmer: He didn’t play poorly at Pebble Beach, despite missed cut (72-68-70). Week off to recharge. Finished -8 (T2, playoff) last year, T26 in 2012. Ninth in total driving efficiency, 11th in greens in regulation, 11th in proximity to the hole.
Vaughn Taylor: Cunning choice after last week’s ugly 3-over final round that followed back-to-back days of shooting 68. Was a total of minus-23 in his two prior 2015 PGA events, including -15 at Pebble Beach (3-for-3 cuts). Respectable recent history at PGA National (T25 in 2013, T18 in ’12).
Wild cards
Sergio Garcia: Hung in there at Riviera despite not shooting well. Sketchy history at this South Florida track (T8 in 2014 being his best). Has the driving game and definitely an improved putter in recent years. Might make a sneaky play for the win if McIlroy finds a way to give this one away.
Charl Schwartzel: Missed cut in 2014; -2 T9 in 2013; T5 (minus-7) in 2012; 2011 composite of even (T14) … great history, but recent form has been an eyesore (plus-15 in last two events). Brave enough?
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Stuart Appleby: Only 4-under in his last three tournaments, all resulting in missed cuts. Good for -10 T17 in the Sony Open Jan. 18. Noteworthy recent history at PGA National: 2011 T10, T21 in 2012, 5-under-T8 finish last year.
Don’t forget about
â€" Justin Rose
â€" Michael Thompson
â€" Russell Knox
â€" Robert Streb
â€" Lee Westwood
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