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Honda Classic: PGA Golf Odds And Predictions

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Honda Classic History

The best thing about the start of the PGA Tour’s Florida Swing? That means the Masters – and spring – is just around the corner. The Honda Classic is played at PGA National Resort & Spa’s Champions course, a par 70 measuring up to 7,125 yards that’s annually one of the toughest tracks on the Tour. The signature stretch is holes 15-17, known as the “Bear Trap” after course designer, local resident and the greatest player in golf history, Jack Nicklaus. All three of those holes were among the Tour’s 10 toughest a season ago.

Unfortunately, no Dustin Johnson – who won the WGC-Mexico Championship on Sunday – Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson or world No. 1 Justin Rose in the field, among a few other notables. The Honda Classic is situated in a tough spot on the 2019 schedule after that big-money WGC event and a week ahead of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, which nearly every of note plays.

No player has won the Honda Classic (or what it was named previously) more than twice – Nicklaus is one of four guys with two victories. The 18-hole record at the course is a 61.

Honda Classic Favourites

Justin Thomas is the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 3 and is the clear Sports Interaction favourite at +550. He’s the defending champion, finishing 72 holes last year at 8-under 272 with Luke List, who lost on the first playoff hole when Thomas birdied No. 18. Thomas also has a T3 at the tournament but two missed cuts.

Rickie Fowler is +1000 and reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year Brooks Koepka +1200. Fowler was the 2017 champion at 12 under by four shots. He missed the cut in his defence last year. Koepka has yet to finish in the Top 10 in four trips to the Honda Classic.

Aussie Adam Scott and Spaniard Sergio Garcia round out the leaders at +1600. Scott won in 2016 at 9 under. The runner-up by a shot? Garcia.

Canadian Golfer’s Odds

The top-ranked Canadian, No. 63 Adam Hadwin, isn’t playing. Roger Sloan is +15000 as is Nick Taylor, Adam Svensson is +25000, and Mackenzie Hughes +30000. Sloan, Taylor and Svensson make their debuts here. Hughes has played twice and made the cut but not contended.

Ben Silverman was originally in the field but bumped from his spot due to the Tour adding players who finished in the Top 10 at last week’s Puerto Rico Open. Silverman missed the cut. He’s a third alternate this week so would need some pre-tournament withdrawals to play.

No Canadian golfer has won this tournament. Dan Halldorson was a co-runner up in 1991, three shots behind Steve Pate.

Honda Classic Predictions

Take Thomas and Billy Horschel for Top 10s, but the winner is big-hitting Gary Woodland at +2000. He has two Top 10s in six trips, including a runner-up in 2017. Woodland is having a fine season with six Top 10s (two runners-up) but yet to win.