Honda Classic
February 27 – March 2, 2014
PGA National Champion Course
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Par: 70 / Yardage: 7,100
Purse: $6 Million
with $1,080,000 to the winner
Defending Champion:
Michael Thompson
This week’s field includes:
The field includes 26 of the top 50 in the latest Official World Rankings, with only eight players form the top-ten: #1 Tiger Woods, #2 Adam Scott, #3 Henrik Stenson, #5 Phil Mickelson, #6 Justin Rose, #7 Zach Johnson, #8 Rory McIlroy and #9 Sergio Garcia. The other top 50 players are #15 Graeme McDowell, #16 Charl Schwartzel, #22 Hideki Matsuyama, #24 Luke Donald, #26 Keegan Bradley, # #27 Thomas Bjorn, #30 Jamie Donaldson, #33 Louis Oosthuizen, #35 Lee Westwood, #37 Nick Watney #38 RIckie Fowler, #39 Stephen Gallacher, #40 Gonzalo Fdez-Castano, #43 Billy Horschel, #44 Patrick Reed, #49 Matteo Manassero and #50 Martin Kaymer.
The field includes 10 of the top 25 on the FedEx point standings for 2014. Those players are #5 Chris Kirk, #8 Zach Johnson, #10 Patrick Reed, #13 Brian Stuard, #16 Charles Howell III, #18 Jason Bohn, #21 Ryan Palmer, #22 Hideki Matsuyama, #23 Ryo Ishikawa and #25 Brendon Todd.
The field includes 11 players in the top 25 on this year’s PGA Tour money list. Those players are #8 Chris Kirk, #9 Zach Johnson, #12 Patrick Reed, #14 Brian Stuard, #17 Charles Howell III, #19 Graeme McDowell, #20 Ian Poulter, #21 Jason Bohn, #23 Ryo Ishikawa, #24 Chris Stroud and #25 Hideki Matsuyama.
The field includes 14 past champions: Michael Thompson (2013), Rory McIlroy (2012), Rory Sabbatini (2011), Camilo Villegas (2010), Y.E. Yang (2009), Mark Wilson (2007), Luke Donald (2006), Padraig Harrington (2005), Jesper Parnevik (2001), Dudley Hart (200), Vijay Singh (1999), Mark Calcavecchia (1998 & ’87), Stuart Appleby (1997) and Tim Herron (1996).
A perfect way for fantasy golfers to check on the past performance of all the players in the Honda field is our performance chart listed by average finish. Another way to check who is the best is through a special formula worked out in Golfstats that gives us the best average performances at the Honda in the last five years or check out our sortable 8-year glance at the Honda.
A good cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmakers in England.
Another cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmaker in Las Vegas.
Be sure to join us on Saturday evening for our new feature, Who will win on Sunday. We will look at the first three rounds and see why the leaders are playing well and what it will take to win on Sunday. That’s Saturday night a couple of hours after play is completed.
Here is a look at Jason Day’s win in the Accenture Match Play which was a tough affair thanks to some clutch playing by Victor Dubuisson. We then preview the Honda Classic along with who is hot and who to pick this week in our video preview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBaLktCW52E
Time to look at our who’s hot and who isn’t:
Who’s Hot in the field for the Honda Classic
Player | Accenture Match Play | Northern Trust | AT&T Pebble | Joburg Open | Phoenix Open | Dubai Desert | Farmers Insurance | Qatar Masters | Humana | Abu Dhabi | Sony Open | Volvo Golf | Hyundai T of C |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Patrick Reed (206.5 pts) |
T17 (49.5) |
DNP | T13 (37) |
DNP | T19 (20.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | Win (88) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T16 (11.33) |
Sergio Garcia (176.17 pts) |
T9 (67.5) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | Win (88) |
DNP | T19 (20.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Stephen Gallacher (168.5 pts) |
T33 (25.5) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | Win (88) |
DNP | T28 (14.67) |
DNP | T8 (33.33) |
DNP | T29 (7) |
DNP |
Graeme McDowell (160 pts) |
T5 (105) |
DNP | T7 (55) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Hideki Matsuyama (152.5 pts) |
T17 (49.5) |
T23 (27) |
DNP | DNP | T4 (53.33) |
DNP | T16 (22.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Rory McIlroy (146.17 pts) |
T17 (49.5) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T9 (30) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T2 (66.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Zach Johnson (146.17 pts) |
T33 (25.5) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T3 (60) |
DNP | T8 (16.67) |
DNP | Win (44) |
Louis Oosthuizen (139 pts) |
T5 (105) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | Win (44) |
DNP |
Charl Schwartzel (131.17 pts) |
T17 (49.5) |
5 (70) |
DNP | T59 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T15 (11.67) |
DNP |
Rickie Fowler (123 pts) |
3 (135) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T33 (11.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Thorbjorn Olesen (122.17 pts) |
T33 (25.5) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T5 (46.67) |
DNP | T3 (60) |
DNP | T56 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Thomas Bjorn (107.5 pts) |
T17 (49.5) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T13 (24.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T10 (26.67) |
DNP | T10 (13.33) |
DNP |
Cameron Tringale (105 pts) |
DNP | T12 (38) |
T13 (37) |
DNP | T12 (25.33) |
DNP | T66 (0) |
DNP | T38 (8) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP |
Ryan Palmer (102.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T32 (18) |
DNP | T48 (1.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | 2 (66.67) |
DNP | T8 (16.67) |
DNP | DNP |
Matt Every (100 pts) |
DNP | T6 (60) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | T37 (8.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T13 (24.67) |
DNP | T8 (16.67) |
DNP | DNP |
Phil Mickelson (99.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T19 (31) |
DNP | T42 (5.33) |
DNP | WD (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | T2 (66.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Billy Horschel (97.5 pts) |
T17 (49.5) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T23 (18) |
DNP | T25 (16.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T6 (20) |
Will MacKenzie (95 pts) |
DNP | T52 (0) |
T13 (37) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T7 (36.67) |
DNP | T13 (24.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP |
Keegan Bradley (92.83 pts) |
T33 (25.5) |
T20 (30) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T16 (22.67) |
DNP | T18 (21.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Jason Allred (90 pts) |
DNP | T3 (90) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Peter Hanson (88.17 pts) |
T17 (49.5) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T22 (18.67) |
DNP | T10 (26.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Jim Renner (85 pts) |
DNP | WD (-5) |
T2 (100) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP |
Brian Harman (79.33 pts) |
DNP | T3 (90) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T82 (0) |
DNP | T32 (6) |
DNP | DNP |
Brendon Todd (78.67 pts) |
DNP | T35 (15) |
T45 (5) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T37 (8.67) |
DNP | T6 (40) |
DNP | T20 (10) |
DNP | DNP |
Brendan Steele (78 pts) |
DNP | T10 (40) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | T6 (40) |
DNP | T28 (14.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
How Player Rankings are Computed
Who’s Not Hot in the field for the Honda Classic
Player | Accenture Match Play | Northern Trust | AT&T Pebble | Joburg Open | Phoenix Open | Dubai Desert | Farmers Insurance | Qatar Masters | Humana | Abu Dhabi | Sony Open | Volvo Golf | Hyundai T of C |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lucas Glover (-40 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Tommy Gainey (-40 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T70 (0) |
DNP | DNP |
Mike Weir (-40 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | WD (-3.33) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP |
Ted Potter, Jr. (-36.67 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP |
Jeff Maggert (-36.67 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP |
D.H. Lee (-30 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T59 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP |
Nicholas Thompson (-30 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T71 (0) |
DNP | T69 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP |
Bo Van Pelt (-28.67 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T48 (1.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP |
Carl Pettersson (-26.67 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP |
Josh Teater (-25.33 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T33 (11.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP |
How Player Rankings are Computed
Who to watch for at the Honda Classic
Best Bets:
Rory McIlroy
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WD | Win | T70 | T40 | T13 |
Still think he is the best player right now, other than his win hasn’t played very well on this course but with a windy weekend I can see him with a big advantage.
Graeme McDowell
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T9 | T9 | T6 | T31 | T65 |
Another of those players that do well on this course, played good in the clutch at the Match Play, look for that to carry over to this week.
Lee Westwood
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T9 | 4 | T29 | T9 | T55 |
Plays well on Champion course, I think that he is working out of his funk that has caused a lot of poor golf over the last year. Look for a bit of a comeback.
Best of the rest:
Justin Rose – late withdrawal
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T4 | T5 | 3 | CUT | T15 | T14 | T36 | T57 |
Rose has withdrawn from the tournament due to some pain in his right shoulder which he has had since throwing a golf ball back in September at the BMW Championship. The problem is tendinitis and he has been very careful with it, but it just didn’t feel right. He is hoping to play next week at Doral in the WGC-Cadillac Championship.
Charl Schwartzel
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T9 | T5 | T14 |
In contention here the last two years, played good in final west coast events and has lot’s of Bermuda experience.
Sergio Garcia
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T50 | T13 | T43 |
Not much playing time on this course, still think he will do OK and possibly be in contention.
Rickie Fowler
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T13 | T7 | CUT | CUT |
Could be good, played a lot better at Accenture and has two good finishes the last two years in this event, could surprise a lot of folks.
Solid contenders
Hideki Matsuyama
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First time playing in this event |
More info:
Interesting to see how he plays in Florida, think he has experience on Bermuda and he could surprise us.
Freddie Jacobson
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T25 | T16 | T29 | T6 | T5 | CUT | CUT | T4 |
Seems to do well in this event, could be a surprise.
Adam Scott
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUT | T65 |
He is a tough choice because he has played just once on this course and missed the cut. Think this week is just a step to get him in shape for Doral.
Tiger Woods
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T37 | T2 |
It’s hard to figure out what is up with him. I feel he won’t play that great this week, but I have been wrong before. We always have to talk about Woods with the thought that he may one day get it all together again.
Long shots that could come through:
Luke Guthrie
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 |
Been lukewarm this year, but was also lukewarm going into this event last year and finished 3rd so maybe lightning can hit twice.
Chris Stroud
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T13 | T9 | T63 | T31 | T64 | CUT |
Two good finishes in last two years, could be a surprise this week.
Geoff Ogilvy
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 2 | T6 | T13 | T14 | T40 |
Lightning may of hit this one time superstar after finishing 2nd last year. Since then in 23 events around the world has only finished once in the top 25 in stroke play events, that being the great Talisker Masters were he finished 7th. Really needs some good things to happen to him, could good memories from last year help him?
Not this week:
Louis Oosthuizen
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUT | WD | WD |
Lot’s of people will pick him, but he hasn’t played well here and had some back problems at Accenture so save him for another day.
Everyone says Rory McElroy will play well this week – but no one is picking him to win- except me! The time is right to hear from him……..and gear up for a potential Green Jacket…or NOT! we’ll see………..
Jeff,
I am picking him, all of the bookmakers are picking him.
For fantasy golf purposes people may be holding back on him till the Masters, he right now is the favorite but we still have six weeks to go.