BlogHonda Classic Preview and Picks

Honda Classic

February 25th – 28th, 2016

PGA National Resort (Champion Course)

Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Par: 70 / Yardage: 7,158

Purse: $6.1 million

with $1,098,000 to the winner

Defending Champion:
Padraig Harrington

by Sal Johnson

Founder, Chief Data Officer, GOLFstats

E-mail me at:
sal@golfstats.com

Join us on our new venture…

We are now doing a weekly blog that we are going to run through the Masters.  What we want to try and do is give fantasy golf players a better way of getting inside information on players and tournaments. Hopefully with this page it will give you a better understanding on this subject.  I will be doing it with David Barrett, who was the chief of research at Golf World before it folded.  David has a keen sense in stats and loves playing Draft Kings on a weekly basis.  We are also going to give you our picks for Draft Kings and other items.  In the days ahead we will also have a Facebook page that will be devoted to this subject and hopefully it can create a stir in which we can all help each other.

Hope you enjoy this, each week will have it’s own blog devoted to the tournament from that week.

Also, we will be updating this blog during the tournament on Thursday through Sunday, so join us during those days.

You can find it through this link

This week’s field includes:

The field includes 46 of the top 100 and 25 of the top 50 in the latest Official World Rankings, with only four players form the top-ten: #3 Rory McIlroy, #5 Rickie Fowler, #9 Patrick Reed and #10 Branden Grace. The other top 50 players are #11 Hideki Matsuyama, #13 Adam Scott, #16 Zach Johnson, #17 Brooks Koepka, #18 Kevin Kisner, #19 Sergio Garcia, #20 Phil Mickelson, #23 Shane Lowry, #25 Jimmy Walker, #29 Paul Casey, #30 Andy Sullivan, #32 Russell Knox, #34 Emiliano Grillo, #36 Bernd Wiesberger, #39 David Lingmerth, #40 Justin Thomas, #43 Scott Piercy, #46 Matthew Fitzpatrick, #47 Robert Streb, #48 Billy Horschel and #50 Jamie Donaldson.

Last year there was also 26 top-50 in the field.

The field includes 20 of the top 25 on the FedEx point standings for 2016.  Those players are  #2 Kevin Kisner, #3 Russell Knox, #5 Smylie Kaufman, #6 Justin Thomas, #7 Fabian Gomez, #8 Graeme McDowell, #9 Hideki Matsuyama, #10 Jason Dufner, #12 Emiliano Grillo, #14 Jason Bohn, #15 Patrick Reed, #16 Adam Scott, #17 Vaughn Taylor, #18 Phil Mickelson, #19 Rickie Fowler, #21 Peter Malnati, #22 David Lingmerth, #23 Charles Howell III, #24 Freddie Jacobson, #25 Jason Kokrak.

The field includes 19 players in the top 25 on this year’s PGA Tour money list.  Those players are #1 Kevin Kisner, #3 Russell Knox, #5 Justin Thomas, #6 Hideki Matsuyama, #7 Smylie Kaufman, #9 Graeme McDowell, #10 Fabian Gomez, #12 Jason Dufner, #13 Adam Scott, #14 Vaughn Taylor, #15 Patrick Reed, #16 Emiliano Grillo, #17 Jason Bohn, #18 Phil Mickelson, #19 Peter Malnati, #20 Rickie Fowler, #22 David Lingmerth, #23 Freddie Jacobson and #25 Jason Kokrak.

The field includes 11 past champions: Padraig Harrington (2015 & ’05), Russell Henley (2014), Michael Thompson (2013), Rory McIlroy (2012), Rory Sabbatini (2011), Camilo Villegas (2010), Ernie Els (2008), Mark Wilson (2007), Luke Donald (2006), Vijay Singh (1999) and Stuart Appleby (1997).

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.

**NOTE**

One thing to look for is our new GOLFstats IQ.  For those that play in fantasy golf it’s a perfect way to help you pick those players in Draft Kings and Victiv games.  You can customize the list of those in the tournaments, to look back a couple or many years of tournament stats and you can go back a couple or ten weeks prior to the tournament.  On top of that, all the stats are fully sortable to help you pick your six players, we even give you their value for the week to help you chose.

That’s GOLFstats IQ, give it a try and tell us what you think of it

24/7 GOLF

How would you like to have Total Golf Knowledge At Your Fingertips??

We have the perfect solution for you.  If you own a Iphone or a Ipad we have developed a perfect app called 24/7 GOLF.

It gives you everything that you need to know about golf, you have all the players results and every tournament result, again at your fingertips.  It’s very easy to use and you can take a good amout of GOLFstats with you everyplace.  No need to get home and check things out on your computer at home, you can answer any question with your Ipad.

So check it out, just hit this link to get 24/7 GOLF:

Screen Shot 2015-04-23 at 12.01.34 AM

Time to look at our who’s hot and who isn’t:

Who’s Hot in the field for the Honda Classic

Player Northern Trust Malaysian AT&T Pebble Tshwane Phoenix Dubai Farmers Qatar Masters CareerBuilder Abu Dhabi Sony Open Joburg Open Hyundai T. of Champions
Rickie Fowler
(204.67 pts)
DNP DNP DNP DNP 2
(100)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP Win
(88)
DNP DNP 5
(23.33)
Phil Mickelson
(192.33 pts)
DNP DNP 2
(100)
DNP T11
(39)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP T3
(60)
DNP DNP DNP DNP
Hideki Matsuyama
(164.33 pts)
T11
(39)
DNP DNP DNP Win
(132)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Rory McIlroy
(150 pts)
T20
(30)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T6
(60)
DNP DNP DNP T3
(60)
DNP DNP DNP
Branden Grace
(134.67 pts)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP Win
(88)
DNP T5
(46.67)
DNP DNP DNP
Jonas Blixt
(128 pts)
DNP DNP 3
(90)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP T6
(40)
DNP T28
(14.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP
Freddie Jacobson
(123.33 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP T4
(80)
DNP DNP DNP T4
(53.33)
DNP 69
(0)
DNP DNP DNP DNP
Vaughn Taylor
(122 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP Win
(132)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Jimmy Walker
(120.33 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP T11
(39)
DNP DNP DNP T4
(53.33)
DNP DNP DNP T13
(24.67)
DNP T10
(13.33)
Jason Kokrak
(120 pts)
T2
(100)
DNP T30
(20)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP T25
(16.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP
Andy Sullivan
(118.67 pts)
T68
(0)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T2
(100)
DNP DNP DNP T22
(18.67)
DNP DNP DNP
John Huh
(112 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP T6
(60)
DNP T8
(33.33)
DNP T24
(17.33)
DNP T33
(11.33)
DNP DNP
Si Woo Kim
(109.67 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP T35
(15)
DNP T67
(0)
DNP T18
(21.33)
DNP T9
(30)
DNP 4
(53.33)
DNP DNP
Jamie Lovemark
(109.33 pts)
T20
(30)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP T31
(12.67)
DNP T6
(40)
DNP T7
(36.67)
DNP DNP
Jason Dufner
(108 pts)
T68
(0)
DNP T51
(0)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP Win
(88)
DNP T9
(30)
DNP DNP
Adam Hadwin
(107 pts)
T16
(34)
DNP DNP DNP T17
(33)
DNP T63
(0)
DNP T6
(40)
DNP T67
(0)
DNP DNP
Adam Scott
(100 pts)
T2
(100)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T56
(0)
DNP DNP
Charles Howell III
(99.33 pts)
75
(0)
DNP DNP DNP T24
(26)
DNP T16
(22.67)
DNP T11
(26)
DNP T13
(24.67)
DNP DNP
Fabian Gomez
(96.33 pts)
T45
(5)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP Win
(88)
DNP T6
(20)
Shane Lowry
(93.67 pts)
DNP DNP T41
(9)
DNP T6
(60)
DNP T13
(24.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Patrick Reed
(90 pts)
DNP DNP T6
(60)
DNP DNP DNP WD
(-3.33)
DNP T56
(0)
DNP DNP DNP 2
(33.33)
Chez Reavie
(89.67 pts)
7
(55)
DNP T26
(24)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP T17
(22)
DNP T42
(5.33)
DNP DNP
Brooks Koepka
(89 pts)
DNP DNP T8
(50)
DNP T41
(9)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T3
(30)
Gary Woodland
(87 pts)
T26
(24)
DNP DNP DNP T33
(17)
DNP T18
(21.33)
DNP DNP DNP T13
(24.67)
DNP DNP
David Lingmerth
(83 pts)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP 2
(66.67)
DNP T13
(24.67)
DNP T15
(11.67)

How Player Rankings are Computed

Who’s Not Hot in the field for the Honda Classic

Player Northern Trust Malaysian AT&T Pebble Tshwane Phoenix Dubai Farmers Qatar Masters CareerBuilder Abu Dhabi Sony Open Joburg Open Hyundai T. of Champions
Steve Wheatcroft
(-36.67 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP T67
(0)
DNP DNP
Brendon Todd
(-33.33 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP T56
(0)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP
Chad Collins
(-33.33 pts)
T66
(0)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP
Whee Kim
(-33.33 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP T56
(0)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP T84
(0)
DNP DNP
Rory Sabbatini
(-30 pts)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP
Johnson Wagner
(-30 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP
Will MacKenzie
(-30 pts)
T59
(0)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP
Robert Allenby
(-30 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP
Sam Saunders
(-30 pts)
DNP DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP
Ken Duke
(-30 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP

How Player Rankings are Computed

The Buzz:

What a great west coast swing and start of the season.  In 14 events we have 14 different winners, four of them past major winners along with some other stars in Brandt Snedeker, Kevin Kisner and Hideki Matsuyama.

For me it still weird weird not having the Match Play end the west coast swing, think with the move to Austin.  The way it was explained to me on the reason was that it still tends to be chilly at the end of February and the start of March, plus the four weeks gives the course more time to get over the winter and be in tip-top shape.  Still I think this would be the perfect week, then go to Honda and Valspar followed by the second WGC event in Doral.

Tour moves from west to east

So the 7 week west coast swing is finished and the tour moves east playing the next four weeks in Florida and Puerto Rico.  It’s like night and day, with the difference in weather and grasses we will see more folks with Florida roots winning and those that grew up and learned to play on Bermuda grasses will shine.  Also those that play well in wind will have their day as it tends to be very windy on the Florida swing.  This is also the final stretch run toward the Masters which is six weeks away.  With that the only players that can qualify for the Masters are the winners of the next six events and those that fight there way into the top-50 by the end of the Valero Texas Open.  It may seem hard to believe but for the FedEx Cup series the year is a third finish, time flies fast.

Things you need to know about the Honda Classic

This will be the 44th Honda Classic.  The tournament got started in 1972 as the Jackie Gleason Inverrary Classic and was played at Inverrary Golf & C.C. in Lauderhill, Florida.  A bit strange and nobody will bother to care, but Friday would of been the 100th birthday of Gleason, who was a really funny guy and loved golf.  In 1981 Jackie Gleason was dropped from the tournament and the following year Honda came aboard as the tournament sponsor, today they are the longest running sponsor on the PGA Tour. After playing at several courses for 15 years, the tournament switched courses again in 2007. This time to the Champion Course at PGA National, site of the 1983 Ryder Cup and 1987 PGA Championship.  It became an instant success and has upgraded the tournament with more marquee and higher ranked players attending. In 1976 the Players Championship, which back then moved around to different courses, chose Inverrary Golf & C.C., and the Inverrary Classic wasn’t played that year.  The event is the first event in the Florida swing.

Course information:

  • PGA National (Champion Course)
  • Palm Beach Gardens, Fl.
  • 7,110 yards     Par 35-35–70
  • Course has a 75.3 rating and slope rating of 147 fron the championship tees. The course is part of a resort and is open to those that stay at the course.  It also sells local memberships.
  • Last year PGA National Champions Course played to a 71.83 average, only two courses on the PGA Tour were tougher in 2015.In 2014 the Champion Course was the 17th hardest course on the PGA Tour playing to a 70.408 average.  Because of the lack of wind and perfect weather all four days, it played the easiest it ever has since joining the tour in 2007.
  • In 2013 the Champion was the 5th hardest course on the PGA Tour playing to a 71.318 average making it the hardest non-major course on the PGA Tour last year.
  • Course has 78 bunkers and 26 water hazards in which 13 holes have water in play for the professionals.
  • Originally designed by George and Tom Fazio and opened in 1981, Jack Nicklaus redesigned the Champion in 1990, adding the feared “Bear Trap” grouping of holes 15, 16 and 17. In the summer of 2013, The Champion underwent an entire bunker renovation with Nicklaus Design.
  • The average size of the greens is 6,400 square feet.  The most famous part of the course is the “Bear Trap”, holes 15, 16 and 17, two par 3s and a par 4 that will bring a lot of drama and excitement to the finish of the tournament.  The 18th hole also creates a lot of drama, it’s a long par 5 that is close to impossible to hit in two, it’s a true par 5.
  • PGA National has a lot of experience holding golf tournaments.  Along with the last eight Honda Classic’s, it’s held the 1983 Ryder Cup, the 1987 PGA Championship and was home to 18 Senior PGA Championships.  It also been the site of the 1982 PGA Grand Slam of Golf, the PGA Junior Championships from 1980-1987, 1989-1992, and 1994-2000 and the PGA Club Professional Championships in 1980, 1982, 1983 and 1993.

Here is a new feature we have, a look at key stats that are important for those playing at PGA National Champion Course:

 

This is based on the most important stats for PGA National Champion Course, based on data from last years Honda Classic, and using data from all the players in the field with stats from 2016. What we do is take there rank for each stat and then add up the four catagories.
The scoring average of the field at PGA National in 2015 was 71.83, so with par being 70 that means the average score was a shot and a third over par, making PGA National the 3rd hardest course to score on in 2015 (only two courses played harder). It’s also important to see how the weather played a factor, last year weather was terrible, with a combination of rain and wind. This year the weather will be perfect and the course will play fast and dry, so scores will go down..

In looking at the stats for PGA National last year Greens hit, Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green and scambling are important. Last we pick birdie or better percentage because last year it was near impossible to make a lot of birdies and eagles. Last year four courses were harder than PGA National in making lot’s of birdies and eagles.

So how did the winner Padraig Harrington become victorious last year? He won in a playoff over Daniel Berger on the second extra hole. So how did Harrington win, in our key stats he ranked T-24th in greens hit, 2nd in strokes Gained Tee-to-Green and 6th in scrambling. He was T1st in birdie or better percentage as he made more birdies that week than anyone else.
*Greens in Regulation: Since the greens average 6,400 square feet normally they would be easy to hit. But since there is a lot of undulation, hitting it to the perfect place is important. Last year on the PGA Tour, the greens of PGA National were the 6th hardest to hit. This has been the norm for PGA National, in 2014 it ranked 18th, but in 2013 5th, in 2012 11th and 6th in 2011. So a player that hits lots of greens will have an advantage.

*Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green: Combination of driving stats and hitting it to the green, last year PGA National finished T-8th in this stat and was T-7th in 2014.

*Scrambling: No matter how good your game is, missing greens always happens so it’s important to salvage par. Last year PGA National ranked 7th hardest in scrambling so it’s a hard stat for players on this course.

*Birdie or Better Percentage: The course is so demanding that making a lot of birdies and eagles aren’t possible. So players that are able to make a lot will do well on this course which ranked 5th in this stat on tour in 2015.

For the field last year:

Click any column title in the table header to sort columns.

For the rest of the players, hit this link.

Here are some of the secrets of what it takes to play well at the Honda Classic:

Key stat for the winner:

  • The tour moves from the west coast to Florida for the next four weeks. Look for a lot of different things as the difference between playing in California/Arizona/Hawaii is like night and day compared to playing in Florida. There is a special breed of player that does better on Bermuda than bent.
  • At the Honda and PGA National, historically all of the winners have some connection to playing well on Bermuda by either being born in Florida, South Africa or Australia or have moved to the Southeast like Michael Thompson who lives in Birmingham, Alabama or Y.E. Yang who lives in Dallas.  There is also a connection with those like past champions Ernie Els, Camilo Villegas, Padraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy who have homes Jupiter, Florida.  Even guys like 2007 winner Mark Wilson, who was born in Wisconsin and lives in Illinois has a connection.  His is going to school in North Carolina, so you can see why his five PGA Tour has been on Bermuda courses in Florida, Mexico, Hawaii, Phoenix and Palm Springs.  Last year’s winner Russell Henley grew up in Macon, Georgia and lives on Kiawah Island which could understand why his two PGA Tour and three Web.Com tour wins are on courses with Bermuda grass.  So look for players with that Bermuda connections.

Here are some more key stats to look to for this week:

Unbelievable and really weird stat:

  • PGA National is a typical Florida course with lots of water and sand, look for scores to be a bit high especially if the win blows.  This will be the first time players see Bermuda fairways, rough and greens on the year, so it will take some getting use to.
  • Accuracy is going to play the key over distance.  The Champions course is lined with tight undulating fairways that is surrounded with water and sand not only along the fairways but in the middle of several of the fairways. Hitting greens is very important, since moving to PGA National in 2007 six of the nine winners and nine of the fourteen runner-ups at Champions were ranked in the top-ten in greens hit.
  • Very tough par 4s at PGA National, Mark Wilson was 4 under in ’07, Ernie Els was 2 under in ’08, Y.E. Yang was 6 under in ’09 while Camilo Villegas was 9 under par in ’10. Keeping trend going was Rory Sabbatini in 2011 playing them in 7 under, but showing that they are tough was Rory McIlroy who was only 3 under in 2012, Michael Thompson who was only 2 under on them in 2013 and Russell Henley who was 6 under in 2014.  Last year Padraig Harrington played them in 5 under.
  • Good putting and scrambling.  The greens are very big and have lots of contours so the winner will be a very good lag putter.
  • Interesting to note that 12 of the last 22 winners of the Honda are those that are either born Floridians or now live in Florida (including 2012 winner Rory McIlroy, who bought a house down the road in Jupiter).  A perfect example is 2006 champion, Luke Donald.  Even though he was born in Great Britian and spent a good part of his time in Chicago, he has a house just a couple of miles away.  Look for that kind of a connection in the winner.  We don’t count 2013 winner Michael Thompson on our list but he lives in Birmingham, Alabama so he has to deal all the time with Bermuda when he is home.  The same with last year’s winner Russell Henley who lives in Kiawah Island, South Carolina and again with have a bermuda connection.  Now we can’t consider Padraig Harrington as a “Floridan” even though he has had a place in Florida and has spent time there.
  • Good bunker player since there are a lot of strategically placed bunkers on the course.
  • Look for those that play good in wind, just look at 2015 & ’05 champion Padraig Harrington, don’t think there is anybody better qualified after learning to play golf in Ireland.  It could be quite windy this time of year and the course is susceptible to winds so look for a good wind player.  The good news wind shouldn’t be a problem for the week and better yet the week looks to be perfect in no rain and perfect temperatures.

 

 

Who to watch for at the Honda Classic

Best Bets:

Patrick Reed

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
T7 T24 T58

Guy is in the groove and when the tour moves to Florida he should win one of these events. I think it will be this week.

Rickie Fowler

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
T41 T24 T13 T7 CUT CUT

Look for him to play well, has the stats in greens hit, strokes gained tee-to-green along with making a lot of birdies and eagles.

Phil Mickelson

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
T17 CUT

Normally doesn’t play well in Florida, mostly because of the wind, but with the lack of wind and good temperatures look for him to play well.

Best of the rest:

Rory McIlroy

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
CUT T2 WD Win T70 T40 T13

Has been a roller coaster ride in this event, he is either close to winning one year and then misses the cut the next year. Think he will contend, but I still think his putter isn’t ready for him to go crazy.

Russell Knox

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
T3 T2

Has come within a shot of finishing in first place the last two times, maybe the third time will be the charm.

Branden Grace

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
T71

Great record in Europe, in his last six starts has a win (Qatar) and hasn’t finished higher than 8th. He could be the biggest long shot of the week.

Adam Scott

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
T12 CUT

Has the game to do really well this week, again it’s up to the putter. Really came close in L.A.

Solid contenders

Freddie Jacobson

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
CUT T12 T25 T16 T29 T6 T5 CUT CUT T4

Guy has the talent, has been playing well and has had some good results at PGA National. Don’t let him surprise you.

Luke Donald

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
T7 T8 T10 2 T46 Win T21

Guy has always done well in this event and course, I don’t think he will win, but finish in the top-ten.

Kevin Kisner

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
T51

Has all the key stats to play well this week, look for him to have a great Florida swing.

Sergio Garcia

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
T31 T8 T50 T13 T43

Always have a warm spot in my heart for this guy who is worst than Jeckel and Hyde. You never know when he will play well so you have to always keep him in mind.

Hideki Matsuyama

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
WD

Played well at Riviera, big question is if he can adjust to playing on Bermuda.

Long shots that could come through:

Jamie Donaldson

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
6 T55 T58

Another European who can be a big surprise, last year finished 6th at the Honda.

Alex Cejka

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
CUT T36 T26 T13 T7 CUT 72 CUT CUT

Can play well on this course, he is a good long shot.

Adam Hadwin

2016 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04
T31

Has had a couple of top-20s and a T-6th in his last four starts.

Comments

  1. Awesome! now this report comes early. Thank you for your hard work Golfstats

  2. Just a heads up… we primarily play on bent in Dallas. Much less humid generally.

  3. Sal love your write ups in preparation each week – can you explain further why some guys play better on bermuda grass that you see in the hotter climates? Is it primarily the putting greens or the grass in general?

  4. Douglas, lot’s of courses in south Texas with Bermuda.
    For Patrick, it’s what you are use to. I grew up near the Pacific in California and learned to play the game on Poannua greens. Love it, also like Bent. But I have never been a fan of Bermuda. The reason that Bermuda is used, it tolerates warm climates better than Bent that struggles in warm weather. In the South and florida, Bermuda is all over, greens, fairways rough. One of the reasons I have problems with Bermuda, it’s a weed and it sometimes is hard to read.
    If your the Patrick I think you are, you grew up on English golf courses with a combination of Fescue and bent. I also love fescue, but it needs to be grown near the sea. If you try to grow fescue away from the sea, it struggles, a bit like it did at Chambers Bay last year.

    But to answer your question, for those who grew up on Bermuda, it’s not hard to get use to bent. But for those that grew up playing golf on Bent, it’s hard to understand and get use to Bermuda.

  5. Sal, lots of courses in North Texas should have Bermuda also. I live in Dallas and the bent greens are crap from the end of May through September.

  6. There is a reason for Bermuda and that is because it’s the best type of grass to play on courses in hot, humid places. I know that Augusta National is Bent, but they tried for a number of years having their greens in Bermuda, finally going back to Bent. East Lake, home of the Tour Championship is now Bermuda.
    I do know that there are coming up with many diffrerent strains of Bent that can tolerate heat and humidity, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Bermuda is replaced in the next ten years.

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