PGA Betting – Honda Classic Preview & Pick
This week’s PGA stop is no easy mountain for golfers to climb. The Champion Course at PGA National, host of the Honda Classic, played as the second-toughest par 70 of any non-major host last season and ranked seventh overall in difficulty. That means shot making is arguably more important than booming drives this week.
Date: Thursday March 4th – Sunday March 7th
Event: Honda Classic
Course: PGA National Champion Course
Purse: $5.6 Million
Defending Champ: Y.E. Yang
FedEX Cup Points Up For Grabs: 500
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Remember that as we examine some possible picks.
THE ELITE
No one fits the bill this week, as the top favorites (Paul Casey, Rory McIlroy) are no better than +1415. I’m not sold on those two for the Honda Classic; they’re better off on courses that reward their tremendous length off the tee.
THE CONTENDERS
Robert Allenby
Honda Classic odds: +1615
He’s circled this tourney like a vulture, posting three top-five finishes here and cracking the top 10 in greens hit each time. His putting is good enough to be an asset, too; he ranks 35th on Tour.
Lee Westwood
Honda Classic odds: +1815
We can’t rely on statistical analysis relative to PGA National to endorse Westwood but the other numbers are there. He’s playing some of the best golf of his career, posting 13 top-10s in his last 16 stroke-play events, with two wins over that span. A breakthrough isn’t out of the question.
Ernie Els
Honda Classic odds: +2550
Ernie isn’t always consistent but it’s never a bad idea to ride him when his swing is clicking. So far, so good in 2010: three tournaments, three top-15s. Els also hit the most fairways at last year’s Honda Classic and closed with a 66. He deserves serious consideration – especially since he won the event two years ago. 
SOLID PICKS
Y.E. Yang
Honda Classic odds: +2850
The defending champ caught fire at PGA National last year, going over par on just five holes. He’s 18th on Tour in ball striking this season so he could conceivably tear up the course again this week.
Tim Clark
Honda Classic odds: +4050
Love his peripherals – third in putting and fifth in fairways hit this season. Clark gets his edge over his competition on tougher courses that reward accuracy, so we have to look hard at him this week.
THE SLEEPER
Brandt Snedeker
Honda Classic odds: +5050
Snedeker choked at the Phoenix Open last week but could his final-round 78 mask his potential and give him better value this week? He leads the Tour in putting average and is 14th in scoring average. A victory wouldn’t be a fluke.
THE PICK
There are definitely multiple names that warrant a pick this week. Snedeker is a nice sleeper and the numbers support Tim Clark. But I think the smart money is on Ernie Els. He’s playing well and he knows how to win at PGA National.
Pick: Ernie Els +2550
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Shea Matthews lives and breathes sports. He made the transition from athlete to sports journalist at a young age, writing in TV & national newspapers. He now applies his knowledge to sports betting and handicapping every day, and shares his winning picks with the world.
