– Last Updated on November 20, 2022 10:10 pm
2017 PGA Honda Classic Prediction and Picks
Ready to bet this weeks on the 2017 Honda Classic Open Odds? The PGA pros move from soggy California to Florida this week to play the 2017 Honda Classic. PGA National will once again host the world’s best on its 7,140 yards, par 70 layout. An almost unfair amount of bunkers will greet the pros as will the typically slick greens.
2017 Honda Classic
When: February 23-26, 2017
Where: PGA National – Champion, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Format: 72 holes – Stroke Play
Purse: $6,400,000
Defending Champion: Adam Scott
Updated Sportsbook Bonuses For Today
One of the most intimidating finishing stretches in golf – the 15th, 16th and 17th holes known as the Bear Trap will also be a stern test.
Driving Distance seems to be a better stat than Accuracy this week – an ability is to hit greens will be crucial this week as will a player solving the tough greens. Simply put every aspect of a players’ game will be tested this week.
With that in mind, who should we pay some special attention to this week – I have picked right in two of the last three weeks? Let’s try to keep the roll going.
2017 Honda Classic Favorites:
Adam Scott +1200
The defending champion (he also finished T12 here in 2014) always seems to play well at PGA National – he has been under par in his last eight rounds here.
His present form is very good as well – Scott has finished inside the top 15 in six straight tournaments including a T9 last week at the Genesis Open – consistently good.
His putting woes are a thing of the past – his flat-stick was remarkable on this track last year and so far this season he’s tops on TOUR in strokes gained: putting.
Sergio Garcia +1600
Finished second, one shot behind Scott last year and has finished inside the top 15 in three of his six appearances here. His current form is a bit inconsistent – he won in wire-to-wire fashion in Dubai three weeks ago but wasn’t great at Riviera last week.
That said he has finished inside the top 20 in five of his last six starts overall. Track history and current form all point to a good week for the Spaniard – don’t be surprised to see him contend.
Rickie Fowler +1600
Hasn’t exactly been lighting the world on fire as of late but will try to get things going on a track he’s had some success including a T6 last year – one of his three top 15s here.
He arrives off an OK T4 in the WMPO and has some stats to support the notion he’s in for a decent week – first in strokes gained: around-the-green and 30th in greens in regulation. If he can put it all together Fowler is a threat – that is a rather big IF however.
2017 Honda Classic Contenders:
Justin Thomas +1800
Dominated the Hawaii stretch but has been up-and down since. He finished T3 here last year and shot in the 60s in all four rounds.
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It wasn’t that long ago that Thomas was absolutely untouchable – many including myself feel he will return to that form sooner than later particularly because his game is so well suited for this track.
Louis Oosthuizen +2800
Louis isn’t sneaking up on anybody right now – finished solo third in the WMPO – a tournament he shot four rounds in the 60s and he was fifth last week at the World Super 6 Perth.
His course history here isn’t that great but his ball striking ability has him on the radar despite. Although he hasn’t won on TOUR in nearly seven years the South African is due and looks poised for a big effort sooner than later.
Russell Knox +3000
Has three starts at PGA National – a playoff loss in his debut in 2014, a T3 in 2015 and a T26 in 2016 – his track history is obviously good. Knox has quietly been very solid lately as well – two top 20s in his last three starts and four top 11s this year.
He currently sits inside the top 15 on TOUR in both driving accuracy and greens in regulation – perfect attributes for this track.
Daniel Berger +3300
His form isn’t the greatest right now but he did pick up a T14 at the SBS Tournament of Champions and a T7 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open a couple of weeks ago.
He lost this event in a playoff in 2015 which allows us to think that he should do well again – his missed cut in this event last year isn’t much of a worry to me. Berger’s putter is terrific and if he can gain a bit of momentum early on he could be a factor for sure.
Charles Howell III +4000
Has finished inside the top 15 seven straight times ion TOUR – something HAS to give sometime! He has just one top 10 finish in seven tries at PGA National although he’s made six of seven cuts.
Howell III sits inside the top 15 on TOUR in three different strokes gained categories at the moment and seems to be overdue for a big win. The course history isn’t there but his current form makes his worthy of mention.
2017 Honda Classic Sleepers (+5000 or higher):
Jimmy Walker +5000
Has never had a ton of success on this track but his efforts were the result of poor weekends for the most part.
Walker appears to be tougher mentally than at any other time in his career – he enters off good starts – at the Genesis when he finished at -9 and at Pebble Beach where he wound up -2.
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This track seems to suit Walker’s game and at +5000 he is just too hard to resist.
Ollie Schniederjans +6000
Finished inside the top 10 at Torrey Pines and at Riviera, He has been at or under par in his last 24 rounds on TOUR – a T9 in the Farmers Insurance Open, a T24 in the Waste Management Phoenix Open, and a T8 in the Genesis Open included.
He was the #1 ranked amateur in the world in 2015, he won the 2009 Polo Golf Junior Classic on this track. Not much more needs to be said.
Luke Donald +6600
Hasn’t won on TOUR in nearly five years but is certainly trending upward ahead of this weekend – he has top 25 finishes in his last two events played. He has made the cut all six times he’s played PGA National including four straight top 10s from 2008-2015.
Donald is sixth on TOUR this new season in strokes gained: putting and should be excited to get back to arguably one of his favorite tracks on the planet.
2017 Honda Classic Picks:
I am going a little down the board with the pick this week. Russell Knox at +3000 gets my nod. He has finished inside the top three in two of his three appearances here and enters in good form.
The sleeper is Luke Donald at +6600 – easy. He may be the best value I’ve seen in quite some time.
Golf handicapper DAVE B weighs in each week with his top selections. Including top picks and sleepers!
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