PGA National / pgaresort.com
The field in this week’s Honda Classic does not look like that of the designated events of the last couple weeks. While this one may take a more trained golfing eye to find deep interest in the event, there are still players to watch for and picks to be made. Now Honda has made it clear this is their last year sponsoring this event. Perhaps they are unhappy with their place in the schedule or the fields they have drawn of late. This event has a deep history however dating back to 1972 and even in recent memory has posted some notable winners. While Sepp Straka and Matt Jones have won here the last two years, prior to that we had Sungjae, Keith Mitchell, JT, Rickie Fowler, and Adam Scott win in consecutive years. The course itself plays at just over 7,000 yards and has some really interesting course fit data from data golf for the players in the field. Players who take a more bomb and gouge approach seem to fair well here statistically. Although looking at the recent winners we listed off it seems that the cream usually rises to the top at this event and supports solid all around players taking home victories here. We also have some intriguing young talent we are looking to watch in the field this week, most specifically the Coody brothers Pierceson and Parker. As always, we will make three picks, one from the top, middle, and bottom part of the odds board. Let’s get it started!
Shane Lowry
Shane has always played a unique schedule by PGA Tour player standards. He is one of the few players who has stayed dedicated throughout the course of his career to playing a healthy diet of DP World Tour events every year. With that, he hasn’t always played the most consistent PGA Tour schedule year to year. While he hasn’t played in the Honda numerous times, he has at least made the cut every time he has teed it up at The Honda. Most notably, he finished in solo second here last year showing that he can indeed contend at this venue. Shane has had a shaky start to his PGA Tour season finishing no better than 23rd in a full field event and missing the cut in his last two events. That is until last week at The Genesis when he managed a T18 finish. Lowry is by no means lighting the world on fire right now, but with his recent uptick in form and his general pedigree being higher than that of the average player in this field, we like him to take home the victory this week.
Harry Higgs
Always a fan favorite is Harry Higgs. He is immensely personable and plays an enjoyable brand of golf. This week however we think he has a serious chance to contend. Harry is coming in with good form making the cut the last three times he has teed it up. He only has finished inside the top 20 once in those three events, but we think he changes that this week. Harry statistically is not a super accurate driver of the golf ball. This can hold him back at courses that have super penal rough or difficult angles of approach from off of the fairway. PGA National is a course that does not heavily penalize errant tee shots. Because of that and having a weaker strength of field than normal, we think Harry has a real chance at grabbing a top 10 finish this week.
Parker Coody
About as long of a longshot as you could possibly find in the field this week is Parker Coody. He and his twin brother Pierceson were both highly regarded amateur players who now compete on the Korn Ferry Tour in hopes of earning a PGA Tour Card for the upcoming season. While Pierceson is a slightly higher regarded player and had an exemption into this event, it is Parker we are focusing on this week as our pick for the bottom of the odds board. Parker has the pedigree, he was the runner up at NCAA’s in stroke play last season. The two biggest reasons we project Parker to have a big week at The Honda Classic this week is his course fit projection and his recent form. Parker is the 8th best course fit this week according to data golf’s course fit model. This model has lead us to hitting on a variety of picks this year such as Kevin Tway and Denny McCarthy. Parker is in good form as he had to Monday qualify into this tournament. He shot a 6 under round to get into a playoff in which he successfully won a spot into this event. With the great form, course fit, and pedigree, look for Parker Coody to grab a top 20 finish this week and make a real statement as he works towards securing his PGA Tour card.
