The 2023 PGA Tour continues this weekend as we head East to sunny Florida for the annual Honda Classic. As always, we have you covered with a full preview and betting tips for the event below.
PGA Tour Honda Classic Betting Tips
Thursday 23rd - Sunday 26th February
It was another solid week in PGA Tour betting tips, one that could have been a bit better if our top pick for the Genesis Invitational, Max Homa, had finished one place better. Homa finished 2nd to Rahm in the elevated event to record a nice top 20 finish bet for us nonetheless. We’ll be hunting more winners as we preview the Honda Classic below.
The Field
After a fantastic two week stretch of elevated events at the Phoenix Open and Genesis Invitational, we are back to a more standard $8.4m prize-pool this week, which unfortunately means there won’t be quite as much talent on display.
The field is still headlined by some top line players including Sungjae Im, Shane Lowry, Billy Horschel and Alex Noren. That is about it as far as big names go though, so picking a winner this week will become more difficult with the amount of relative unknowns in the field.
Past winners of the Honda Classic who will be looking to add another trophy to the case this week include Sung-jae Im, Padraig Harrington, Rory Sabbatini, Camilo Villegas and the defending champion, Sepp Straka.
The Course
PGA National will once again be the host of the Honda Classic, as it has been since all the way back in 2007. The course will play as a Par 70 at just over 7,100 yards and was designed by Tom and George Fazio back in 1981. The course was re-modelled by Jack Nicklaus in 2002, making it more playable for the modern day golfer and introducing the world famous ‘Bear Trap’.
The stretch of holes from 15-17 known as the Bear Trap is renowned as one of the most challenging stretches of golf in the world, and getting through this stretch unscathed on a Sunday afternoon can be the difference between winning and losing.
There are over 100 bunkers lining the fairways and greens and the course regularly ranks near the bottom of average greens in regulations. While it's not incredibly long, the wind plays a massive factor and strong iron play is an absolute must for anyone trying to tame the Champion Course.
Betting Tips
Sung-jae Im ($8)
Hard to look past the No.18 ranked player in the world at this tournament. On both talent and form, you have to think he is head and shoulders above everyone else in the field, coming off an 18th, 4th, 6th and 56th in his last four events. He’s also been solid at PGA National in the past, racking up a win and a T8 in his last three starts.
Sepp Straka ($41)
The big Austrian is coming off a solid performance at the Genesis where he finished 45th, a good bounce back after a few weeks off. He has been great at PGA National over the last three years, finishing 27th and 33rd before breaking through for his maiden PGA Tour victory last season.
Billy Horschel ($26)
Not looking too far down the leaderboard for value this week as I think a few of these guys are just so far ahead of what is a pretty weak field overall. Horschel’s consistency has been on full display so far this season, making the cut in six of eight events. Think he will thrive in this field.
Opting for something a bit different this week and just taking these three players to win for effectively about $5.30.
Im, Straka or Horcshel to win
$5.30
