Rory and Rickie headline the Honda
A strong field including Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler contest the Honda Classic
![Rory and Rickie headline the Honda](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Qzr6QZpejMStm725YHWnz3-415-80.jpg)
Rory and Rickie headline the Honda Classic and a strong field including defending champ Padraig Harrington has assembled at Palm Beach Gardens.
Rory McIlroy won the Honda Classic of 2012 and he lost in a playoff for the title in 2014. He’ll be looking to bounce back after a disappointing final round in last week’s Northern Trust Open. Both Rory and Rickie Fowler are Palm Beach residents and should draw large galleries this week. Fowler comes into the tournament on great form. He lost out in a playoff for the Waste Management Phoenix Open and won in Abu Dhabi two weeks before that.
This event began life as the Jackie Gleason Inverary Classic back in 1972 but it’s been sponsored by Honda since 1982 and has been contested at the PGA National Champion Course since 2007. Over the years, the event has been won by many of golf’s biggest names including – Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Tom Kite, Nick Price and Vijay Singh.
In last year's tournament Padraig Harrington claimed his first PGA Tour victory since the USPGA of 2008. He made five birdies on the back nine of his final round to force a playoff with youngster Daniel Berger. The Irishman took the title at the second extra hole.
The Champion Course at PGA National is one of the toughest on the PGA Tour circuit. Originally created by George and Tom Fazio, it was the venue for the 1983 Ryder Cup and the 1987 PGA Championship.
A feature of the course is the stretch from the 15th to the 17th. These holes have been dubbed “The Bear Trap” after course re-designer Jack Nicklaus. A par 3, then a par 4 and another par 3, each tee shot demands a supremely accurate shot to a very narrow landing area.
Golf Monthly's latest podcast:
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Venue: PGA National (Champion), Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Date: Feb 25-28 Course stats: par 70, 7,158 yards Purse: $6,100,000 Winner: $1,098,000 Defending Champion: Padraig Harrington (-6)
TV Coverage: Thursday 25– Sky Sports 4 from 7pm Friday 26 – Sky Sports 4 from 7pm Saturday 27 – Sky Sports 4 from 6pm Sunday 28 – Sky Sports 4 from 6pm
Player watch: Rory and Rickie headline the Honda and will start favourites. Who else is likely to feature?
Patrick Reed – He currently leads the PGA Tour in “bogey avoidance” and minimising mistakes is crucial around this course. He’s been on a decent run and was tied sixth on his last start at Pebble Beach. He was tied seventh in this event last year.
Branden Grace – He may lack experience in this event but he’s been on great form of late. He’s been no worse than tied for eighth in his last six starts. Already a winner in 2016 – Qatar Masters.
Branden Grace putting challenge:
Hideki Matsuyama – Already a winner in 2016 (the Waste Management Phoenix Open,) Matsuyama is one of the most consistent ball-strikers on the PGA Tour and that should give him a great advantage at this difficult track.
Click here for a betsafe guide to solid golf betting stratetgy
Key hole: 17th. This is an extremely challenging par-3, the last hole of the “bear trap.” Water lurks right and the prevailing wind pushes balls in this direction. A bunker lurks long and to the left so this is a must-find green.
Skills required: Minimising mistakes. This is not a course that witnesses a huge number of birdies. The winner will play the percentages and grind out a score. Look for something between six and ten under par to win this one.
Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.
Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?
-
How Many Birdies Scottie Scheffler Has Made In 2024
Scottie Scheffler has had an incredible year he has largely dominated throughout, but how many birdies has the World No.1 achieved?
By Mike Hall Published
-
Omega European Masters Tee Times: Round Four
Matt Wallace leads the way at the Omega European Masters as he looks for his fifth DP World Tour win
By Mike Hall Published
-
What's The Most Money Earned In A Single PGA Tour Season?
Scottie Scheffler's 2023 and 2024 seasons are the most lucrative in PGA Tour history with a combined $50m won in official prize money
By Elliott Heath Published
-
PGA Tour Money List Leaders Through The Years
Some legendary names have topped the PGA Tour money list through the years, but the achievement hasn’t always proved as lucrative as today
By Mike Hall Published
-
Which Golfers Have The Most Top-10s In PGA Tour History?
Top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour are something to be savored, but a handful of players have achieved more than most
By Mike Hall Published
-
Every Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year Winner Since 1990
Five winners of the Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year award have gone on to win Majors
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Every PGA Tour Rookie Of The Year Since 1990
The PGA Tour Rookie of the Year title, known as the Arnold Palmer Award, has been won by a number of the game's modern day greats since its inception in 1990
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Every PGA Tour Player Of The Year Winner Since 1990
The PGA Tour Player of the Year title, known as the Jack Nicklaus Award, has been handed out since 1990
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Who Is Jhonattan Vegas’ Caddie? Meet Ruben Yorio
Argentinian looper Ruben Yorio has caddied for Jhonattan Vegas for several years - here is what we know about him
By Joel Kulasingham Published
-
Who Is Brendon Todd’s Caddie? Meet JT Griffin
Brendon Todd's caddie is his good friend and fellow golf pro JT Griffin - here is what we know about him
By Joel Kulasingham Published