Honda Classic betting tips
The PGA Tour’s Florida swing begins with the trip to Palm Beach Gardens. Steve Carroll looks at the leading contenders
Honda Classic Fantasy Golf picks
With some of the big players taking a rest for the Honda Classic as they gear towards the Players Championship, there’s extra emphasis on trying to find value players for this week’s Honda Classic Fantasy Golf picks on Draft Kings.
PGA National is usually one of the toughest courses on the PGA Tour and scrambling is key to keeping your round together.
I backed Cameron Smith at the Genesis Open two weeks ago but, with my luck, he recorded his worst finish this season and only just snuck inside the top 50.
The Australian bounced back when finishing T3 at last week’s WGC event in Mexico but will be making his debut at the Honda Classic so there is no course form to consider.
Like Smith, Kiradech Aphibarnrat comes off the back of a fantastic result last week and he also ranks well statistically for this tournament, for scrambling and strokes gained off the tee.
He’ll be looking for a much improved performance compared to last year where he finished in a tie for 68th.
A player who has enjoyed some success so far this season is Scott Piercy. He has had four top 10s and hasn’t missed a cut since the start of October.
The 40 year-old’s last two starts have seen him record a top 10 and a top 20 in strong fields at Pebble Beach and TPC Scottsdale and he’ll be looking to keep his good run of form going.
Michael Thompson is player who has won this tournament in the past and heads to PGA National with some tremendous results under his belt.
The American has had a string of top 10s and hasn’t finished lower than T13 in his last three starts.
A pair of missed cuts in his last two starts at PGA National doesn’t put me off picking Russel Knox who has had some good finishes so far in 2019. You have to go as far back as October to find Knox’s last missed cut.
Prior to his missed cuts in 2018 and 2017, the Scotsman had a fair of top fives and a top 30 to his name.
CT Pan hasn’t missed a cut in his three starts at PGA National and last year recorded a top 20. He comes into the event on a bit of a slump, having failed to finish inside the top 40 on his previous four starts.
But should he come up with the goods this week, he’ll be a valuable player with his low pricing.
How did Matthew’s team fare last week?
Ian Poulter – T3
Sergio Garcia – T6
Xander Schauffele – T14
Haotong Li –T19
Webb Simpson – T39
Winnings: $16
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Tom Irwin
Tom is a lifetime golfer, now over 30 years playing the game. 2023 marks 10 years in golf publishing and he is still holding down a + handicap at Alwoodley in Leeds. He has played over 600 golf courses, and has been a member of at least four including his first love Louth, in Lincolnshire. Tom likes unbranded clothing, natural fibres, and pencil bags. Seacroft in Lincolnshire is where it starts and ends.
