PGA Tour preview: Honda Classic TV times and betting tips
The Genesis Invitational proved to be a steamrolling victory for Joaquin Niemann, and while I am disappointed with the performance of my tips last week, it was always going to be tricky after Fitzpatrick pulled out at the 11th hour. With a full roster of three picks back on the tip sheet this week, I take a closer look at the Honda Classic and the notoriously tricky PGA National. But, before we get onto my free betting tips…
Honda Classic details
Venue: PGA National (Champion Course), Florida, USA
Date: March 18-21, 2021
Course stats: Par 70; 7,140 yards.
Course summary: A strategic test that requires accurate approach play and consistent scrambling. Water is in play on 15 holes, which can cause a headache for players when the wind blows. The large Bermuda greens are fast and heavily contoured, and this course currently ranks as the hardest venue outside of the major championships. So, who can negotiate the Bear Trap safely?
Purse: $8 million
Defending champion: Matt Jones (-12)
Honda Classic TV coverage
Thursday: Sky Sports Golf from 11.45am and Sky Sports Main Event from 5.30pm
Friday: : Sky Sports Golf from 11.45am and Sky Sports Main Event from 12pm
Saturday: : Sky Sports Golf from 11.45am
Sunday: : Sky Sports Golf from 11.30am and Sky Sports Main Event from 6pm
The Honda Classic golf betting tips
Bazza’s Banker: Daniel Berger – 4pt win @ 16/1 with Bet365
The key to success at PGA National is ball-striking, so who better to kick off the preview than Berger? Two top-4 finishes in six starts at this tricky track is some achievement, and his recent form is also very appealing. Two top-7 and a top-20 finish in his last four starts make him a justified second favourite in the betting, and at a slightly more attractive price I will certainly take him over Sung-Jae Im.
In the last three months, Berger ranked 9th for SG: Approach and 10th for SG: Tee-to-green, which as I eluded to earlier is a great indicator for success. With four PGA Tour wins, including one in each of the last two seasons, Berger should be in the mix on Sunday.
The Each-Way Play: Shane Lowry – 2pt e/w @ 33/1 with Bet365
The start of the 2022 season has brought with it an in-form Lowry, who tees it up on the PGA Tour this week following four consecutive top-25 finishes on the DP World Tour. The former Champion Golfer of the Year certainly knows how to negotiate the expected wind, and four cuts made in four visits to PGA National will certainly give confidence.
Lowry suits this task in terms of his recent statistics, ranking 3rd in the field for SG: Tee-to-green and 7th in the field for SG: Approach. If Lowry can find some form with the putter this week, he should play a big part at a big price.
The Longshot: Aaron Wise – 1pt e/w @ 50/1 with Bet365
In my opinion, this is a very big price for Wise. It was only recently that he managed to rack up seven consecutive top-26 finishes – including two top-10s in the CJ Cup and Shriners open. Solid performances in the play-off events back in 2021 show that Wise has the capability to tackle tough courses, evidenced further by a 13th place finish in this event last year.
If you include that impressive seven event-streak, Wise has some pretty impressive stats too. In the last six months, Wise ranked 26th for SG: Total and has gained strokes on the field in all key metrics. With just one PGA Tour win to his name, I have a feeling he could take the next step in his exciting career at the Honda Classic.
For more prices, visit the Bet365 golf page.
