2022 Honda Classic Betting & DFS Preview

Feb 23, 2022

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After an entertaining West Coast Swing, the PGA Tour journeys east for the Honda Classic and the start of the Florida Swing. The Champions course at PGA National is a Par-70 ranked as the most difficult annual course on Tour, averaging 1.38 shots over par the last five years.

With fewer trees than other parkland courses and only seven miles off the Atlantic coast in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, PGA National is exposed to gusty conditions as winds often have an effect on this event and make scoring conditions that much more difficult.

The average winning score over the past 12 years has been 9-under par. The winner has either been a favorite or at odds of 300-1 or longer eight times in the past 10 years. Winners that were favorites have included the likes of Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy, while longshot champions include Keith Mitchell, Padraig Harrington and Michael Thompson. It will favor golfers with a balance of short game and ball-striking who can avoid penalty areas, scramble for pars and manage any windy conditions.

Success here will depend highly upon the player's ability to navigate the closing stretch of intimidating holes, which is famously known as the “Bear Trap”. The 15th and 17th holes are long par-3s over water, while the 16th is a forced layup to another approach shot over water.

The field for this year’s Honda Classic is set at 144 golfers and is on the weaker side with only five of the top 30 players in the world in attendance. Despite being played in their backyard, many of the top golfers are taking the week off to rest. As is typical, the top 65 and ties make it through the cutline and into the weekend. Some of the pre-tournament favorites include Louis Oosthuizen, Daniel Berger, Sungjae Im, Brooks Koepka, and Tommy Fleetwood.

For more Honda Classic picks, check out Ryan Noonan's Betting Card.

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