Find Me A 100 Winner at the Honda Classic

Find Me A 100 Winner / Paul Krishnamurty / 26 February 2008 / Leave a Comment

Paul Krishnamurty resumes the three figure challenge, tipping up the Korean challenge at the Honda Classic.

There's only ever been one Honda Classic held at PGA National, with all the evidence suggesting this is a very good week for backing outsiders. Last year on this course, we saw the very rare sight of a four-man play-off and incredibly all four players involved started the event at odds of 100 or more. If memory serves me correctly the eventual winner, Mark Wilson, started above 300.

Tempting as it may be, I'm not going to be quite that ambitious this time. Rather, I'm quite content to take 100 about Charlie Wi becoming the second Korean winner on the PGA Tour. A nine-time winner in Asia, including one co-sanctioned European Tour event, Wi has improved so much over the last year that he may well be capable of joining that small but ever increasing band of Asian Tour exports to win in stronger company.

In honesty, from his days in Europe I never thought Wi would make any sort of impact in the States. However, his form since regaining his PGA Tour card ahead of the 2007 season has made me think again. Wi's second crack at America has paid dividends. Last year, he earned over a million dollars, and he's already earned over a quarter of that this time around.

He's become very consistent, making every cut since September and performed well on this course in 2007 to finish 13th. From last year's evidence, the key to success at PGA National is accurate iron play to large greens. One useful indicator in judging this skill is the "Par-3 performance" statistic, a discipline in which Wi is tied 4th so far this year.