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The Honda Classic 2023: Course and current form stats

Andy Swales
20 February 2023
3:00 min read

The four-week Florida Swing gets underway this Thursday at PGA National's Champion Course.

PGA National: Large water hazards on more than a dozen holes.

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The PGA Tour has arrived in Florida for the first of four back-to-back events in the Sunshine State. Words and stats supplied by Andy Swales ...

Denny's push for a maiden PGA Tour title
Focus on solid ball-striking
Honda entry list suffers due to lack of 'elite status'

For the 42nd and final time, Honda will be the title sponsors of a tournament which began life in 1972 as the Jackie Gleason Inverrary Classic.

Honda took over as sponsors 10 years later but has now decided to call it a day.

The PGA Tour has yet to announce who will be replacing the Japanese company in 2024.

One thing that probably won't change, however, is that the tournament is likely to remain in Palm Beach Gardens in the years ahead.

And this week, once again, the Honda Classic will be the opening event of the traditional four-tournament 'Florida Swing'.

The big disadvantage this year, is that the tournament does not enjoy 'elite status', which means the total prize pot is between 55-60% less than that being offered at a number of other early-season events.

This is certainly reflected in the entry list, with just three of the world's top-25 taking part this coming week - and none of these among the top dozen.

The Honda Classic sits directly in the middle of four 'elite' prize pots, which means the majority of the Tour's big beasts have opted to take a rest these next few days.

The remainder of the four-week Floridian bonanza includes big money stops in Orlando and Ponte Vedra Beach, with the latter staging the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

Course Characteristics

As for this week, the final Honda-sponsored tournament will be played at PGA National for a 17th straight season.

Since making its PGA Tour debut in 2007, the Champion Course has become one of the most respected layouts in professional golf.

Two years later it hosted the Ryder Cup, and then the PGA Championship in 1987.

Located approximately 80 miles north of downtown Miami, the venue has undergone three Jack Nicklaus-led upgrades during the past 20 years.

Although trees and dense vegetation are in short supply, it remains a course on which accurate tee-to-green golf is rewarded.

This is largely because of its plentiful and strategic bunkering, along with sizeable water hazards on 13 holes.

Even though the fairways do not appear to be overly tight, the low-lying Champion Course requires solid ball-striking, while the Tifeagle Bermuda grass putting surfaces were re-laid in 2018. This parkland venue is definitely no pushover.

Latest betting for this week's Honda Classic

Scoring Trends

None of the previous 16 winners at PGA National were outside the top 10 (see table below) after 36 holes.

In fact, 14 of the Champion layout's 16 winners were no lower than tied-sixth at the half-way mark.

Therefore, it doesn't appear to be an easy course on which to reduce large deficits when chasing birdies at weekend pin positions.

The table below shows the champions' positions @ 36 holes at the Champion Course.

Year ... Pos @ 36 ... (Champ)

`22: 6th (Sepp Straka)
`21: 2nd (Matt Jones)
`20: 9th (Sung Jae Im)
`19: 1st (Keith Mitchell)
`18: 7th (Justin Thomas)
`17: 3rd (Rickie Fowler)
`16: 4th (Adam Scott)
`15: 1st (Padraig Harrington)
`14: 3rd (Russell Henley)
`13: 2nd (Michael Thompson)
`12: 3rd (Rory McIlroy)
`11: 2nd (Rory Sabbatini)
`10: 1st (Camilo Villegas)
`09: 1st (Yong Eun Yang)
`08: 6th (Ernie Els)
`07: 5th (Mark Wilson)

Latest betting for next month's Players Championship

Stroke Averages

Lowest 10 At PGA National (2017-22)

Average .... (Rounds)

69.64: Sung Jae Im (14)

69.64: Sepp Straka (14)

69.71: Byeong Hun An (14)

70.00: Shane Lowry (16)

70.00: Alexander Noren (14)

70.00: Sam Ryder (12)

70.08: Cameron Davis (12)

70.22: Billy Horschel (18)

70.38: Harris English (16)

70.38: Jhonattan Vegas (24)

Min. No. of Rounds = 10

Only those entered this week are included in table

Latest betting for this year's Masters Tournament

Four To Watch

Sung Jae Im: The 'top seed' this week, and a former winner of this tournament. The world No 18 from Korea has posted a brace of top-10s on the PGA Tour so far this year.

Bet on Sung Jae Im

7/1

Matt Kuchar: The former world No 4 has enjoyed an upturn in form during January and February. Now 44, the Florida-born pro finished eighth over the tricky Riviera layout on Sunday.

Bet on Matt Kuchar

25/1

Peter Malnati: Certainly a long shot this week, but he's opened 2023 solidly and the field is hardly a 'humdinger'. Tied-fourth at Pebble Beach three weeks ago.

Bet on Peter Malnati

100/1

Denny McCarthy: It's the ideal week for the 29-year-old, world No 62, to secure a maiden PGA Tour title. Tied-14th at Riviera over the weekend, he stood on the Honda podium two years ago.

Bet on Denny McCarthy

25/1

MC* - Missed Additional 54-Hole Cut

Note: List Contains Leading Reserves

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Last 10 Weeks / PGA National (2013-22)

Position

1–5
6–15
16–25

Player	W7	W6	W5	W4	W3	W2	W1	W51
Sung Jae Im	56	6		4	18	MC	13
Billy Horschel	MC	32				MC	30
Shane Lowry	14	MC		MC	28
Sepp Straka	45			MC	MC		21
Aaron Wise		MC			MC		18
Alexander Noren	MC	MC			5
Min Woo Lee				13	2
Chris Kirk		MC			3	3
JT Poston	MC	MC			6	21	21
Adrian Meronk	45		4	MC	10
Adam Svensson	9	MC		MC		41	37
Matt Kuchar	8	32	MC			7
Denny McCarthy	14	MC	4		50	32
Davis Riley		MC	MC	MC	65
Christiaan Bezuidenhout	58	MC			11	MC
Thomas Detry	33		37	37	26			68
Harris English	12	MC		MC	MC	73
Cameron Davis	MC			MC	MC	32
Ben Griffin			MC	31	32	12
Hayden Buckley	MC	29		MC		2
Danny Willett	18		41		MC
Taylor Pendrith		57	7	60	MC
Erik van Rooyen		50	MC		6
Ben Taylor	58		MC	MC	MC	4
Brandon Wu	MC	50	2		MC	MC
Justin Suh	40		Wd	20	54	41
Robby Shelton			20	67	6	MC
Will Gordon			Wd	MC	MC	28
Aaron Rai	29	42		52	MC	61
Patrick Rodgers	MC	14		MC	MC
Jhonattan Vegas	56	23		25	MC
Carl Yuan			MC	MC	MC	21
Seong Hyeon Kim	33		41	20	MC	12
Callum Tarren	MC	MC	65	25	MC
Garrick Higgo		MC	20	53	11
Webb Simpson		57	MC			MC
Adam Schenk	50	23	37	20	MC	67
MJ Daffue			48	MC	MC	54
Stephan Jaeger	40	MC		53	36	28
Dylan Frittelli	MC	14	Wd	37	MC
Mark Hubbard	MC	MC	20		MC	MC
Tyson Alexander			48	MC	MC	32
Paul Haley			58	62	69	MC
Nick Hardy	MC		41	44		41
Joseph Bramlett			7	13	54	54
Ryan Palmer		42	MC	62		32
Lanto Griffin	Wd		58	37		66
Russell Knox	MC	MC	41		54	67
Greyson Sigg	MC	57	55		MC	48
Lee Hodges	18	MC		MC	MC
Matt Wallace	MC	MC		16	20
Byeong Hun An			37	62	41	12
Austin Eckroat			MC	MC	MC	12
Matti Schmid			MC	MC	6	MC
Marty Dou Ze Cheng			MC	62	62	MC
Chad Ramey	MC	MC	70			54	38
David Lingmerth			58	MC	MC	MC
Harry Hall			34	MC	41	28
Pierceson Coody		MC	1		MC	MC
Harry Higgs			48	44	18	MC
Padraig Harrington			25	MC	4
Peter Malnati	20	MC	4	20	MC	MC
Adam Long	50	42	48	73	MC	48
Danny Lee	MC	57		MC	16	48
Chesson Hadley	MC	23	MC		MC	MC
Erik Barnes			MC	13	MC	MC
Michael Kim			11	44	MC	MC
Charley Hoffman		14	48	MC	MC
Max McGreevy	MC	MC	MC		MC	MC
Matthias Schwab	50	MC	MC		26	MC
Satoshi Kodaira			29	53	MC
Augusto Nunez			48	31	MC	41
Kevin Tway	40	32	MC	18	54	54
Harrison Endycott			MC	MC	22	MC
Ryan Armour			58	MC	65	MC
Kramer Hickok	29	MC			MC	MC
Robert Streb	MC	MC		MC	MC	MC
Sam Stevens			34	13	67	MC
Brandon Matthews			MC	MC	MC	MC
Vincent Norrman			MC	44	54	MC
Eric Cole			15	MC	36	61
Ben Martin			13	MC	MC	32
Rory Sabbatini		MC	MC	MC	MC	MC
Trevor Werbylo			58	53	41	MC
Zach Johnson		32			41	75
Brian Stuard			70	MC	MC	65
Austin Smotherman	MC	MC	MC	MC		67
Ryan Moore		MC	7		MC	MC
Brent Grant			20	25	MC	MC
Brice Garnett			MC	MC	MC	21
Akshay Bhatia		MC	MC		7	4
Cameron Percy			Wd	MC
Michael Gligic			MC	MC	MC	MC
Aaron Baddeley			37	MC	50	7
Andrew Novak			20	69	MC	12
Austin Cook			MC	53	36	MC
Hank Lebioda			15	MC	MC
Tyler Duncan	33	MC		MC	41	MC
Doc Redman	MC	MC	41	MC		32
Henrik Norlander			MC	MC
Nico Echavarria			MC	MC	MC	12
Anders Albertson			MC	MC	62	67
Ryan Brehm	MC	MC	MC	MC	MC	41	35
Andrew Kozan		MC	MC		MC	59
Kevin Roy			MC	MC	MC	MC
Jimmy Walker		MC	MC	13	MC	MC
Ben Silverman		MC	MC		1
Sean O`Hair			65	MC		37
Trevor Cone			MC	MC	MC	MC
Tano Goya			55	53	26	MC
Carson Young			Wd	MC	MC	MC
Dylan Wu			29	MC	32	MC
Kelly Kraft	MC	63	MC	MC		61
Martin Trainer			20	MC	MC
Chris Stroud			MC
Fabian Gomez		MC	65		3
Luke Donald	40		MC	MC*	38
William McGirt			MC	MC
Richy Werenski		MC	20	MC	MC	MC
Vaughn Taylor
Seung-Yul Noh		Wd	65	44	MC	Wd
Kyle Westmoreland			29	MC	MC	MC
Andrew Landry		MC	Wd		68
Scott Harrington			MC	69	MC	MC
Bill Haas			Wd	MC	MC
Jim Herman		66		MC		MC
Grayson Murray			MC		Wd	37
Sung Kang		MC	29		MC
Jonathan Byrd			MC	MC	MC	MC
Zac Blair			MC	MC	MC	48
Kevin Chappell			MC		MC
Camilo Villegas		MC	MC	MC		64
Scott Brown			MC	72	Wd	56
Jason Dufner		32	Wd	MC	MC
Kyle Stanley		MC	Wd	MC		MC
Jonas Blixt		7	20		MC	MC
Brian Gay		MC	Wd
Cody Gribble		MC	70	MC	MC	MC
Greg Chalmers			70
Geoff Ogilvy			74	MC
Arjun Atwal			MC	MC
Ben Crane			MC	MC
JB Holmes	67	MC	MC	MC
Tommy Gainey			MC		MC	MC
Wesley Bryan		MC	MC		MC
Robert Garrigus			MC	MC		MC
Bo Van Pelt			MC		MC
Marcus Byrd	MC
Tyler Collet

Player	`22	`21	`20	`19	`18	`17	`16	`15	`14	`13
Sung Jae Im	MC	8	1	51
Billy Horschel	16		42	16	MC	4	8	MC	MC	46
Shane Lowry	2	36	21		49		53
Sepp Straka	1	33	27	MC
Aaron Wise	MC	13	35		33
Alexander Noren	5	46		MC	3					MC
Min Woo Lee
Chris Kirk	7	25	MC	MC	33		MC	MC	12	51
JT Poston	42	MC	35	36		27
Adrian Meronk
Adam Svensson	9			59
Matt Kuchar
Denny McCarthy	30	3	MC	MC	MC
Davis Riley	42
Christiaan Bezuidenhout	25
Thomas Detry
Harris English			17	12	33	60		MC		MC
Cameron Davis		33	8	59
Ben Griffin
Hayden Buckley	MC		69
Danny Willett	48					MC
Taylor Pendrith	25
Erik van Rooyen		60	MC
Ben Taylor
Brandon Wu	MC	MC
Justin Suh
Robby Shelton		MC	11
Will Gordon		36
Aaron Rai	66
Patrick Rodgers	64	MC	21	30	33	MC	MC	44
Jhonattan Vegas	42	30	27	16	72	4		MC	12
Carl Yuan
Seong Hyeon Kim
Callum Tarren	30
Garrick Higgo	66
Webb Simpson				36	5
Adam Schenk	MC	36	MC	30	29
MJ Daffue
Stephan Jaeger	48			MC*	MC
Dylan Frittelli	16	MC	58	MC	11
Mark Hubbard	15	46	11			MC	65	Dq
Tyson Alexander
Paul Haley
Nick Hardy	MC
Joseph Bramlett		MC	MC
Ryan Palmer	70		17	4	MC	37	26	25	2	41
Lanto Griffin					MC
Russell Knox	55	MC	MC	51	MC	MC	26	3	2
Greyson Sigg	MC
Lee Hodges	9
Matt Wallace		MC	MC	20
Byeong Hun An		MC	4	36	5
Austin Eckroat
Matti Schmid
Marty Dou Ze Cheng
Chad Ramey	MC
David Lingmerth					MC	MC	53	25	8	MC
Harry Hall
Pierceson Coody
Harry Higgs	MC	19	58
Padraig Harrington	MC	MC	MC		MC	MC	43	1	MC
Peter Malnati		MC	MC	36	49	MC	MC
Adam Long		MC	27	MC
Danny Lee			47	36	Wd	MC		MC
Chesson Hadley		MC	MC	20	MC		21	MC	24
Erik Barnes
Michael Kim		MC			57	MC	53
Charley Hoffman
Max McGreevy	MC
Matthias Schwab	7
Satoshi Kodaira	MC	36	MC	MC
Augusto Nunez
Kevin Tway	MC		MC	MC	MC
Harrison Endycott
Ryan Armour	MC	58	MC	12	MC	MC		MC
Kramer Hickok	MC		21	30
Robert Streb	72	13	MC	MC	MC	MC	26	59		18
Sam Stevens	55
Brandon Matthews
Vincent Norrman
Eric Cole
Ben Martin					33		72	31
Rory Sabbatini	48	MC	35	36	17	MC	MC	11	33	MC
Trevor Werbylo
Zach Johnson	MC	8	67	59		27	MC	MC	33
Brian Stuard	9	MC	66	20	MC	27		MC	24	29
Austin Smotherman	MC
Ryan Moore		MC			49
Brent Grant
Brice Garnett	MC	25	11	MC	MC			MC	MC*
Akshay Bhatia
Cameron Percy		MC	61			Wd				71
Michael Gligic	MC	MC	MC
Aaron Baddeley
Andrew Novak	MC				57
Austin Cook	72	MC	61	MC*
Hank Lebioda	MC	MC	MC	70
Tyler Duncan		MC	MC	MC*	24
Doc Redman	MC		MC
Henrik Norlander		MC	MC
Nico Echavarria
Anders Albertson				MC
Ryan Brehm						69
Andrew Kozan	30
Kevin Roy
Jimmy Walker	MC	58	21	MC	33	21	43
Ben Silverman				36	MC
Sean O`Hair		Wd	MC		MC	11	14	25	MC	18
Trevor Cone
Tano Goya
Carson Young
Dylan Wu	30
Kelly Kraft	MC	MC		MC	8	MC
Martin Trainer	48	MC	MC	MC
Chris Stroud	MC		MC		33		MC	Wd	12	13
Fabian Gomez	MC		64		MC	MC	MC	70		64
Luke Donald	MC	MC	11		MC	27	61	7	8
William McGirt	66	60			33	MC	8	22	MC*	MC
Richy Werenski	MC	MC	17	MC*	MC	MC
Vaughn Taylor	55	MC	42	59	59	MC				25
Seung-Yul Noh	MC	MC	MC			43	65	MC	33	MC
Kyle Westmoreland	MC
Andrew Landry		MC		MC	MC
Scott Harrington		53	MC
Bill Haas	25			51
Jim Herman	MC	53	MC	MC		27	MC	7
Grayson Murray	MC	MC	53	68	MC	MC
Sung Kang	MC	MC		51	MC	52	10
Jonathan Byrd
Zac Blair			MC			MC	MC	22
Kevin Chappell		13
Camilo Villegas	MC	8	MC		68	MC	14	16	41	MC
Scott Brown		MC	MC	20	46	57	10	MC	MC*
Jason Dufner	MC	53	27	MC*	17	14	61	17		51
Kyle Stanley	MC		MC	MC		MC	43		MC	18
Jonas Blixt				36		MC	MC	31		MC
Brian Gay	42	46	MC	20	MC	60				51
Cody Gribble				MC	MC	70
Greg Chalmers			MC		17	57			MC	51
Geoff Ogilvy							MC		MC	2
Arjun Atwal			MC
Ben Crane				MC	74	62	MC	68	69	64
JB Holmes		46			49				MC	MC
Tommy Gainey									MC	MC
Wesley Bryan	MC	MC			MC	4
Robert Garrigus					MC	MC		31	MC
Bo Van Pelt		MC	MC					MC	MC
Marcus Byrd
Tyler Collet