The PGA Tour says hello to the Sunshine State with the first of four straight tournaments in Florida, starting this week with The Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens. Rickie Fowler and Brooks Koepka, two of the bigger names in the field, will tee it up after an absence of several weeks. They are up the odds board but sit behind Tommy Fleetwood, who opened as the betting favorite at online sportsbooks. Keith Mitchell returns to defend his first ever Tour title from a year ago, which he won by a shot over both Fowler and Koepka by draining a 15-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole. Visit BookMaker.eu for a complete list of matchup betting odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
Emiliano Grillo -139 vs. Ian Poulter +108
Joaquin Niemann -122 vs. Harris English -108
Justin Rose -105 vs. Gary Woodland -124
Maverick McNealy +111 vs. Russell Henley -142
Matthew Nesmith +114 vs. Harold Varner III -145
Tommy Fleetwood -132 vs. Rickie Fowler +103
Vaughn Taylor -145 vs. Kurt Kitayama +115
Brian Harman -137 vs. Luke List +107
Viktor Hovland -127 vs. Daniel Berger -103
Sungjae Im -132 vs. Shane Lowry +102
Corey Conners -147 vs. Wyndham Clark +117
Kevin Streelman -109 vs. Jhonattan Vegas -121
Lucas Glover -114 vs. Bud Cauley -116
Byeong Hun An -141 vs. Erik van Rooyen +111
Gary Woodland -136 vs. Louis Oosthuizen +105
Ryan Palmer +100 vs. JT Poston -130
Tommy Fleetwood -129 vs. Brooks Koepka +100
Keegan Bradley -102 vs. Russell Knox -128
Viktor Hovland +100 vs. Billy Horschel -130
Rory Sabbatini -129 vs. Keith Mitchell -101
Billy Horschel -142 vs. Daniel Berger +112
Matthew Wolff +111 vs. Lee Westwood -141
Justin Rose -119 vs. Louis Oosthuizen -111
Brooks Koepka -117 vs. Rickie Fowler -113
Need to Know
After a losing record in my matchup picks at the Genesis I bounced back in Mexico winning three of five, including a big plus-odds triumph from Bernd Wiesberger. It’s back to the States for the Florida Swing and I’ll try to continue the winning ways. PGA National Champion Course hosts this week, and while it’s not particularly long at 7,125 yards, it consistently ranks as one of the most difficult tracks on Tour. In the previous 13 editions only three winners reached 10-under or better. That last to do it was Rickie Fowler at -12 in 2012. The length isn’t intimidating but the water and sand is, making this an iron and woods approach. A conservative game plan doesn’t always win tournaments, but it will help to get you to the weekend here. The legendary “Bear Trap” of holes 15-17 also creates plenty of drama and will leave players sweating to the very end.
The Honda Classic Matchup Picks
Erik van Rooyen +111 vs. Byeong Hun An
It’s safe to say van Rooyen is no longer an unknown among PGA fans. He’s been one of the top players on the Euro circuit for a few years and he’s making more of an effort to cross-over. That decision paid off last week with a T3 at the WGC-Mexico that included a second-round 62. What makes that result more impressive is that Van Rooyen missed the cut in his previous two starts. I don’t think he’s getting a lot of respect in this matchup and the plus-odds are a bonus.
Viktor Hovland -127 vs. Daniel Berger
The way Hovland broke onto the scene it was surprising it took him this long to win his first PGA title. He got that out of the way last week in Puerto Rico and now steps up a weight class. There is a big difference in the field this week than what he competed against in PR, but he’s not intimidated by the likes of Koepka and Fowler, and he’ll be a more confident golfer, at least that’s the expectation. Hovland may not topple the field this week, but he should best Berger in their head-to-head. I’m counting on it.
Ryan Palmer +100 vs. JT Poston
Considered one of the better wind players on Tour, Palmer will get a chance to show off this week. He put up three straight top-25s in breezy conditions at the beginning of the year, including a T4 at the Sony Open in Hawai’i. He made a late charge here last year with a final round 63 moving him into T4, just two swings off the pace. His downfall might be the sand after his bunker debacle at the Genesis. As long as he doesn’t think too much about it he should be fine.
Brooks Koepka -117 vs. Rickie Fowler
These two reside a short distance from PGA National and could probably carpool to the course. That – the travel not the ridesharing – gives them an edge over a number of players in the field. They’ve both had time off and look to get going for the upcoming Majors. Fowler has had all kinds of success here with four top-10s, including a win and a T2. But Koepka has more to gain. He’s still recovering from knee surgery and has yet to find his groove. I’m betting that happens this week.
Gary Woodland -124 vs. Justin Rose
You have to like the way Woodland handles himself at PGA National. He’s 7 for 7 with two top-10s, including a runner-up showing in 2017. He loves the Bermuda greens and the Florida Swing, and like Fowler, Koepka and a number of others he’s close to home. He didn’t play his best in Mexico but Woodland battled to a T12. And he does a great job avoiding bogeys, which will certainly help him this week.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker.eu. The Honda Classic is scheduled for February 27-March 1, 2020, and can be seen on Golf Channel and NBC.
