The PGA Tour heads East on Friday (AEDT) for the first leg of the Florida Tour, The Honda Classic.
Aussie Matt Jones won this event last year after tying a course record in the first round, and there is a case to be made for the defending champion with several of the top names missing.
PGA National is regarded as one of the toughest courses on the calendar, largely due to the infamous “Bear Trap” stretch between holes 15 and 17.
Favourites have typically struggled at this event over the last decade, and with the field looking a little weak on talent again, it might be worth rolling the dice on another upset.
To help you out, we’ve detailed all of our best bets in our 2022 Honda Classic Preview below.
The Honda Classic Best Bet
Louis Oosthuizenn @ $19.00
The South African is among the top chances at PGA National this week, a course Oosthuizen has played to mixed results throughout his career.
The 39-year-old withdrew from this tournament in back-to-back years in 2011 and 2012, before returning in 2017 and 2018 to finish inside the Top 30.
He missed the cut last year after shooting 75 in the second round, but Oosthuizen’s numbers suggest a bounce-back might be imminent.
PGA National calls for consistent ball striking and accuracy, two areas Oosthuizen excels in.
He ranks top of the Tour in ball striking and Greens in Regulation Percentage, and he’s also got some confidence about his game having finished T14 in Phoenix a fortnight ago.
C.T. Pan @ $51.00
Pan can be a frustrating golfer to follow, but he does come in with a hot hand following last week’s finish for outright ninth at Riviera.
Similar to the rest of his career, Pan’s form at PGA National has been up and down.
He’s missed the cut twice in five appearances but was outstanding last year sharing in a tie for third.
Pan’s short game is among the best on Tour right now, and if he can find some accuracy with the irons, he should be right in this.
The Honda Classic Best Roughie
Camilo Villegas @ $126.00
Happy to have something small on 2010 Honda Classic winner Camilo Villegas.
The Colombian appears to be improving week by week having finished T33 at The American Express and T49 at Pebble Beach in his last three appearances.
Most importantly though, he absolutely loves PGA National.
Aside from his win, the 40-year-old owns four Top 20 appearances, the most recent coming last year where he finished in a tie for eighth after carding three rounds under 70.
Brandon Hagy @ $176.00
For reasons similar to the ones above, Hagy also stands out at massive odds this week.
Full disclosure, the American has missed the cut in four of his last five tournaments, but he typically saves his best golf for PGA National, a course he finished outright runner-up on last year.
Hagy also owns two other Top 25 finishes from four appearances, so he might be worth taking a flier on.
