PGA National Resort and Spa is the venue for this week’s PGA Tour event, as the stars descend on Palm Beach for the Honda Classic.
Berger Under Injury Cloud for Home Gig
The Honda Classic favourite had an MRI scan on a rib problem on Monday, so punters taking the 10/1 about Daniel Berger are hoping that the results were positive and that the local man can do himself justice.
Berger shrugged off the rib issue to finish ninth in the Players Championship at Sawgrass last week, building on a bright spell of form which included victory in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, so he seems a massive runner on the formbook alone.
Throw in his course credentials, which include success at PGA National as a junior followed by a 2015 Honda Classic playoff loss to Padraig Harrington, and the 27-year-old’s fans have every right to be excited about the week ahead.
The list of tee-times were issued on Tuesday night and Berger’s name appeared, so it seems he is going to post. If the market leader is anything close to 100 per cent fit, he could be set for a fifth PGA Tour title on Sunday.
Consistent Sungjae Im Could Defend His Title
Sungjae Im is on offer at 12/1 this week and may be a more attractive option than the favourite for many punters.
Im has been performing consistently well, regularly featuring on leaderboards, and it seems only a matter of time before a second PGA Tour title comes his way.
His breakthrough came in the Honda Classic 12 months ago and the tough tee-to-green test of PGA National suits the 22-year-old well.
The 22-year-old’s ball-striking is typically strong and he finished seventh in the putting statistics in the Players Championship at Sawgrass last week, so all facets of Im’s game may be coming good for his title defence.
The South Korean finished second in the Masters in November and the Presidents Cup star is generally regarded by his peers as a member of the elite.
Given so many of the world’s best are skipping this event, Im has been presented with a golden opportunity to retain the trophy.
Former Champion May Go Well at Juicy Price
Michael Thompson arrived at the 2013 Honda Classic in miserable form, but won the tournament by two shots, and his affection for PGA National means the 70/1 chance will come on to the radar of many each-way punters.
Thompson, who won the 3M Open last summer, finished fifth in The American Express at the end of January and is just outside the top 100 in the world rankings.
Four solid rounds for 48th place at Sawgrass last week was a decent warm-up spin for Thompson, who seems happier than ever off the course.
He and his wife adopted a second child last year and a content family life has translated to some improved PGA Tour form.
Thompson has always been known as a fairway-finder, which is an essential asset at PGA National, a track boasting several water hazards, countless bunkers and extremely penal rough. It is one of the most difficult venues on the circuit.
*All odds correct at time of writing.
