Rickie Fowler returns to PGA National looking to mount a successful defence of the Honda Classic title he won last year. The American tops the betting in Palm Beach Gardens (Florida) but faces a tough task to retain his trophy, as he’s joined by a strong field, which includes 10 of the world’s top 25 players.
Last year Fowler bagged his first win in 13 months after finishing four shots clear of the pack - the biggest winning margin in seven years - following an up-and-down final day. The 29-year-old loves the tournament - he lives minutes from the club - and previously finished 6th in 2016 and 7th in 2012, and can now be found at 8/1 to become the first player to defend his crown since Jack Nicklaus 40 years ago.
Tiger Woods makes his return to the course for the first time in four years. The American made his eagerly anticipated comeback in January’s Farmers Insurance Open, finishing T23, but then missed the cut at last weekend’s Genesis Open. The 42-year-old can now be backed at a best-priced 80/1 to go on and bag his long-awaited first PGA Tour title since the 2013 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
Former Honda Classic winner Rory McIlroy (2012) is a 10/1 shot to become the fifth player to win here multiple titles, while Padraig Harrington (2005 & 2015) is a 200/1 outsider to become the first man to triumph at the event three times, while the Irishman is 16/1 to finish in the top-10.
There are seven other former winners in the field, including the 150/1 priced Luke Donald who is bidding to win his first PGA Tour for six years. The Englishman has four top-10s at the event since 2009, and if he can conjure up some of the old magic, he would make for a tasty outside pick.
Masters champ Sergio Garcia (18/1), who won the Singapore Open in January, is definitely worth keeping an eye on this week at the PGA National. The Spaniard is gunning to get his hands on the title for the first time, and can bank on a decent record with a brace of top-10 finishes, including 2nd in 2016, while he’s yet to miss the cut.
Graeme McDowell (75/1) was bang in the mix for glory at the Genesis Open, only to falter in the final round, dropping down to T26. The 2010 US Open winner will no doubt be disappointed at the collapse, but he can draw confidence from his opening three rounds, while he has a decent record at the Honda Classic, registering four top-10 finishes in seven years.
