The Honda Classic | First Round Preview
PALM BEACH GARDENS - Beginning with today’s Honda Classic, the PGA Tour will stage the next four tournaments in Florida: 1). The Honda Classic; 2). Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard (same week as the Puerto Rico Open); 3). THE PLAYERS Championship and 4). Valspar Championship.
Louis Oosthuizen - No. 122 FedEx Cup Standings and No. 13 in the Official World Golf Ranking, Oosthuizen is the highest-ranked player in the field this week. He’s recorded 13 under-par scores in his 13 rounds on Tour this season but his last Top-10 was the 2021 3M Open (T-2).
With a T-2 at last week's Genesis Invitational, Tour rookie Cameron Young moved from No. 113 to No. 53 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Matt Jones is the tournament’s defending champion. Last year he shot 61 70 69 68 (268) (-12) to win by five strokes over Brandon Hagy.
Last week’s Genesis Invitational winner Joaquin Niemann met with media at The Honda Classic. The native of Chile, who lives in the Palm Beach area, was asked how long it takes him to get home from PGA National;
“Depends on the car,” he quipped.
The Honda Classic
COURSE: PGA National, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida (Champion Course)
ARCHITECT: Tom Fazio
YARDS/PAR: 7,125 yards/Par 70
PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $8,000,000/$1.440,000
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Matt Jones
PAST RESULTS: (link)
PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)
FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 500
SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @TheHondaClassic
TV COVERAGE: First two rounds (today and Feb 25) are scheduled for coverage from 2:00pm to 6:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel. Then, Saturday and Sunday, coverage is set for 1:00pm to 3:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel and 3:00 to 6:00pm (ET) on NBC.
PGA TOUR LIVE STREAMING on ESPN+: Streaming coverage will be featured on ESPN-Plus today and Friday with Main Feed, Featured Hole and Featured Groups from 6:45am to 6:00pm (ET). Weekend times TBA, depending on tee times.
PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: SiriusXM Radio will have live radio coverage of The Honda Classic with today’s and Friday’s broadcasts from 12:00pm to 6:00pm (ET). Saturday coverage on Sirius XM Radio runs from 1:00pm to 6:00pm and Sunday from 1:00 to 6:00pm (ET). PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92 or online via PGATourCom.
How to Watch: In case of changes, visit: (PGATourCom)
The Basics:
The Honda Classic Tee Times start today at 6:50am (ET) and go to 1:46pm (ET).
Weather: Today’s forecast for the opening round is for breezy conditions with winds 10-20 mph and gusts to 25 mph. Temps 68-81 degrees. There will be a 20% chance of rain (link). Partly cloudy with passing showers expected all weekend.
PGA Tour Brunch will post at 6:00AM (ET) on Friday.
Next Week: Arnold Palmer Invitational and Puerto Rico Open
The Honda Classic - Field and Tee Times:
The Field: (link)
Update: Tyler Duncan (out) / Chase Seiffert (in)
Tee Times: (link)
Monday Qualifiers: (link)
What They’re Saying:
Shift to Florida brings a shift in mentality (PGATourCom)
David Feherty talks Tiger Woods in Q&A (PGATourCom)
Apologies are a test of character (Golf Week/USA Today)
Statement from Phil Mickelson (Twitter)
#Sports Gambling and Daily Fantasy News
Fantasy by Draft Kings (PGATourCom)
Expert Picks for The Honda Classic - (PGATourCom)
Sleeper Picks for Honda - (PGATourCom)
On This Day in Golf History:
February 24, 2008 - Brian Gay shot a one under par (69) to win the first PGA Tour title of his career with a two-stroke victory over Steve Marino at the Mayakoba Classic in Mexico. Gay shot a (62) in the third round to make the difference in his tournament victory. - Courtesy of Randy Walker, Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE
Parting Putt:
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