Rafael Guillén
The West Coast Swing ended with a spectacular The Genesis Invitational, and now we go from coast to coast to start the Florida Swing. The Honda Classic is a great tournament that serves as a prelude to one of the most important tournaments of the tour.
For that reason, it is complicated that many of the Top 10 players on the Tour will be in this tournament. However, that is not to say that the level is low, as many of the participating golfers are looking to add their first victory to their record, as was achieved last year by the Austrian Sepp Straka, who is the only PGA event he has won.
The best positioned golfer who will be in the PGA National course in Palm Beach is the Korean Sungjae Im, who is aiming to win his third PGA tournament in his career, but being a very even field, anyone could pull off the upset.
Many of them played the Genesis Open, and arrive with a good rhythm, while others want to continue adding experience and strokes to compete against the big players in the upcoming tournaments where they will meet the best. Without further ado, at JefeBet we present you the favorites and their odds for this tournament that will undoubtedly be very even.
Predictions, Odds, and Betting Previews for the Honda Classic PGA Tour Event to be Held on February 23–26 2023
- Where: PGA National – Palm Beach, Florida
- When: Thursday, February 23 – Sunday, February 26.
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Favorites
Matt Kuchar (odds +2500 at BetMGM)
The American is coming off an eighth place finish at the Genesis Open, in which he may have played his best golf in a while. He looked particularly good in the last round, where he shot a 67, and kept his cool on the toughest holes on a rather difficult course.
He already won the Honda Classic in 2002 and knows this course perfectly, which can be a big advantage over the others, who have not played at the PGA National. His current level is striking, and that would put him close to his second championship in this tournament.
Danny Willett (odds +6000 at BetMGM)
The British player also showed a great level at the Genesis Open. He finished in 18th place playing a quite acceptable first and second round, perhaps his only problem was that he could not keep up the level in the following rounds.
He always made the right decisions, but sometimes luck was not on his side in those rounds, even so he never lost confidence and continued with the aggressive golf that characterizes him. He also has experience in this field, but has not fared well. In 2017, he missed the cut and last year he was left with a score of 48, his third round was horrible as he shot for 77, one of his worst rounds to date.
Sungjae Im (odds +900 at BetMGM)
The top-ranked golfer in the field is a natural favorite. He had a great Phoenix Open, finished in sixth place, but could not keep up the pace in the Genesis Open, where he was very nervous in the last rounds and his shot selection was not the best.
The Korean shot a 74 in the third round and a 73 in the second round and comes into this Honda Open with the need to improve. He knows this course perfectly well, he won the tournament in 2020, although last year he did not do well at all, because he did not make the cut. If he concentrates and starts playing like he knows how, and like he did at the Phoenix Open, he can achieve his second Honda Open title.
Sleeper Picks
Min Woo Lee (odds +2500 at BetMGM)
The Australian has been playing the Asian Tour, and now he will cross the ocean for an appearance in a higher level tournament. On tour, he has been finishing in the top 10 and that speaks very well of his current consistency, the problem is that when he plays the PGA Tour, he doesn’t do well. This is a good opportunity to show that he has grown up and is ready to play with the best.
Jhonattan Vegas (odds +4000 at BetMGM)
It could be a surprise, he has been playing well, perhaps better than in other seasons, and the absence of higher level players will give the Venezuelan plenty of opportunity in a field he knows well. He finished fourth in 2017 and usually makes the cut. With the level shown at the Phoenix, the Genesis Open and better shot selection at important moments, he could win his fourth PGA Tour tournament.
Sepp Straka (+5000 odds at BetMGM)
The defending champion is not a favorite, and a victory would be complicated by its current momentum. If he wins the tournament for the second consecutive time, he would achieve something that only Jack Nicklaus did when he won it in 1978 and 1979. This season he has gone from strength to strength and at the Genesis Open he did not look good, but he knows the course. Will he be able to match the Golden Bear?
JefeBet Prediction
Although he has not been playing his best golf, the lack of top 10 players will make Sungjae Im take advantage to win his second Honda Classic and his third PGA tournament. This will give him confidence to face the following commitments, which will increase his level.
