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Expert Picks: The Honda Classic
 
Feb. 28, 2007
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Which player will take the honors in this weekend's Honda Classic? Our experts weigh in:

T.J. Auclair
PGATOUR.com Interactive Producer
Pick: Jim Furyk
The quirky-swinging Furyk is the highest-ranked player in this week's Honda Classic (No. 2). In six trips to The Honda Classic, Furyk has one missed cut, but aside from that has never finished worse than a tie for 12th. His highest finish was a tie for fourth in 2000. Of course, logic would suggest that with a new venue this week -- PGA National Resort & Spa -- Furyk's previous finishes don't mean squat. I disagree. In the six Honda Classics he's played, four were on different courses. Plus, he's one of the steadiest players in the world and can perform well anywhere.
Brett Avery
The Fantasy Insider
Pick: Padraig Harrington
In a month or two last week's second-round loss in the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship should look like a blip, especially considering his six top-10s worldwide since last autumn's Volvo Masters on the European Tour. His percentage of fairways hit (59.46 percent, 106th) and greens in regulation (61.81 percent, 162nd) are hardly comforting on a PGA National Champions course with water in play at 16 holes. But he's second in putting (1.697) and 17th in scrambling (67.27 percent).
Lauren Deason
PGA TOUR.com Editorial Coordinator
Pick: Jim Furyk
He hasn't finished outside the top 10 in The Honda Classic in five of his last six starts, having last played the tournament in 2005 and finished ninth. The Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., resident has only won once in the Sunshine State -- at the 2000 Doral Ryder Open -- but the chips are falling into place for Furyks second. He's been consistent in 2007 and has not finished outside the top 20 yet, making him 12th in FedExCup points without a win. Furyk seems destined for a victory within his next few starts and maybe this is his time to finally win The Honda Classic.
Melanie Hauser
PGATOUR.com Correspondent
Pick: David Toms
David Toms or Jim Furyk? Flip a coin here. Both have been playing well this season, both are primed for their first wins of 2007. By the numbers, it's the Ampersand Man. By the gut? Gotta go with Toms.
Dave Lagarde
PGATOUR.com Contributor
Pick: Padraig Harrington
He's a traditional slow starter likely to be a serious challenger in an event where he has won and finished tied for 16th in two tries.
John Maginnes
PGA TOUR Network on XM Radio analyst
Pick: Jim Furyk
Jim Furyk will win The Honda Classic this week for a couple of reasons. The golf course set up this week is brutal. The rough is long and thick. One caddy told me that if you hit it in the rough then you are wedging out. He predicted that 5-under par would finish in the top 10. Precision off the tee and an unstoppable short game will be the keys to victory this week. Furyk will win in a tough battle over the winner last week. No, not the big Swede; the other winner, Mr. Funk.
Helen Ross
PGATOUR.com Chief of Correspondents
Pick: Davis Love III
He's already got two fourth-place finishes this year and The Honda Classic has been good to him. He's played in the tournament 12 times, on a variety of layouts, and posted five top-10s and a pair of seconds. With Jack Nicklaus looking on -- his wife Barbara is the chairperson of the Children's Healthcare Charity, Inc., which operates the tournament -- this would be a perfect place for Love to impress the U.S. captain of The Presidents Cup.
Dave Shedloski
PGATOUR.com Senior Correspondent
Pick: David Toms
On the basis of skill sets Toms is a natural choice for emerging with his first win in more than a year at the Champion Course at PGA National. The new greens could be a bit more firm than some might anticipate and there is all that water to contend with (on 16 holes), not to mention the subtle strategic properties that are inherent in Jack Nicklaus designs. Toms is a wonderful tactician whose stats aren't all that attractive so far in 2007, yet he has four finishes of 13th or better. This tells the TOUR Insider that he knows how to manage his game. On a course fraught with peril, what better asset could there be? And though the tournament moves to a new golf course, Toms has three top-25 finishes in as many starts since the event migrated to Palm Beach Gardens, including a tie for third last year.
Mike Vitti
PGATOUR.com ShotLink Analyst
Pick: Jim Furyk
Accuracy will be important at the Champion Course at PGA National and Furyk is arguably the most accurate player on TOUR. Furyk enters this week's event ranked second in driving accuracy, first in greens in regulation and tied for 18th in proximity to the hole.

.Wondering how our experts are doing so far this season? Here's a look:

How they're doing
The 2007 record of PGA TOUR.com experts after last week's Accenture Match Play Championship & Mayakoba Golf Classic
PGATOUR.com Experts 1st 2nd 3rd Top 10s Missed Cuts Total FedExCup Points
Helen Ross 2 1 1 5 3 18,020.3
T.J. Auclair 1 1 2 4 1 13,455.2
Dave Lagarde 2 0 0 4 3 13,089.3
Melanie Hauser 2 0 0 3 3 12,257.3
John Maginnes 2 0 0 2 3 11,587.9
Dave Shedloski 1 0 1 4 3 10,185.7
Lauren Deason 1 0 1 4 3 9,147.3
Brett Avery 1 0 0 2 4 8,059.3
Mike Vitti 0 1 0 1 6 5,449.9

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