Power Rankings: The Honda Classic

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The migration east this week represents the beginning of the push for the Masters, and not just in terms of timing. This will be a modified form of March Madness as three of the courses used in the Florida Swing were among the top 10 most difficult in all of 2009.

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This week's stop, the Champion Course at PGA National, ranked seventh, playing +1.378 strokes in relation to par. It was the second-hardest par 70 of any non-major on the schedule (Bay Hill, +2.190).

Therefore, anyone hoping to discover his game at and around the tidy par 10 on the back nine, otherwise known as The Bear Trap, is likely to come up empty.

Ball-striking is essential this week. Native Floridians are the more likely to get hot with the putter (à la Jeff Klauk a year ago), but the primary goal is par. Y.E. Yang's 9-under 271 is the lowest anyone has gone in the three times PGA National has hosted.

The short- and long-range forecasts are favorable. Early-week rain will move out by Tuesday night before clear skies dig in. High temps will range from the upper 60s to lower 70s. Seasonal breezes up to 20 mph are expected, although they will blow from the northwest for the first two rounds at least.

Power Rankings: The Honda Classic

Rank Player   Comment Robert ALLENBY With three top 5s, he owns the best record of any non-winner since the move to PGA National. He also ranked inside the top 10 in greens hit each year. And it comes at a splendid time now that he's 35th on TOUR in putting and coming off a T8 in Scottsdale. Y.E. YANG Finished T3 in GIR when he broke through here a year ago. Had just five holes over par all week. Coming off a solo third at the Waste Management Phoenix Open after a gallant run on the back nine on Sunday (inward 31). He ranks 18th in ball-striking. Sergio GARCIA A mild surprise here for sure, but he's on the short list when ball-striking is at a premium. Led the field in greens hit en route to a T13 last year. He needs to drain more birdies (only 13 here in '09) but he's coming off a confidence-builder at Accenture. Ernie ELS The 2008 Honda champ has three top 15s in as many stroke-play events this year. He led the field here last year in fairways hit and closed with a 66 to finish T22. Consistent ball-striking prevents him from sitting higher on this list. Charles HOWELL III This will be his first look at PGA National but it doesn't matter as his renewed commitment to fitness is paying early dividends. Aside from a hiccup at Riviera, CH3 has three top 10s, including a T4 in Scottsdale. Sits 10th in scoring average. Tim CLARK What a super fit for the PGA National first-timer. His lack of distance off the tee won't hurt him a lick; rather, he'll have scoring chances due to his accuracy (fifth in fairways hit) and putting (third). Like many on this list, he's best on the most difficult tracks. Lee WESTWOOD Embarking on what many expect to be seminal year in his career. Since the French Open in July, he's posted 13 top 10s in 16 stroke-play events, including two wins. He's playing PGA National for the first time, but his ball-striking alone makes him a threat. Padraig HARRINGTON Consider this a leap of, er, good faith gesture. He won the Honda in 2005, but that was over at Mirasol. Rather, while he finished T13 in '07 -- the last time he played PGA National -- I'm leaning on his acknowledgment that he needs a few events to warm up. Mark WILSON He's missed the cut here both times since winning in 2007, and he hasn't broken par in five consecutive rounds at PGA National. However, last year's MC was an expected letdown after grinding out a win at the Mayakoba. Co-led halfway through last week. Ben CRANE Sparkling record in his two appearances at PGA National: 3rd in 2009, T12 in 2008. Led the field in putting last year. Would rank higher if he didn't finish last in greens in regulation of the 78 that made the cut at last week's Waste Management Phoenix Open.