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Power Rankings: The Honda Classic
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February 22, 2016
By Rob Bolton, PGATOUR.COM
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Rory McIlroy has a win and a runner-up finish in his career at The Honda Classic. (Chris Condon/PGA TOUR)
The four major championships are reserved for crowning achievements, but there is no disputing that the current stretch of the schedule tends to separate those who are most in tune with their game from those who want to be. This is a fact despite the annual cross-country expedition to Florida and from a week-to-week mixture of grasses to primarily Bermuda. (Only one tournament west of Texas remains, the Barracuda Championship in Reno, Nevada, during the first weekend of July.)
The West Coast Swing concluded at Riviera Country Club, which was the hardest par 71 of 2014-15. The Honda Classic launches the Florida Swing on the Champion Course at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens. After rolling over, relatively speaking, after a redesign in 2014, it battled back to be the most challenging par 70 in a non-major last season, averaging 71.832, more than 1.40 strokes than the previous edition. After Russell Henley needed a playoff to prevail in 2014, defending champion Padraig Harrington did as well, taking down then-rookie Daniel Berger on the second hole of sudden death.
The Irishman hadn’t won on the PGA TOUR since picking off the last two majors of 2008, but he was in vintage form at PGA National a year ago. He ranked second in both proximity to the hole and strokes gained: tee-to-green. Harrington also offset ranking T24 in greens in regulation by finishing sixth in scrambling, but he made the most of his chances, finishing first in the field in birdies-or-better percentage (with 18 birdies). He placed just 37th in strokes gained: putting.
The 7,140-yard Champion Course is arguably best known for holes 15, 16 and 17, otherwise known as The Bear Trap. It’s a par 3-4-3=10 on which getting through in even par is akin to gaining a little over one-half of a stroke on the field. Harrington played the set in 1-under in four rounds of regulation, but it was his par at 17 in the playoff that clinched victory.
Each of the 14 tournaments in the books this season has yielded a different winner, 11 of whom are scheduled to compete this week. Winner No. 15 will have managed PGA National delicately on approach and capitalized with timely conversions on its greens. Experience never hurts, but one’s temperament to handle adversity is the most important asset this week.
Wind is almost always a factor to help defend PGA National, and it will be again this week. Gusts north of 20 mph can’t be ruled out during the first two rounds, elevating the value of par even more before they abate some on the weekend. Maybe. The threat of rain is expected to be history by the time the tournament starts. Daytime highs may not eclipse 70 degrees throughout.
POWER RANKINGS: The Honda Classic
RANK PLAYER COMMENT 1 
Rickie Fowler Back in action for first time since losing the WMPO in a playoff. Won two weeks prior in Abu Dhabi. Fifth in adjusted scoring; seventh in bogey avoidance.
2 
Rory McIlroy Sting of Sunday 75 at Riviera (en route to T20) is quelled with home game in south Florida where he won in 2012 and lost in a playoff in 2014.
Sting of Sunday 75 at Riviera (en route to T20) is quelled with home game in south Florida where he won in 2012 and lost in a playoff in 2014.
3 
Adam Scott T2 at Riviera is his third runner-up finish in last six official starts. Sits 10th in adjusted scoring and fourth in the all-around. T12 here in 2014.
T2 at Riviera is his third runner-up finish in last six official starts. Sits 10th in adjusted scoring and fourth in the all-around. T12 here in 2014.
4 
Patrick Reed TOUR’s leader in bogey avoidance finished T7 here last year. Also second in scrambling and ninth in the all-around. T6 in last start at Pebble Beach.
TOUR’s leader in bogey avoidance finished T7 here last year. Also second in scrambling and ninth in the all-around. T6 in last start at Pebble Beach.
5 
Phil Mickelson Took week off after runner-up at Pebble Beach. Top 11s in three of last four starts. First on TOUR in adjusted scoring. T17 here last year.
Took week off after runner-up at Pebble Beach. Top 11s in three of last four starts. First on TOUR in adjusted scoring. T17 here last year.
6 
Sergio Garcia Uncharacteristically missed the cut at Riviera, but he’s 5-for-5 at PGA National with a T8 in 2014. Currently T5 in greens hit and T2 in par-4 scoring.
Uncharacteristically missed the cut at Riviera, but he’s 5-for-5 at PGA National with a T8 in 2014. Currently T5 in greens hit and T2 in par-4 scoring.
7 
Brooks Koepka The local is getting his third look at PGA National in competition; T33-T51 thus far. Second-round 64 last year equaled field low for the week.
The local is getting his third look at PGA National in competition; T33-T51 thus far. Second-round 64 last year equaled field low for the week.
8 
Hideki Matsuyama Tied for 11th at Riviera two weeks after winning at TPC Scottsdale. Tops on TOUR in strokes gained: tee-to-green; fourth in adjusted scoring.
Tied for 11th at Riviera two weeks after winning at TPC Scottsdale. Tops on TOUR in strokes gained: tee-to-green; fourth in adjusted scoring.
9 
Branden Grace First start on U.S. soil as TOUR member. First action since winning in Qatar four weeks ago. No worse than T8 anywhere in last six starts worldwide.
First start on U.S. soil as TOUR member. First action since winning in Qatar four weeks ago. No worse than T8 anywhere in last six starts worldwide.
10 
Luke Donald PGA National has been quite good to the Englishman. Top 10s in last four trips (dating back to 2008 runner-up). Ended 0-for-3 skid with T7 last year.
PGA National has been quite good to the Englishman. Top 10s in last four trips (dating back to 2008 runner-up). Ended 0-for-3 skid with T7 last year.
11 
Brendan Steele Getting knocked off-balance with recent inconsistency, but perfect in five trips here. Personal-best T11 last year when he was in the mix throughout.
Getting knocked off-balance with recent inconsistency, but perfect in five trips here. Personal-best T11 last year when he was in the mix throughout.
12 
Kevin Kisner Placed T51 in debut here last year (before locking into form). Leads TOUR in the all-around. Second in adjusted scoring and fourth in bogey avoidance.
Placed T51 in debut here last year (before locking into form). Leads TOUR in the all-around. Second in adjusted scoring and fourth in bogey avoidance.
13 
Freddie Jacobson Missed first cut in seven tries at PGA National last year, but has five top 25s. Connected T4s on West Coast. T3 in par-3 scoring; 14th in scrambling.
Missed first cut in seven tries at PGA National last year, but has five top 25s. Connected T4s on West Coast. T3 in par-3 scoring; 14th in scrambling.
14 
Russell Knox Likely in minority looking forward to PGA National. Currently misfiring but placed P2 and T3 in last two editions, respectively. Second in bogey avoidance.
Likely in minority looking forward to PGA National. Currently misfiring but placed P2 and T3 in last two editions, respectively. Second in bogey avoidance.
15 
Paul Casey Slow start to 2016 lowers expectations, but with a T12 here in 2014 and T3 last year, and par or better in last seven rounds, he’s figured out PGA National.
Slow start to 2016 lowers expectations, but with a T12 here in 2014 and T3 last year, and par or better in last seven rounds, he’s figured out PGA National.
ROB BOLTON'S WRITING SCHEDULE
PGATOUR.COM's Fantasy Columnist will be filing his usual staples leading up to this week's event. Look for the following features later this week:
MONDAY: Power Rankings
TUESDAY: Sleepers, Fantasy Insider
WEDNESDAY: One-and-Done, Comfort Zone
THURSDAY: Most-picked players -
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Back in action for first time since losing the WMPO in a playoff. Won two weeks prior in Abu Dhabi. Fifth in adjusted scoring; seventh in bogey avoidance.