Fantasy Golf Sleeper Report – The Honda Classic

Ten PGA TOUR wins, seven of them spread across three courses. It’s fair to say that Bubba Watson is a creature of habit!

His win in the Genesis Open last week was his third at the Riviera Country Club, and his emotion as the final putt sunk was evident for all to see. Bubba has spoken of retiring from the sport, such was his anguish at a complete loss of form, but convinced himself to carry on because ‘he isn’t any good at anything else.’

The sportsbooks are convinced that the ‘old’ Bubba is back, slashing the odds on the two-time Masters winner slipping into the green jacket at Augusta for a third time to just 33/1.

Bubba Watson poses with the trophy after winning the Genesis Open at…

Bubba Watson poses with the trophy after winning the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club on February 18, 2018 in Pacific Palisades, California. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

There is plenty at stake in Florida this week at the Honda Classic. Aside from the handsome prize money available, the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Rankings will automatically qualify for the WGC-Mexico Championship next week, where plenty more riches are up for grabs. Expect those just above and below the 50 mark to put in a concerted effort!

The Genesis Open was a real treat for spectators because it harked back to a day when golf required thought, strategy and clinical ball-striking; an age before the big hitters had their wicked way.

Riviera will do that to a player: it’s tight lines and stingy landing areas really testing the field to their limits, and it’s no surprise that somebody who can shape the ball like Bubba – and who is so comfortable playing out of the rough – flourishes.

PGA National, our host this week, is a similarly difficult test. It features a number of doglegged holes, water is in play on 13 holes and, just as the players were breathing a sigh of relief with the end in sight, the nightmarish ‘Bear Trap’ – a trio of holes from 15-17 that bring the weak of heart out in a cold sweat – can shatter dreams and turn success into heartache.

Who are the sleepers that can handle the Floridan heat and escape from the Bear Trap unscathed?

Brandt Snedeker – Vegas Odds 55/1 – A spate of injuries has caused Brandt Snedeker to overhaul his diet and workout regime, but one thing that hasn’t changed is his excellent ball-striking.

Feeling his way back to form after months out, Snedeker finished T23 and T20 at the Phoenix Open and AT&T Pebble Beach respectively, and you suspect that a break-out performance is just around the corner.

The conditions at PGA National should, in theory, suit. A short stretch ensures he isn’t powered out of the game by the boomers, and the need for strategic course management is right in Snedeker’s wheelhouse.

He’s actually not played here since 2011, but form at the Sony Open (T2 in 2016) and at other Fazio courses (T9 at Pinehurst, T8 at Conwy Farms) at least hints at suitability.

Finally, there aren’t many players better adept at grinding it out in the wind than Sneds. If he’s fully fit, he should contend here.

Jason Dufner – Vegas Odds 55/1 – It’s fair to say that there are only a few occasions each season where Jason Dufner comes onto the radar, but fiddly little tests like PGA National are where the Duf-man has made his money over the years.

A winner of one major and a runner-up in another, Dufner has six major top-10s to his name in total and is clearly at his best when super-low scoring is not on the menu.

The 40-year-old has four top-20s to his name at PGA National – no mean feat given the complexity of the track, and bagged a pair of top-20s in Hawaii earlier in the campaign.

A five-time PGA TOUR winner – the last of which came less than a year ago, Dufner fits the profile of a Honda Classic champion.

Ryan Palmer – Vegas Odds 80/1 – Palmer lost in a four-way playoff here in 2014 to Russell Henley, and he was also the co-leader through 36 holes here 12 months ago, so it’s fair to say that he has something of a penchant for PGA National.

The world of golf moves so fast that it is easy to forget that the 41-year-old is a three-time PGA TOUR winner (and a three-time playoff loser as well), and as the likes of Gary Woodland have proven of late it is not impossible for champions to get back to the top of the leaderboard.

The form is there too: Palmer was outstanding in his T2 return at the Farmers Insurance Open, and as a Texan born and bred – plus a former Sony Open winner – we have no qualms about his ability to play in the wind.

Martin Kaymer – Vegas Odds 80/1 – The two-time major winner is trying his luck in the US at the moment in an attempt to break back into the world’s top 50.

The German sat T15 at the halfway stage of the Genesis Open, and while he fell away somewhat from there it was still a solid effort.

Kaymer was T3 here through 54 holes a year ago, and his solid GIR hitting game is perfect for PGA National.

Ian Poulter – Vegas Odds 100/1 – There’s plenty at stake this week for Poulter, who could book his spot in Mexico with a strong showing at PGA National.

The Englishman is somebody who understands the importance of karma: after regaining his tour card on a technicality, Poulter has played well in recent months with a third at the Canadian Open, T15 at the CJ CUP, T22 at the PGA Championship and a T23 return from the Dell Technologies Championship evidence of that.

PGA National should be right up Poulter’s street, with its requirement to plot your way around rather than just hit the ball as far as you can, and a T5 finish in 2015 is confirmation that he should flourish this week.