Great news sports fans! The world’s best golfers will converge this week at the famed PGA National course in Palm Beach, Florida for the 2016 edition of the Honda Classic. All eyes will definitely be on young guns Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler as they resume their burgeoning rivalry in the PGA Tour.
They might be the runaway favorites to win this tournament but a host of other golfers are ready to spoil their party this coming weekend. Read on below as we list down three high-value sleepers who we think can take home the championship this week. While you’re at it, you can check out our in-depth preview of the 2016 Honda Classic.
Padraig Harrington (+6,000) captured the imagination of golf fans everywhere with his stunning victory in the Honda Classic last year. Harrington erased a four-shot deficit over the final nine holes of regulation, claiming his sixth PGA Tour title when his playoff birdie dispatched the stumbling Daniel Berger. It was a morale-boosting victory for Harrington who finally ended his seven-year winless drought.
Unfortunately for Harrington, he has failed to build on that solid tournament win. The Irishman has followed last year’s victory with just three top-20 finishes worldwide. That being said, two of those top-20s came during the PGA Tour’s West Coast Swing, including a tie for sixth in this year’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions. You can never count out Harrington from making a charge this week and become the tournament’s first repeat champion since Jack Nicklaus in 1978.
Jason Kokrak
Looking for a great sleeper this week? How about the big-hitting Jason Kokrak? The American came so close to grabbing his maiden PGA Tour title at Riviera last week, losing by just one shot to eventual champion Bubba Watson. Regardless, Kokrak’s 270 matched his best career finish and his placement was his best in 10 starts on tour this season.
What makes Kokrak (+5,000) such a huge threat in every golf event that he competes on is his incredible power off the tee. He’s fifth in the PGA Tour in driving distance, averaging 310.3 yards per drive this season. That powerful swing will come in handy when tackling the long 7,158-yard, par-70 PGA National course.
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Brooks Koepka
One golfer who can definitely make a run at the title this week is Brooks Koepka (+2,500). He has been on fire to start the season, grabbing top-10 finishes in three of his last four starts. He finished tied for third in the inaugural Hyundai Tournament of Champions and notched a T8 in last week’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
For Koepka to capture the second tournament win of his career, he will need to continue his outstanding play with the driver. He is 12th in the PGA Tour in driving distance this season, averaging 307.1 yards per drive. That will be a major weapon for Koepka when dealing with the nooks and crannies of this tough PGA National golf course.
