• COURSE: PGA National (Champion), 7,140 yards, par 70.
Designed specifically to host major events, the original George &
Tom Fazio layout was the site of the 1983 Ryder Cup won by the United
States when Lanny Wadkins' birdie at No.18 against Jose Maria Canizares
thwarted a Europe's challenge. The Champ also staged the 1987 PGA
Championship before Jack Nicklaus gave it a redesign in 1990,
introducing the testy "Bear Trap" swing of Nos. 15, 16 and 17. The
course also staged 19 Senior PGA Championships through 2000, going on
competitive hiatus until the Honda arrived in 2007.
• FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 500 points.
• FIELD WATCH: World No.1 Rory McIlroy, making his first
U.S. start since September, heads the strongest 2015 field to date with
16 of the top 25 in the current rankings descending upon South Florida.
… No.11 Martin Kaymer, titleholder at both THE PLAYERS and U.S. Open,
also arrives for his first start on U.S. soil since last year's TOUR
Championship. … Phil Mickelson seeks a fresh restart at PGA National,
returning from a two-week break that followed missed cuts at both
Phoenix and Torrey Pines. … In all, no fewer than 17 entrants keep a
home within 45 minutes of PGA National, including six of the top 35 in
the world rankings. Click here to see the full field for The Honda Classic.
• 72-HOLE RECORD: 264, Justin Leonard (2003 at Mirasol). PGA National record: 267, Camilo Villegas (2010).
• 18-HOLE RECORD: 61, Brian Harman (2nd round, 2012).
• LAST YEAR: Russell Henley emerged from a wild final
round that wound up going to a four-man playoff, using birdie on his
second trip through No.18 to beat McIlroy, Ryan Palmer and Russell Knox.
McIlroy appeared in control with three holes to play, but took double
bogey after hitting into the water at No.16 and failed to save par from a
bunker at No.17. He wound up shooting 74, opening the door for the
others. Henley carded a 72, overcoming a chunky chip at No.18 with a
long two-putt to get into the playoff. Tiger Woods couldn't finish his
final round, withdrawing after 13 holes with lower back pain. It was his
next-to-last start before surgery.
• STORYLINES: McIlroy tees it up for the first time
since winning the Dubai Desert Classic three weeks ago, part of a run in
which he's also finished second four times in his past six starts. It's
also his first start since settling a prickly lawsuit against his
former management company in Dublin. … Dustin Johnson returns to the
area he called home until last November, making his fourth consecutive
start since returning from his self-imposed leave of absence. He's two
weeks removed from a tie for fourth at Pebble Beach. … Since the Honda
moved to PGA National in 2007, the "Bear Trap" has accounted for 18
percent of all bogeys in the event, 33 percent of all double bogeys and
39 percent of all triple bogeys or worse.
• SHORT CHIPS: The Champion course has a slightly
different look this year, with four greens expanded and a new green at
No.14 to bring a nearby pond into play. The project also replaced all
tees, fairways and green surrounds with Celebration bermudagrass,
eliminating the need for a Honda overseed. … Henley's victory, combined
with Michael Thompson a year earlier, gave the event its first
back-to-back American winners since Justin Leonard and Todd Hamilton in
2003-04 at Mirasol. … It's the final chance for pros to get into next
week's WGC-Cadillac Championship, with berths awaiting anyone not
previously qualified who moves into the world top 50 or FedExCup's top
10.
• TELEVISION: Thursday-Friday, 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf
Channel). Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (GC); 3-6 p.m. (NBC), with
concurrent "Bear Trap" spotlight coverage (GC).
Last week's winners Ocala & dfs. Congrats Ocala!
Updated Standings
1. Sea - 3622
2. Bobcat - 3443
3. dfs - 3209
4. Ed - 3131
5. 2952 - 2783
6. Liz - 2661
7. NiA - 2205
8. DL - 2173
9. Ocala - 1819
10. NMT - 1800
11. 67810 - 1775
12. Bill - 1574
13. Baldy - 991
14. KT - 899
Good Luck!
This post was edited on 2/23 6:58 PM by DFSNOLE
This post was edited on 3/2 6:17 PM by DFSNOLE
Field
