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The 2022-23 PGA Tour continues with the Honda Traditional, working from February 23 to February 26. Hosted in Palm Seaside Gardens on the PGA Nationwide Resort, about an hour and a half north of downtown Miami, the occasion will see 144 golfers competing to win a share of the $8.4 million prize purse.
With simply three of the highest 20 ranked golfers on this planet—and none within the high 15—competing in Palm Seaside Gardens, (No. 18 Sungjae Im, No. 19 Billy Horschel, and No. 20 Shane Lowry) the occasion is filled with lengthy photographs, making it an intriguing guess for would-be wagerers.
Sungjae Im is favored at sportsbooks in the United Kingdom, sitting at or round +900 to win the occasion as of Wednesday afternoon. He received the event in 2020, so he’s bought a greater really feel for the course than maybe anybody else who entered.
Shane Lowry of Eire has the second-best odds to win the Honda Traditional (+1400). He practically pulled off an epic comeback to take action final yr, however pouring rain on the 72nd and last gap derailed his probabilities.
The event has some fascinating storylines: will Im be capable of double down on his dominance at one of many hardest programs within the sport? May Lowry avenge final yr’s slight with a rebound efficiency? A win by any of the variety of the comparatively unknown golfers competing can be one other story for the ages.
Different names to observe for followers from the U.Ok. embody Luke Donald (+14000), Aaron Rai (+5500), and Matt Wallace (+12500), all of whom hail from England.
A Have a look at the Schedule
The slate of tee instances is about to start at 6:50 am Thursday, which is a boon to viewers from throughout the pond: they’ll tune in round midday, slightly than waking up on the first light to catch the motion. Temperatures will start at a balmy 22 levels centigrade and rise to 29 levels all through the day, so the sooner tee instances may very well have a bonus in having the ability to get forward of the warmth.
That mentioned, later tee instances will know precisely how a lot wiggle room they should hold tempo with the remainder of the sphere in the course of the first day.
As of proper now, the excessive temperature is predicted to hit 29 levels every day. The climate can be partly cloudy on Friday, giving some respite from the warmth, however it’ll be sunny all through the remainder of the event. Winter by no means actually occurs within the Sunshine State.
What Occurred to the Honda Traditional?
Sandwiched between high-profile occasions just like the Genesis Open and the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Honda Traditional hasn’t been capable of pull superstars in recent times. Brooks Koepka was the final top-ten participant to tee off, and that was in 2020.
It’s a far cry from the times when Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods went face to face in Palm Seaside Gardens with the title of No. 1 on this planet on the road.
The Honda Traditional takes place on the PGA Nationwide Resort’s marquee course, one which underwent a $4 million renovation in late 2002 earlier than being redesigned by none apart from ‘The Golden Bear’ Jack Nicklaus himself in 2014. Referred to as ‘The Champion,’ the course is infamous for the treacherous stretch on holes 15, 16, and 17, a size often called the Bear Lure in honor of Nicklaus.
Given its historical past and site in one of many largest {golfing} hotbeds on this planet, PGA is seeking to give the occasion a much-needed facelift.
Andy Pazder, chief competitions and tournaments officer for the PGA Tour, instructed the Palm Seaside Put up that the schedule ought to open up a bit subsequent yr, giving the Tour an opportunity to position larger emphasis on the Honda Traditional.
One other factor that might assistance is an upcoming rebrand. After greater than 4 a long time because the title sponsor, Honda will take away its title from the occasion subsequent yr. An upcoming battle between sponsors may improve the prize purse from its present worth, modest by PGA requirements.
When mixed with extra space within the schedule (PGA may transfer it to the top of the Florida swing so high golfers aren’t tempted to skip it for relaxation), a handbag that’s capable of compete higher with the aforementioned excessive profile tournaments just like the Phoenix Open and its $20 million prize purse.
Positioned in South Florida, the occasion will all the time be effectively attended: PGA needs to convey it again to its former glory, placing on a spectacle worthy of the pull it has.
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