The 2022-23 PGA Tour continues with the Honda Basic, 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 the earth—and none within the prime 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 UK, sitting at or round +900 to win the occasion as of Wednesday afternoon. He received the match in 2020, so he’s acquired 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 Basic (+1400). He practically pulled off an epic comeback to take action final 12 months, however pouring rain on the 72nd and ultimate gap derailed his probabilities.
The match has some fascinating storylines: will Im be capable to double down on his dominance at one of many hardest programs within the sport? Might Lowry avenge final 12 months’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. embrace 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 ready to start at 6:50 am Thursday, which is a boon to viewers from throughout the pond: they’ll tune in round midday, somewhat than waking up on the daybreak 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 preserve 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, but it surely’ll be sunny all through the remainder of the match. Winter by no means actually occurs within the Sunshine State.
What Occurred to the Honda Basic?
Sandwiched between high-profile occasions just like the Genesis Open and the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Honda Basic hasn’t been capable of pull superstars lately. 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 the earth on the road.
The Honda Basic 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 aside from ‘The Golden Bear’ Jack Nicklaus himself in 2014. Generally known as ‘The Champion,’ the course is infamous for the treacherous stretch on holes 15, 16, and 17, a size referred to as the Bear Entice in honor of Nicklaus.
Given its historical past and placement in one of many largest {golfing} hotbeds on the earth, PGA is trying to give the occasion a much-needed facelift.
Andy Pazder, chief competitions and tournaments officer for the PGA Tour, informed the Palm Seaside Put up that the schedule ought to open up a bit subsequent 12 months, giving the Tour an opportunity to position higher emphasis on the Honda Basic.
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 identify from the occasion subsequent 12 months. An upcoming battle between sponsors might improve the prize purse from its present worth, modest by PGA requirements.
When mixed with more room within the schedule (PGA might transfer it to the tip of the Florida swing so prime 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.
Situated in South Florida, the occasion will all the time be nicely attended: PGA desires to deliver it again to its former glory, placing on a spectacle worthy of the pull it has.
