PGA Tour
Golf
Date: Feb 29–Mar 3, 2024
We now kick off the Florida swing with the Cognizant (Formerly known as the Honda) Classic at PGA National. PGA National is now a par 71 that plays about 7,147 yards with the recent change of hole #10 from a par 4 to a par 5. This is an event for golf purists to enjoy as PGA National is annually one of the hardest courses on the calendar. Water is in play on 15 holes and there is a 3-hole stretch that is so arduous it has its own nickname and its own dedicated TV coverage. That would be the Bear Trap, holes 15, 16, and 17.
Par 5 scoring is important because the Three par 5s on the course are the easiest holes, and in a low-scoring event like this, capitalizing on these holes becomes crucial for contention. We’ll also examine par 4 scoring on holes ranging from 450-500 yards because some of the most difficult holes at PGA National fall within this range. We need players who can handle these tough holes effectively.
In line with the challenging nature of the course, we will focus on Bogey Avoidance, Scrambling, and Sand Saves. It’s essential to find players who can salvage pars, avoid high-scoring holes, and navigate the sand traps. Last year, no player managed to get through the Bear Trap without at least recording a bogey or worse. Scrambling is higher than the tour average, and sand play comes into play frequently.
This event is not about accumulating the most birdies but rather about preventing double bogeys from appearing on the scorecard.
Key Stats Summary:
- SG: Approach, with emphasis on proximity from 175-200 and 200+ yards
- Par 5 scoring
- Par 4 scoring on holes of 450-500 yards
- Bogey Avoidance
- Scrambling and Sand Saves
- SG: Ball Striking
Now, let’s move on to our picks for the tournament:
Eric Cole, 33/1.
Better price than we was expecting considering he was runner-up last year and has since shown himself to be one of the top players in the world. Top10 in approach and putting in this field.
Stephan Jaeger, 50/1.
He’s made 22 cuts in a row, this is not common for even the best players on tour. Consistency comes before success, etc. He’s now had two top3 finishes in his past 3 starts, including the 54-hole lead at Torrey Pines. Shot 67-67 on the weekend here last year to finish T14, and is top10 in the field for bogey avoidance.
Christaan Bezuidenhout, 80/1.
His recent approach numbers are almost too good, he’s neck-and-neck with Scheffler as the best iron player since the start of this year. We doubt this is sustainable for Cbez. But if he does manage to keep it going for one more week, this is a great spot for him. Considered Hoge as a similar profile and price, but he has horrendous course history.
Image Credit: youtube.com
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