2015 Honda Classic Power Rankings

By Danny Norris | Feb 23, 2015

The PGA Tour heads down to Florida for the start of the Florida swing. These next two weeks are going to be very exciting. First up is the Honda Classic and once we get here, you can sort of get that sense that The Masters are just right around the corner. But, back to The Honda Classic.

This sort of used to be the unofficial start to the PGA Tour season, but with the FedEx Cup and more quality golfers on Tour that has changed. There’s something about the Honda Classic that gives it a little something extra. It’s kind of like the Waste Management Phoenix Open where it’s just a regular PGA Tour event, but it has that special quality about it.

Anyway, let’s get to the reason why you are here; here are the 2015 Honda Classic power rankings:

More from Golf News

1. Rory McIlroy– It’s good to see Rory McIlroy play again. It’s been three weeks since his win at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and it’s been about five months since he last played here in the States. McIlroy is the best golfer in the world and he’ll be the favorite at any tournament he tees it up for so long as he doesn’t completely fall over the cliff.

2. Lee Westwood– This maybe a surprise, but it should be. Lee Westwood is playing some fantastic golf this year. Westwood is in better shape, he’s picking and choosing his events this year, and this is a home course for Westwood. When you put it all together, Westwood is one of the favorites heading into the Honda Classic.

Westwood finished T-5 at the Malaysian Open, T-9 at Dubai, and T-16 at the Nedbank Golf Challenge. Plus, in the last five years at the Honda Classic, Westwood has finished in the top nine in three of those years.

3. Keegan Bradley- Keegan Bradley had a good final round to propel him up the leaderboard and finish T-4. Bradley is now heading to the PGA Champions course where he has finished T-12, T-4, and T-12 the last three years.

4. Dustin Johnson– It’s safe to say Dustin Johnson is back. Johnson has finished T-2 and T-4 the last two weeks and is someone to keep an eye on this year at the majors, especially, at the Masters at PGA Championship this year.

5. Sergio Garcia– It looked like the Northern Trust Open was in the bag for Sergio Garcia after he made that chip on 12, but the wheels soon fell off. Garcia bogeyed 17 and 18 and missed out on the playoff by a stroke.

Nevertheless, it was a good showing for Garcia who comes into the Honda Classic feeling pretty good. He finished T-8 last year here at the Honda Classic.

Jun 12, 2014; Pinehurst, NC, USA; Graeme McDowell acknowledges the crowd after making his putt on the 7th hole during the first round of the 2014 U.S. Open golf tournament at Pinehurst Resort Country Club – #2 Course. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

6. Graeme McDowell– I would have to say if I had to pick a winner this week at the Honda Classic, I’m picking Graeme McDowell to win. There’s a couple of reasons for that. One: G-Mac has a great course history here; very similar to Westwood’s record in which G-Mac from 2011 to 2013 didn’t finish worse than 9th.

Two: The biggest reason why I’m picking G-Mac to win is that course conditions should be rainy and sloppy. McDowell loves playing in the slop. The worse the conditions the better McDowell plays. Especially in the wind, McDowell has the flat level swing which gives his ball a low trajectory meaning his ball is easier to control compared to someone with a higher ball trajectory.

7. Justin Rose– Justin Rose probably has the best history here at the Honda Classic. He finished T-4 in 2013, T-5 in 2012, and T-3 in 2010. Unfortunately, Rose isn’t in the best of form. He’s been dealing with a nagging thumb injury that has affected his play and kept him on the sidelines a little bit.

8. Martin Kaymer– Martin Kaymer has played well this year coming off two top five finishes at Dubai and Abu Dhabi. But he doesn’t have a good history here at the Honda Classic. He missed the cut last year, and finished T-51 in 2013.

9. Charl Schwartzel-Charl Schawartel has been a bit up-and-down so far this season. He finished T-41 last week at the Northern Trust Open, followed by a missed cut at Qatar Masters, but before that a T-9 at Abu Dhabi and 2nd at South African Open.

Aside from last year’s missed cut, Schwartzel has found a home at Palm Gardens finishing T-9 in 2013, T-5 in 2012, and T-14 in 2011.

10. Nick Watney– Nick Watney’s been on a really nice roll of late finishing T-22 last week, T-2nd at Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, and 7th at the Northern Trust Open. Plus, you can throw in the fact that he did finish T-24 last here at the Honda Classic. Watney’s most definitely earned his way to the power rankings this week.

Next: Stars Fall At Riviera