Honda Classic Power Rankings: Top ten golfers at PGA National
Sergio Garcia has one of the best resumes at PGA National of any who haven’t found the winner’s circle. The Spaniard is 7-for-7 in cuts made at the Honda Classic with a solo second (behind Adam Scott by one) in 2016 his best finish. Garcia has never finished outside the top 50, and there’s a reason.
His ball-striking is elite year in and year out, and that’s one of the keys to maneuvering around, or through, PGA National’s vicious rough. Garcia was 12th in strokes gained tee-to-green, and when his irons failed him, his wedges (40th SG around-the-green) were good enough to keep him in the mix in 2016-17.
Garcia may still be shaking off some rust as he makes his season debut on the PGA Tour. A win at the SMBC Singamore Open and a T32 at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in January are not far in the rearview.
Double-digit mile per hour winds are forecasted for all four tournament days. The dry, breezy weather in store plays into Garcia’s hands.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing with wind. I’d rather play with wind than with rain,” Garcia said during the 2016 Honda Classic. “Yeah, I enjoy the challenge of windy days. Obviously windy days are playable, but I’ve always seemed to do fairly well when the wind is up.”