2022 Honda Classic: Top 10 power rankings at PGA National

Given the weak field assembled this week at the Honda Classic, it’s easy to slot a past champ into the top 10.

Keith Mitchell deserves a spot in the power rankings for more than his 2019 triumph.

The 30-year-old owns four top-12s in his last five starts and comes to the Florida Swing well-rested after eschewing last week’s Genesis Invitational.

Mitchell capped 2021 with T-12th at the RSM Classic. He MC’d at the Farmers Insurance Open before getting back on the horse for T-12th at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and T-10th at the WM Phoenix Open.

He also had a T-3rd early in the PGA Tour season at the CJ Cup, so Mitchell is already in great shape in the FedEx Cup.

Mitchell should be happy to be back at the site of his lone PGA Tour victory. He carded 68-66-70-67 to beat Brooks Koepka and Rickie Fowler tied for second place by a shot. A birdie on the par-5 18th hole sealed the deal.

Mitchell was born in Tennessee, played collegiate golf at the University of Georgia, and resides in St. Simons Island, Georgia. He likes this time on the schedule.

“I’ve always felt like this was my good stretch, I guess, because I grew up on the Bermuda greens,” Mitchell was transcribed by ASAP Sports at the 2020 Honda Classic. “I grew up in this part of the country playing golf, so I’m a little bit more comfortable here.”

Mitchell made no double bogeys or worse in his win. Despite ranking 57th in the field in strokes gained putting (.879), he striped the ball to avoid having to drain too many long ones. Mitchell was first in SG tee to green (11.917). He was also deft at getting out of trouble the rare times he found himself in it. Mitchell was T-2nd in scrambling (77.78%).

This will be his fifth Honda Classic appearance. He took T-53rd (69-69-74-71) last year.