No joy last week where three of our selections finished top twenty but never put up a serious challenge. One of our old friends Patrick Reed triumphed, but Bryson DeChambeau probably should have won and traded at 1.16 on Betfair. In Puerto Rico Vikto Hovland was triumphant and he was the only selection we mentioned in the blog so hopefully a few of you took a chance. On to this week where the PGA tour moves to Florida from the West Coast events.
PGA Tour
Honda Classic Palm Beach Gardens Florida
The defending champion is Keith Mitchell who secured his first PGA victory here last year when holding off Brooks Koepka and Rickie Fowler by one shot. Previous winners include Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler and Adam Scott. This is not a low scoring event with -13 under being the lowest four round total in the last ten years with the average winning score in that period being around -9 under. The course is famous for the three hole stretch over 15,16 and 17 known as “The Bear Trap”, where the tournament can be won and lost. The course has plenty of water hazards and some large bunkers and the closing Par 5 18th hole is a great risk and reward hole. Unless someone has a decent lead the closing holes can drastically alter the leaderboard so we could be in for a great finish.
European Tour
Oman Open
Al Mouj Golf Muscat Oman
This is the third time the event has been played with the two previous winners being Kurt Kitayama and Joost Luiten. This is not an event with a star studded field and it will be an opportunity for an up and coming player to make a breakthrough or for a player out of form to make a revival. Martin Kaymer has committed to play and he will be a very popular selection to get his career back on track. With the filed assembled, we will not be making a selection as I can find no value in any of the in form players.
Mulligan
