HONDA CLASSIC RESULTS 2023

          HONDA CLASSIC PGA NATIONAL RESORT AND SPA FL. RESULTS FEB 23-26              

The inaugural event in 1972 won by Tom Weiskopf was called the Jackie Gleason Inverrary Classic.  Gleason, a famous comedian and actor was a golf enthusiast and his name was associated with the tournament for the first 9 years.  I highly recommend his biography 

“How Sweet It Is”, a talented and interesting man.   During RD 4’s telecast joined by Jack Nicklaus he mentioned playing a fun RD with Gleason, Bob Hope and President Ford in 1972.

Previous winners, Justin Thomas, Ricky Fowler, Rory McIlroy and several other big names will not be playing.  It is unusual for players to play 5 straight weeks and The Honda follows 2 elevated tournaments, with The Arnold Palmer and The Players following, so timing is just as much a factor as the lower purse. 

Twins Pierceson & Parker Coody will play their first PGA event, after winning the 2022 NCAA Golf Championship at U. of Texas, then turning Pro.  They are the Grandsons of Charles Coody now 85.  He is best known for his 1971 win at The Masters beating Johnny Miller and Jack Nicklaus by 2 strokes. He returns to the Masters every year for the Champion’s dinner.

ROUND 1 & STARTING ODDS

#1 Joseph Bramlett-5 65 OWGR 187, 60/1

#1 Billy Horschel-5 65 2nd highest ranked player in tournament, 30/1

#3 Carson Young-4 66 OWGR 469, N/O

#3 Pierceson Coody-4 66 OGWR 241, 130/1

#3 Justin Suh-4 66 World Korn Ferry Championship 2022.  Little success this year. 60/1

#6  Meronk, Schenk, Duncan, Taylor, Wallace, Brehm, SJ Im-3 67 (Cole-3 67), 150/1

#14 Lowry-2 68 (14/1) #26 Kirk (25/1), Straka, Wise, Martin, Gerard, Garnet, 1 69       

ROUND 2 & NEW ODDS Shu goes from 3 to 1, Kirk from 26 to 2.              

#1 Justin Suh-10 64 Bogied 2nd hole then 7 birdies, pared bear trap started RD2, 18/1 to 4/1

#2 Chris Kirk-9 Low round of 62 1 eagle 2 birdies. Odds from 25/1 to 3/1

#3 Ryan Gerard 63 ODDS 25/1, Ben Taylor 65-8 ODDS 11/1

#5 Ben Martin 64 OWGR 324, ODDS 18/1, Eric Cole 66 ODDS 16/1, Garnet 64-7 ODDS 30/1

#8 Tyler Duncan 67, Tano Goya, 66-6

#16 Shane Lowry 68 ODDS 16/1 & 5 others -4

CUT +1 Notables D. McCarthy, M. Kuchar+4, Parker Coody+10, Harry Higgs+11

ROUND & NEW ODDS 3 Ryan Brehm low round of 64, 10 lower than RD2 to tie for #15.   

#1 Kirk-13 66 birdied last 2 holes with clutch putts for 2 stroke lead.   1.1/1

#2 Cole -11 66 I bogie 5 birdies to move from #5 to #2.     5/1

#3 Suh-10 70 eagled #12 but the bogied 13 to slip to 3rd.     7/1 

#4 Shane Lowry-9 65 7 birdies 2 bogies even for bear trap.      6/1

#4 Ben Taylor-9 69, #6 Duncan-8 #8 Garnett, Martin, Gerard-7  

#10 Sepp Streka-7 birdied 1st 4 holes and shot 66 to climb from 22 to 10.

FINAL ROUND Holes 13/18 will decide tournament between Kirk and Cole. 

#13 Cole birdied Kirk bogied for his 1st lead-13/-14.  #14-both pared. #15 Cole takes 2 shots to get out of trap for bogie, tied. #16 Kurk made 20’ and Cole missed Kirk+1. #17 both par. #18 Kirk hits 2nd shot into water and bogied to Cole’s par.  PLAYOFF Kirk birdied 18 to win. Eric Cole is 34 and a rookie on the PGA.  He has won over 50 events on mini tours. Chris Kirk last won in 2015 after taking time off to address alcoholism.

#1 Chris Kirk-14 69 $1,530,000 Odds 1.1/1 nobody made money!!!

#2 Eric Cole-14 67 $915,600 Nice 2nd place could have won

#3 Taylor Duncan-12 $579,600 Best finished since turning pro in 2019

#4 Ryan Gerard—10 $411,600 Monday qualifier.  Big long Shot!!!

#5 Shane Lowry, Ben Martin, Sepp Straka, Justin Suh & Ben Taylor-9 $288,120