PGA Tour Preview: The Honda Classic

The PGA Tour comes east as PGA National hosts the Honda Classic. A look at some golfers primed to make waves in this first Florida event of the year.

Defending Champ - Mark Wilson. Even the most avid golf fans may have no idea who Mark Wilson is. To start, he is not the former Raiders quarterback (who spelled his name Marc) but a pro golfer who's been steadily on the Tour since 2003. Last year represents his only tour win which came out of nowhere as his previous best finish at the Honda Classic was a tie for 63^rd place in 2005. Wilson is off to a nice start in 2008, having made the cut in 5 of 6 tournaments including a 9th and 11^th place finishes. That said, don't expect a repeat and a more likely finish somewhere in the 40's.

Highest World Golf Ranked Player In the Field - Ernie Els. After getting bounced out of the first round of last week's Accenture Match Play, we find Els in the Honda Classic for the first time in almost 10 years - when he finished 23^rd in 1999. According to his website (www.ernieels.com) Ernie is committed to playing a good stretch of golf in the US before the Masters, and it starts this week at the Honda Classic. Expect him to bounce back from last week's misery with a Top 15 finish.

Pick To Win - Boo Weekley - One of three players (Camilo Villegas & Jose Coceres are the others) to lose in Monday playoff to Mark Wilson last year. Based on his strong play at the Match-Play last weekend and having already carded 3 Top 10's in 6 events, Weekley is off to a fantastic start to the season. No reason to believe he doesn't keep going this week and is our pick to come out on top.

Six to Watch

Davis Love III - After getting a late start to the season due to injury, Davis is 1 for 2 in cuts made in 2008; however comes back to a tournament where he's had success as a runner-up in 2003/2004 and 13^th place finish last year (with a couple of so-so starts in 2006 (55^th) & 2005 (70^th) mixed in-between.) Look for Davis to make a run at the winner's circle with a Top 10 finish.

Justin Leonard - One could argue only Tiger Woods is playing better golf than Justin Leonard right now. He is poised to win at least one tournament this year, and is a Past Champion (2003) at this event. While, he missed the cut at the Honda over the last two years, he was also playing some terrible golf over the last two years. Expect him to have a great week and be in contention until the end.

David Toms - Four straight top 25's (including Top 5's in 2006 & 2005) at The Honda Classic make Toms a good pick to place well here, potentially even fight for the top spot. A note of caution, Toms had to pull out of the Match-Play last week-end due to a sore back so he could be a risky pick as well.

Brian Gay - Last week's winner of the Mayakoba Golf Classic probably won't find the same success here as he won't be facing a field without the World
s Top 65 players. While has two Top 10's at this event, neither has come in the last 3 years. And, there's no telling how a player will react to his first PGA Tour victory, but don't be surprised if Gay's focus wasn't entirely on preparing for the Honda Classic this week.

Robert Allenby - Added the Honda Classic to his regular playing schedule in 2003 and hasn't missed a cut since. Finished 5^th last year and has had some extra time to prepare after getting bounced in the first round of the Match-Play. One of the players "due" for win, don't be surprised to see him in contention.

Scott Hoch - Having won twice on the Champions Tour already in 2008, Hoch must be feeling his game is in great shape as this will be his first regular PGA Tour appearance since the Bay Hill Invitation in 2005. He hasn't competed at the Honda Classic since 1996. While it'd be quite a story if he is in contention, he'll probably be delighted if he makes the cut.