After an outstanding weekend chasing down the leaders at THE PLAYERS Championship, Justin Thomas earned his first PGA TOUR victory of the season. The win was his first career win at TPC Sawgrass and his 14th PGA TOUR win overall. The 27-year-old now has a win at THE PLAYERS Championship to go with his PGA Championship and two WGC titles. He finished one shot better than Lee Westwood ($10,600; +2250) who posted back-to-back solo runner-up finishes the past two weeks to Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau. Thomas’ win moved him up to No. 2 overall in the world behind only Dustin Johnson.

The PGA TOUR will be back in action this week, as it continues the Florida-based portion of the schedule with its annual trip to PGA National. PGA National’s Champion Course demands accuracy and is a difficult par-72 layout. It was originally designed by Tom and George Fazio, then reworked in 1990 and again in 2014 by Jack Nicklaus.

The course usually ranks as one of the most difficult each season, and is especially well-known for a three-hole stretch referred to as “The Bear Trap.” Holes 15 to 17 at PGA National are some of the most demanding on the entire TOUR. The holes feature dramatic shots over water and are designed to penalize any player that tries to bail out, as well. The Bear Trap includes two of the most difficult par-3 holes each season, holes No. 15 and No. 17, with more potential heartbreak sandwiched between the two on the 434-yard, par-4 hole No. 16. As Nicklaus’ quote reads on the Bear Trap’s plaque, “It should all be won or lost here.” Most years, the winner is the player who thrives on these three holes while other players barely survive.

The course has hosted this event each season since 2007, which has been moved to its new slot in the schedule immediately after THE PLAYERS and before next week’s WGC-Match Play. As a result of the big tournaments on both sides, the field is watered down this week with just seven of the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking among the top contenders for this year’s title, including Daniel Berger ($10,800; +1050), Joaquin Niemann ($10,400; +2000) and defending champion Sungjae Im ($11,000; +1300).

Last year, Im won with a score of just six-under, the second-highest total since the tournament has been played at PGA National. Im finished one shot ahead of Mackenzie Hughes ($7,800; +7000), who had a costly bogey on hole No. 16 in the middle of The Bear Trap. In contrast, Im birdied two of his final three holes to claim his lone PGA TOUR victory after winning the PGA TOUR’s Rookie of the Year in 2019. Behind Hughes, Tommy Fleetwood finished solo third, with Berger joining Westwood, Brendan Steele ($8,700; +4500), and Byeong Hun An ($8,000; +7000) in a tie for fourth.

Im will try to defend his title this year against a field of players looking to show they can make noise on the PGA TOUR. There is an interesting mix of young names on the rise looking to make their mark and veterans trying to regain former status. Former winners at The Honda Classic who are in the field this week include Keith Mitchell ($7,200; +10000), Rickie Fowler ($8,900; +4500), Adam Scott ($10,100; +3000), Russell Henley ($9,800; +3000) and Michael Thompson ($7,500; +9000). Last week’s PLAYERS’ champion, Justin Thomas also won here in 2018, but he won’t be teeing it up this year.

The betting favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook is Berger with Im, Niemann, Westwood and Henley rounding out the top five. Talor Gooch ($9,300; +3500) and Shane Lowry ($9,200; +3500) are also in the top 10 after strong finishes last week at THE PLAYERS.

DraftKings is offering a number of ways you can get in on the golf action, starting with the PGA TOUR $750K Flop Shot [$200K to 1st]. Flex your golf knowledge and create a six-man lineup for the opportunity to turn $15 into $200,000 for a first-place finish while a total of $750K will be awarded in prizes. You can also bet on the tournament at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Scroll down for a full stream of picks and previews!

— Analysis by Zach Thompson

2021 The Honda Classic Championship Playlist

2021 The Honda Classic Championship Details

• Host Course: PGA National
• Location: Palm Beach Gardens, FL
• Par: 70
• Yardage: 7,125
• Greens: Bermuda
• Broadcast: Golf Channel, NBC

DraftKings Sportsbook Notable Odds To Win

Editor’s Note: Gary Woodland has withdrawn from The Honda Classic

• Daniel Berger (+1050)
• Sungjae Im (+1300)
• Joaquin Niemann (+2000)
• Lee Westwood (+2250)
• Russell Henley (+3000)
• Adam Scott (+3000)
• Talor Gooch (+3500)
• Shane Lowry (+3500)
• Keegan Bradley (+4000)
• Cameron Tringale (+4000)
• Cameron Davis (+4500)
• Rickie Fowler (+4500)
• Chris Kirk (+4500)
• Brendan Steele (+4500)
• Zach Johnson (+5000)
• Gary Woodland (+5150)
• Doug Ghim (+6000)
• Ian Poulter (+6000)
• Kevin Streelman (+6000)
• Adam Hadwin (+6600)
• Matt Wallace (+6600)
• Wyndham Clark (+6600)
• Byeong Hun An (+7000)
• Dylan Frittelli (+7000)
• Lucas Glover (+7000)
• James Hahn (+7000)
• Mackenzie Hughes (+7000)
• Matt Jones (+7000)
• Martin Kaymer (+7000)
• Russell Knox (+7000)
• Luke List (+7000)
• Ryan Moore (+7000)
• Alexander Noren (+7000)
• J.T. Poston (+7000)
• Brandon Wu (+7000)

All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.

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