Hahn rallies to win Sony Open

The Teddy Bear Trap? The launch of the Florida Swing is supposed to coincide with gusts of wind that separate the mettle from the meek, but The Honda Classic is forecast to be contested under tame conditions for once. Whether Camilo Villegas’ tournament record of 13-under 267 at PGA National’s Champion Course – a stock par 70 – is in jeopardy remains to be seen, but it’s a reasonable target. For more on how PGA National usually plays, what’s new on the course this year and much more, scroll past the ranking. Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Zach Johnson, Emiliano Grillo, Charl Schwartzel, Jason Dufner and Puerto Rico Open champion Martin Trainer will be among the notables reviewed in Tuesday’s Fantasy Insider. Every course requires a level of shotmaking in the context of the strike itself and/or its timing during the competition. Then there’s PGA National. It presents nothing but pressure essentially throughout the entire walk of 7,125 yards. Its scoring average last year landed at 72.303, highest in relation to par of all non-majors in the last two completed seasons. It also was a seven-year high for the course. Furthermore, PGA National has been the most difficult par 70 among all non-majors in four of the last six seasons. As noted at the top, that’s because the wind is usually howling. When Villegas prevailed in 2010, breezes were sustained at 10-20 mph throughout. In fact, he’s an outlier. His margin of victory of five strokes equaled the tournament record first established by Jack Nicklaus at Inverrary in 1977. That convenient truth brings us back to PGA National, a track with Nicklaus’ paws all over it. It includes renovation and enlargement of all 18 greens. The putting surfaces are still TifEagle bermuda, but it’s new grass in advance of this week’s edition. Meanwhile, greens on average now measure approximately 7,000 square feet, an increase of more than 25 percent. In theory, bigger targets assist in battling the wind, but with relatively calm conditions expected, hole locations and green speeds will have to play greater roles in defending the course. Undulating greens are prepped to touch 12 feet on the Stimpmeter, but they may not hit that mark until the weekend since midweek rain and storms will soften all turf. Daytime highs around 80 degrees will accompany humid air. The Bear Trap, as it’s dubbed officially, consists of the par-3 15th hole, the par-4 16th and the par-3 17th, the last of which is now only 175 yards, down 15 yards since last year thanks to an updated and adjusted tee box. Of 204 par 3s played during the 2017-18 season, No. 17 was the hardest at +0.533 strokes to par; No. 15 slotted third-hardest at +0.391. And with No. 16 ranking T36 among 551 par 4s, all three holes finished inside the top-50 hardest holes on TOUR all season. None had cracked that bubble since both par 3s in 2011. ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled. MONDAY: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings TUESDAY*: Sleepers, Fantasy Insider WEDNESDAY: One & Done THURSDAY: Champions One & Done * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO, which also publishes on Tuesdays.

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Will Gordon (+400 for a Top 20) … Y’all remember this guy! He’s played membership bingo for four years. After achieving Special Temporary Membership deep into the 2019-20 PGA TOUR season, he was fully exempt via the non-member top 125 conduit in 2020-21. The season didn’t pan out as planned and he lost his card. That led to his rookie season on the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour on which he picked off a victory to open the Finals a month ago. It was among six top 10s overall, including consecutive T5s to conclude the regular season. Now back in the big leagues in the graduate reshuffle category, the 26-year-old also returns to Silverado where he finished T61 in his only appearance in 2020. He finished T8 on the KFT in ball-striking, precisely the skill set required to fulfill this prop and improve on his previous performance. Mark Hubbard (+300 for a Top 20) … He limped to the finish line and missed the cut in the first leg of the FedExCup Playoffs to end his season, but he’s had a month off to rest and recharge. For the five months prior, he was regularly lurking on leaderboards on both the PGA TOUR and the Korn Ferry Tour, totaling nine top 15s, including a 3rd-4th fortnight across the opposite events in July. The 33-year-old also is no stranger to Silverado. His last two paydays (in 2019 and 2021) were top 20s. Exceptionally well-balanced and elevated among others in the field. Michael Gligic … The 32-year-old from Canada connected almost identical records in the last two PGA TOUR seasons, but he’s needed the Korn Ferry Tour Finals to regain fully exempt status both times. Although it’s not the preferred method, it’s nice to convert on the lifeline and its timing is invaluable for his prospects this week. With the series as the nearest object in his rearview mirror – he went 3-for-3 with top fives in the last two stops – he has momentum. Given the option, it’s the obvious choice, but it’s also a bonus, especially since he’s 3-for-3 at Silverado with a T14 two years ago. Scott Harrington … After spending two seasons on the PGA TOUR, the Northwestern product regrouped and regained his card via the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022. Now 41 years of age, he slots as the model of what Silverado rewards – the veteran ball-striker. In fact, he’s 2-for-2 on the par 72 with a T23 in 2019 and a scoring average of 69.50. Finished 11th on the KFT in total driving, 16th in greens hit and T8 in ball-striking. Also popped for a T4 in the first leg of the Finals just four weeks ago. Zac Blair … The veteran of 147 PGA TOUR starts sat out 19 months after having surgery to repair two tears in his right shoulder. Proving that you never can return too late, he paid off the patience by going 5-for-5 in his Korn Ferry Tour rehab this summer. Each went for a top 35, two were top 25s. Boom. Now 32 years of age, he’s making his seventh start at Silverado where two of his four paydays include a T12 in 2014 and a T4 in 2019. He’s equipped with a season’s slate of 24 starts on a Major Medical Extension, so the pressure remains off to perform sooner than later. Just how he likes it. Odds were sourced on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2022. For live odds, visit BetMGM.

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