Comments: Expert Picks for the Honda Classic

The Tour returns from the madness of split personalities, throwing the game's elite into the challenges of match play for the World Golf Championships while the rest of the golf-playing professionals were offered a tourney in Mexico to pursue their needs. This week they can all be joined as one at the confines of the PGA National Championship Course, the Tour's first launch east to play in Florida where another chapter for the history of the Honda Classic will unfold. The folks in Palm Beach have been hosting this event since the early 1970s (originally known as the Jackie Gleason Classic, named after the iconic actor), serving as one of the Tour's traditional homes for nearly four decades, and many of the game's formative figures have tabbed it as an event of choice during that time. Former champions include Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Tom Kite, Hale Irwin, Curtis Strange, Nick Price and Fred Couples. More recent seasons have welcomed Vijay Singh, Justin Leonard, Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald, Ernie Els and Camilo Villegas (this year's defending champ) to the winner's circle. Originally designed by Tom and George Fazio (two of the best), the Champion Course at the PGA National Resort & Spa was redesigned by Nicklaus in 1990 and earned rights to host the Honda Classic shortly after. Like most Nicklaus tracks, the course is known for offering unique advantage for those who brave and survive manageable risks, but a conservative approach can also lead to low scores. However, the "Bear Trap" – a three-hole stretch from the 15th through the 17th holes – were labeled as "one of the toughest stretches in golf" by USA Today.

Golfers listed in this article:

1. Lee Westwood
2. Camilo Villegas
3. Luke Donald
4. Ernie Els
5. Matt Kuchar
6. Robert Allenby
7. Graeme McDowell
8. Rory McIlroy
9. Rickie Fowler
10. Vijay Singh
11. Edoardo Molinari
12. Justin Leonard
13. Justin Rose
14. Ian Poulter
15. Anthony Kim
16. Ben Crane
17. Jhonattan Vegas
18. Will MacKenzie
19. Davis Love III
20. Charlie Wi
21. Charl Schwartzel
22. Alex Cejka
23. Ross Fisher
24. Jason Dufner
25. Jimmy Walker
26. Angel Cabrera
27. Fredrik Jacobson
28. Yuta Ikeda
29. Scott Verplank
30. Stewart Cink