Honda Classic: Everything you need to know for Tour's stop at PGA National

After a thrilling week at TPC Sawgrass for The Players Championship, the PGA Tour continues to chug along with the Honda Classic from PGA National Champion Course.

The event used to kick off the Florida swing, but it finds itself sandwiched between The Players and next week's WGC-Match Play after a reshuffle in the 2021 schedule. The strength of the field has suffered as a result, but there are still plenty of compelling names and storylines to watch for at one of the PGA Tour's toughest tracks.

When: March 18-21
Where: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

How to watch

Recent results

Sungjae Im claimed his first Tour title last year after an exciting finish where he edged out Tommy Fleetwood and Mackenzie Hughes. The young South Korean pulled off some gutsy shots late, including birdies on the two par 3s that make up PGA National's "Bear Trap."

Keith Mitchell collected his first victory in 2019, knocking off stars Brooks Koepka and Rickie Fowler.

Prior to that, some of the game's recognizable names earned victories at the Honda Classic.

Previous winners

2020: Sungjae Im (-6) over Mackenzie Hughes
2019: Keith Mitchell (-9) over Rickie Fowler, Brooks Koepka
2018: Justin Thomas (-8) over Luke List
2017: Rickie Fowler (-12) over Gary Woodland, Morgan Hoffmann
2016: Adam Scott (-9) over Sergio Garcia
2015: Padraig Harrington (-6) over Daniel Berger
2014: Russell Henley (-8) in playoff over three players
2013: Michael Thompson (-9) over Geoff Ogilvy
2012: Rory McIlroy (-12) over Tom Gillis, Tiger Woods

The field

Im is back to defend his title. Daniel Berger - the highest-ranked player in the field - is his toughest competition.

Lee Westwood will look to continue his sensational run at the venue he came tied for fourth last year.

Joaquin Niemann, Adam Scott, Shane Lowry, Rickie Fowler, and Phil Mickelson are among the other notables in the 144-man field.

Featured groups (all times ET)

Group: Adam Scott, Joaquin Niemann, Ian Poulter
Thursday - 7:58 a.m.
Friday - 12:53 p.m.

Group: Shane Lowry, Phil Mickelson, Zach Johnson
Thursday - 8:09 a.m.
Friday - 1:04 p.m.

Group: Daniel Berger, Keegan Bradley, Lee Westwood
Thursday - 12:53 p.m.
Friday - 7:58 a.m.

Group: Sungjae Im, Keith Mitchell, Rickie Fowler
Thursday - 1:04 p.m.
Friday - 8:09 a.m.

The full list of groups and tee times can be found here.

The course

PGA National Champion Course is a beast. Coming in at 7,125 yards as a par 70, the course itself isn't overly long, but trouble is around nearly every corner with water in play on 15 holes and wind having the ability to wreak havoc. It was the PGA Tour's third-toughest course in 2020.

"The Bear Trap," which are holes Nos. 15-17 and named in honor of Jack Nicklaus, accounts for 17% of all bogeys, 32% of all double-bogeys, and 37% of all triple-bogeys or worse at PGA National.

Betting corner

Daniel Berger +900
Sungjae Im +1200
Joaquin Niemann +2000
Lee Westwood +2000
Adam Scott +2500
Russell Henley +2500
Shane Lowry +2500
Talor Gooch +3000
Cameron Tringale +3500
Keegan Bradley +3500
Brendan Steele +4000
Cameron Davis +4000
Chris Kirk +4000
Rickie Fowler +4000
Doug Ghim +4500
Zach Johnson +4500
Ian Poulter +5500
Kevin Streelman +5500

(Odds source: theScore Bet)