PALM BEACH GARDENS (Fla.) — Thursday’s Honda Classic kicks off at PGA National. The event will offer plenty of activities for the patrons, besides watching the pros play their rounds.
Even though it may be warm for this time, the weather is expected to cooperate.
Waterball is something to be on the lookout for.
Ryan Palmer is the Bear Trap’s poster child. It’s not a good thing.
Palmer is the only player to have hit more water balls than Palmer, who has been playing on the Champion Course at PGA National since 2007.
Palmer is the only player to be more than par 44 on the three-hole stretch from ’07. The closest player is 34 over.
Despite missing the tournament twice since 2009, Palmer is back at the Honda Classic this week.
“Ofcourse, I have heard about it. Palmer stated Wednesday that he will be watching the telecast following playing, and it (the statistic always pops up). The numbers will add up if you stay here for long enough.
Palmer isn’t the only one struggling. The fourth most difficult three-hole stretch of the PGA Tour’s PGA Tour is the Bear Trap, named after Jack Nicklaus who redesigned them. The par-3 15th and 17th holes have the par-4 16th.
The field has a total of 4,374 strokes more than par and 1,686 balls in water since 2007. This is 562 sleeves worth of balls that are being taken to their graves by the best golfers in the world.
Palmer stated that they are “such demanding holes”. Palmer said that a lot depends on the wind, particularly on 15, and 17. However, I have had weeks when I hit the green every time I played.
“It’s not as if I reach the 15th tee, and then go, “Oh, crap! Here we go again!”
Despite his Trap problems, Palmer nearly won the Honda Classic in 2014. He lost a four-way playoff against Russell Henley and was T-4 for 2019. In 15 starts, he has made more than $1.1million. This is why the Honda is one of his favourite tournaments.
Palmer stated, “I love playing a difficult course.” It’s a course for ball-strikers. The course is very difficult and takes many players out of tournament. To survive, you have to work hard.
Palmer is how aware are you of the Bear Trap’s past problems? During Wednesday’s pro-am, he texted the PGA Tour rules officials about his Bear Trap experience.
Palmer stated, “I birdied 15, parred 16, and hit it into water on 17,” We joke around about it. One person must hit the most water balls there. It’s me.
Since 2007, most balls have been in the Bear Trap’s water.
- Ryan Palmer, 19
- Vaughn Taylor 14
- Jimmy Walker, 14
- Brian Harman, 12
- Rory McIlroy 12
- Graeme McDowell 12
- Jason Dufner, 12
- Adam Scott, 12
- Ernie Els, 12
- Greg Chalmers, 12
Since 2007, most rounds were played with no ball in the Bear Trap’s water.
- Jim Furyk, 18
- Alex Noren, 16
- Adam Schenk, 16
- Sungjae Im, 14
- Phil Mickelson 14
- Michael Bradley, 12
- Cam Davis, 12
- Kelly Kraft, 12
- J.J. Spaun, 12
Beautiful weather every weekend
It’s so nice to be able to attend a tournament of golf without looking at the radar.
Although the Honda didn’t get a good deal from the PGA Tour, with three events and the Players each side of the schedule, Mother Nature did show some love for the event.
The weather forecast is perfect for the four tournament days: there’s no chance of rain on Thursday or Friday, and only 5 percent chance on Saturday with temperatures in the mid 80s.
