Golf Betting - Honda Classic Preview

The golf betting schedule comes off an exciting and unpredictable match play event and heads to the Sunshine State for the Honda Classic. Here’s a look at the oddsmakers’ favorites to top the leaderboard in Palm Beach Gardens this week:

Lee Westwood +1,000

It was a tough week at the Accenture World Match Play Championship for Westwood. Not only did the Englishman fall to Nick Watney in the second round of the tournament but he was knocked from his top spot in the World Golf Rankings by Germany’s Martin Kaymer. Westwood struggled with his putting through the first two days of the event, failing to drop any putts from outside 10 feet. Despite that poor showing, Westwood is looking forward to the Honda Classic and getting away from the hole-to-hole pressure of match play. Last year, he fired a 2-under par for a T-9 finish at the PGA National Resort & Spa.

Luke Donald +1,200

Donald comes into the week with a ton of momentum after defeating Martin Kaymer in the final of the Accenture World Match Play Championship. As a No. 3 seed, he benefited from early upsets, taking on No. 15 seed Matteo Manassero in the quarterfinals and No. 12 seed Ryan Moore in the semifinals. He became the first player in tournament history not to trail in a single match and needed only 89 holes to claim the tournament title, another record for the event. It was Donald’s first win in five years and bumps him to No. 3 in the World Golf Rankings. His last trip to the Honda Classic came in 2008 when he shot a 5-under par, which was good enough for second place behind Ernie Els.

Rory McIlroy +1,500

Experience trumped youthfulness when McIlroy fell to veteran Ben Cane in the second round of the Accenture World Match Play Championship. McIlroy was done by the 11th hole, adding to a stunning Day 2 of the event. It will be interesting to see how the 21-year-old Irishman rebounds from such a beating, giving less value to his pricey golf betting odds. McIlroy hasn’t been exceptionally sharp at the Honda Classic either, posting a T-13 finish in 2009 and a T-40 last year.

Matt Kuchar +1,500

Matt Kuchar is a defending Honda Classic winner, taking the tournament title in 2002. However, that win came in the final year the event was held at TPC at Heron Bay in Coral Springs, Florida. Kuchar's track record at Palm Beach Gardens isn’t as impressive, posting a T-39 in 2007, a T-43 in 2008, and a T-39 in 2009 before skipping last year’s event. Kuchar is coming off a strong week at the Match Play Championship, finishing third as a No. 4 seed after downing Bubba Watson in the consolation final. That gave him his fourth Top-10 showing in five Tour events this season.