So-called expert golf tips for this week

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

It is nearly three years since RICKIE FOWLER hoisted a trophy on the PGA Tour. And, to be frank, his recent form has been pretty ordinary and inconsistent.

He has played four events in 2022 and missed the cut three times, including the Farmers Insurance Open where he opened with a 66.

He’s a past champion and runner-up at the Honda, and the good memories from those performances might inspire him to greater deeds this week.

Sportsbet odds: $51

Jimmy Emanuel – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

Despite the lack of top tier talent here based on the world rankings, there are plenty with claims to round the “Bear Trap” with the greatest of success and take the glassware this week.

Speaking of the Bear Trap, the other famous element of this event is the after play parties where fans cut loose, and my most important tip of this week is a hypothetical, being Mark Hayes to dominate the rest of us tipsters on the dancefloor if we ever cover this event together.

Matt Jones as defending champ and great bloke is hard to go past and has some solid recent form, Brooks Koepka lives nearby and has shown flashes of late and there is something about Shane Lowry this week.

But my tip is as Florida as Florida gets to start the state’s “Swing” … BILLY HORSCHEL.

He has been in good form of late, including sharing sixth at Phoenix and isn’t a stranger to the top of the leaderboard at PGA National.

Sportsbet odds: $23

RELATED: The Honda Classic preview

Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host

From one of the strongest fields of the year at last week’s Genesis we come to one of the weakest with just 12 of the top-50 players in the world making the trek to Florida for this week’s Honda Classic.

Still, somebody will win this week and that somebody will be C.T. PAN.

Yes, it’s left field but he played well here last year, he played well last week at riviera and his odds will be good.

Sportsbet odds: $56

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

I saw someone ask an inane Twitter question this week about your choice of address should you be able to play free golf within an hour of your home, anywhere in the world.

Remarkably, some people who've clearly never been north of Tallahassee chose obscure towns in Florida as their preference. As you can see by the depth in this week's Honda field, not even the world's best players want to play there, even though most of them live within moonshine-affected stumbling distance of a theme park, speedway or alligator hatchery.

So our tipping task becomes a tad harder. Brooks Koepka would win this with a leg in the air if his leg wasn't, well, in the air. Which makes it even tougher.

My head says Aaron Wise, but I was really encouraged by the way MATT JONES finished off at Riviera and he's coming back to the scene of a pretty much dominant triumph last year, so my heart will give him the nod.

PS: For those of you who occasionally wonder about Jimmy Emanuel's tips here, he plays a drinking game based on references to the "Bear Trap" at PGA National – info that tells you a lot about a lot.

Sportsbet odds: $29

WPGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA  - THE ATHENA

Brendan James – Golf Australia Editor

Really hard to tip against GRACE KIM making The Athena her own this weekend.

Has been in terrific form and would have been a challenge to Hannah Green at the Vic Open if she wasn’t disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard after round one.

Jimmy Emanuel – Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

Despite only a small field assembling for this showcase of young Aussie women with immense talent, I am finding it difficult to lock down who I like to join Kristalle Blum as an Athena winner.

Karis Davidson has been in great form and should be right there when the whips are cracking in the match play, Cassie Porter is playing fantastic golf so early in her career, but it is GRACE KIM for me.

The skills element on Saturday will let her show her ability across all areas and fill her with confidence, while the match play element will be comfortable for the Sydneysider who is not that far removed from the amateur ranks. Go Gracie!

RELATED: The Athena preview

Rod Morri – Golf Australia magazine contributor and The Thing About Golf podcast host

An intriguing format that makes picking a winner less than straightforward, but class always stands out and in this field KARIS DAVIDSON should be a clear cut favourite.

Newly minted professional Cassie Porter has been in good form since turning professional at the tail end of last year and might pose a legitimate threat, but Davidson’s experience should show through here and get her across the line.

Mark Hayes – Man About Golf

I'd love to see the continuing emergence of Kirsten Rudgeley and Cassie Porter here, but I just can't go past a bobbing finish between KARIS DAVIDSON and Grace Kim.

In a nod to quirky-yet-brilliant and Sparms-enhanced fashion over the streamlined Sydneysider, I'm plumping for "Davo".

The Gold Coaster has become a constant at the top of leaderboards in recent weeks and is due to step off stage left and into the glaring lights of victory. And I cannot wait for the speech – she's a classic!