Golf

5 Favorites To Win The 2015 Humana Challenge

5 Favorites To Win The 2015 Humana Challenge

5 Contenders for the Humana Challenge
Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

The Humana Challenge, in partnership with the Clinton Foundation, will get underway later this week and low scores are expected. Weather is expected to be great as the 156 golfers get one round on three separate courses before the 54-hole cut. A shootout is on its way as the courses are often near the top of the list of easiest par-72 courses on the tour. These golfers will have to get at least to -20 to have a shot at victory.

5. Zach Johnson

Zach Johnson
Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

5. Zach Johnson

Zach Johnson Travelers (Debby Wong)
Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Johnson has had one poor round that derailed him in each of his last two events. He has made the cut all four times at La Quinta and has one top-10 and one top-3 finish. He shot a 62 in last year's Humana Challenge and will take that experience into 2015 looking for the title.

4. Keegan Bradley

Keegan Bradley Travelers (Debby Wong)
Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

4. Keegan Bradley

Keegan Bradley
Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

This will be Bradley's first tournament since a top-three finish in the middle of December. This will be his third time at La Quinta, and he finished seventh and 18th in the previous events. The seventh-place finish was in 2011, the last time the event went 90 holes.

3. Bill Haas

Bill Haas British Open
Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

3. Bill Haas

Bill Haas (Debby Wong)
Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Haas is the 2010 winner of the event and has the right skill set to succeed again. He will keep the ball in the fairway and putt well. He is also one of the world's best sand players. Haas has made the cut in nine of 10 Humana Challenges he has played. He is also third all-time in earnings at the event, and enters play having made 17 consecutive cuts.

2. Patrick Reed

Patrick Reed
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

2. Patrick Reed

Patrick Reed2
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Reed is the defending champion and should be in contention to repeat. He won at Kapalua and is second in strokes gained:tee-to-green. His 28-under 260 last year was a tournament record. Only Rory McIlroy has more wins over his last 35 starts.

1. Ryan Palmer

Ryan Palmer2
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

1. Ryan Palmer

Ryan Palmer
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Palmer's putter has backed up his driver so far this season. While he will maintain a high driving average, he has improved closer to the hole. Those improvements work well with the courses at the Humana, and Palmer is comfortable playing at La Quinta. He has three top-six finishes in the last four years. Palmer has made 12 consecutive cuts, with the last seven being top-25 finishes.

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