PGA Professional Morin earns Honda invite

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Alan Morin knows he's representing the area.

As a Royal Palm Beach resident and the assistant pro at The Falls Country Club in Lake Worth, Morin realizes the Honda Classic is a unique opportunity for him.

"I'm representing not only golf in our section, but I'm also representing all of the golf pros in our South Florida section because we're kind of the caretakers of the game," Morin said Monday before participating in the Pro-Am at PGA National to start Honda Classic week.

"To be able to come out and play in an event like this, it's an incredible experience and it's an incredible honor."

As the South Florida PGA Section's Player of the Year, Morin, 46, earned a spot in this week's Honda Classic. This will mark the eighth time in Morin's career that he has played in the event.

Morin has missed the cut in each of his past three Honda Classic appearances (2014, 2012, 2009). The last PGA Tour event he participated in was the PGA Championship this past August where he also missed the cut.

"It would be great," Morin said of making the cut this week. "It's exciting to make the cut, especially at this time of the year. We're all working and it's the middle of the season, so you don't get a lot of time to practice and play and really hone your game."

Morin has made the cut at the Honda Classic three times (2008, 2007, 2003). His best finish in the event came in 2003 when he tied for 67th.

In fact, Morin hasn't made the cut in a PGA Tour event since making it to the weekend of the 2008 Honda Classic.

"Over the next couple of days, I'll be doing what I can to find my game and to make the cut would be just great," he said.

One thing working in Morin's favor is his familiarity with the Champion Course at PGA National. As a Palm Beach County resident, he said he has played it "many times."

It's part of the reason Morin has played relatively well at the Honda Classic. Aside from the three Honda Classics when he made the cut, he has missed the cut in each of the other 17 PGA Tour events he has participated in over his career.

Morin knows PGA National turns into a different course when the wind starts blowing. Wind speeds are expected to reach 23 mph Wednesday and 16 mph Thursday, but will calm down as the week progresses, according to The Weather Channel.

"When the wind doesn't blow, it's still a tough golf course," Morin said. "But once you get above 10 mph, there are several holes out there that really make you think crazy thoughts when you're standing over that ball because all you see is just danger."

But as Morin has learned, his knowledge of the course will take him only so far. He has never cracked the top 60 at the Honda Classic.

Morin hopes that changes this year.

"I know what to expect and I know what it's like when the wind blows," Morin said. "But you still have to hit the shots.

"I want to try and do good to at least represent my fellow golf professionals and just golfers in general."

This article was written by Anthony Chiang from The Palm Beach Post and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.