Honda Classic 2012: Tiger Woods and Stars Who Must Shine at PGA Event

Tiger Woods is one of several golfing stars who need to shine at the 2012 Honda Classic in order to ready themselves as best as possible before The Masters in April.

The tournaments leading up to Augusta will be critical for many players, because it is extremely beneficial to find out your mistakes and correct them before golf's major tournaments start to appear on the calendar.

You cannot afford to be playing poor and inconsistent golf when the most prestigious tournaments are right around the corner.

Let's look at three golfers who must shine at the Honda Classic.

Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy might be the best golfer in the world right now, and he appears to be the early favorite to win the Masters. 

The 22-year-old star from Northern Ireland started the event with an impressive 66 after his first round on Thursday, which made him the leader in the clubhouse.

McIlroy would really help himself by dominating this event, which would give him the confidence he needs to perform well at The Masters in a few weeks.

Jim Furyk

Veteran PGA golfer Jim Furyk lost to Dustin Johnson at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in February and needs a strong showing at the Honda Classic to get him ready for the Masters. Furyk needs to improve his play on the back nine if he wants any chance of doing well at the Honda Classic.

The former PGA Tour Player of the Year and US Open champion remains one of the best golfers on tour, and with an opening round 68 at the Honda Classic, he's well on his way to a successful tournament.

Tiger Woods

Once the most feared player in any sport, Tiger Woods is no longer viewed as a major threat to win any tournament he enters.

Woods performs well at major tournaments, especially at Augusta, where he's won four times, but he must improve his putting or he will struggle mightily at The Masters.

Woods has to do a better job of keeping his tee shots in the fairway and converting on birdie putts. He loses to many strokes with his lack of focus on the greens.

Tiger needs a strong performance at the Honda Classic to give himself the confidence he needs heading into April.