The Honda Classic
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Palm Beach Gardens, Florida |
| Established | 1972, 44 years ago |
| Course(s) |
PGA National Golf Club, Champion Course |
| Par | 70 |
| Length | 7,158 yards (6,545 m) |
| Organized by | IMG |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play |
| Prize fund | $6.1 million |
| Month played | February/March |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 264 Justin Leonard (2003) |
| To par | −24 Justin Leonard (2003) |
| Current champion | |
 Adam Scott | |
National
The Honda Classic is a PGA Tour golf tournament that is played each spring in Florida. It was founded in 1972 as the Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic.[1] In 1981, American Motors Corporation (AMC) backed the tournament. Since 1982, American Honda Motor Company (Honda) has been the title sponsor.
Tournament history
The event was originally played at the Inverrary Golf Club in Lauderhill, Florida.[1] In 1984, it moved to the TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs, Florida, where it stayed until 1991. From 1992 to 1995, the event was held at the Weston Hills Golf & Country Club in Weston, Florida. It then returned to Coral Springs, first at the TPC at Eagle Trace in 1996 and then at the TPC at Heron Bay from 1997 to 2002. In 2003, the event moved to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, first at the Country Club at Mirasol through 2006, then starting in 2007 at PGA National Golf Club's Champion Course.
As of 2007, the tournament's main beneficiary is the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation, which is chaired by Barbara Nicklaus, wife of golfing legend Jack Nicklaus.
IMG bought the tournament's management company in 2013.[2]
Player participation
Some celebrated golfers have won this tournament, including Jack Nicklaus in 1977 and 1978, the only consecutive winner in its history. However, the tournament had acquired a reputation for struggling to attract the top players as it moved from course to course in South Florida. Since 2007, The Honda Classic has seen a vastly improved player field, largely due to the decision to make PGA National the tournament's permanent home. The prize money is comparable to other PGA Tour events outside of the "big nine" (the majors, the World Golf Championships individual events, The Players Championship, and The Tour Championship). The total purse was $6.2 million in 2015, with a top prize of $1.116 million (this can be contrasted to the total purse in 1981 of $300,000 (the equivalent of only $780,857 in 2016 dollars[3]). The original winner's share of $52,000 made it one of the richest stops on tour, greater than for any of the four majors, and more than double that of the Masters, which had a first prize of $25,000 in 1972.
Tournament hosts
| Years | No. | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–16 | 10 | PGA National Golf Club (Champion Course) | Palm Beach Gardens, Florida |
| 2003–06 | 4 | Country Club at Mirasol | Palm Beach Gardens, Florida |
| 1997–2002 | 6 | TPC at Heron Bay | Coral Springs, Florida |
| 1996 | 1 | TPC Eagle Trace | Coral Springs, Florida |
| 1992–95 | 4 | Weston Hills Golf and C.C. | Weston, Florida |
| 1984–91 | 8 | TPC Eagle Trace | Coral Springs, Florida |
| 1972–83 | 11 | Inverrary Golf Club | Lauderhill, Florida |
Winners
| Year | Player | Country | Score | To par | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up | Winner's share ($) | Purse ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Honda Classic | ||||||||
| 2016 | Adam Scott | Australia | 271 | −9 | 1 stroke |  Sergio García | 1,098,000 | 6,100,000 |
| 2015 | Pádraig Harrington (2) |  Ireland | 274 | −6 | Playoff |  Daniel Berger | 1,098,000 | 6,100,000 |
| 2014 | Russell Henley | United States | 272 | −8 | Playoff |  Russell Knox Rory McIlroy Ryan Palmer | 1,080,000 | 6,000,000 |
| 2013 | Michael Thompson | United States | 271 | −9 | 2 strokes | Geoff Ogilvy | 1,080,000 | 6,000,000 |
| 2012 | Rory McIlroy | Northern Ireland | 268 | −12 | 2 strokes | Tom Gillis Tiger Woods | 1,026,000 | 5,700,000 |
| 2011 | Rory Sabbatini |  South Africa | 271 | −9 | 1 stroke |  Yang Yong-eun | 1,026,000 | 5,700,000 |
| 2010 | Camilo Villegas |  Colombia | 267 | −13 | 5 strokes | Anthony Kim | 1,008,000 | 5,600,000 |
| 2009 | Yang Yong-eun | South Korea | 271 | −9 | 1 stroke | John Rollins | 1,008,000 | 5,600,000 |
| 2008 | Ernie Els | South Africa | 274 | −6 | 1 stroke |  Luke Donald | 990,000 | 5,500,000 |
| 2007 | Mark Wilson | United States | 275 | −5 | Playoff |  José Cóceres Camilo Villegas Boo Weekley | 990,000 | 5,500,000 |
| 2006 | Luke Donald | England | 276 | −12 | 2 strokes | Geoff Ogilvy | 990,000 | 5,500,000 |
| 2005 | Pádraig Harrington | Ireland | 274 | −14 | Playoff | Joe Ogilvie Vijay Singh | 990,000 | 5,500,000 |
| 2004 | Todd Hamilton | United States | 276 | −12 | 1 stroke | Davis Love III | 900,000 | 5,000,000 |
| 2003 | Justin Leonard | United States | 264 | −24 | 1 stroke | Chad Campbell Davis Love III | 900,000 | 5,000,000 |
| 2002 | Matt Kuchar | United States | 269 | −19 | 2 strokes | Brad Faxon Joey Sindelar | 630,000 | 3,500,000 |
| Honda Classic | ||||||||
| 2001 | Jesper Parnevik |  Sweden | 270 | −18 | 1 stroke | Mark Calcavecchia Geoff Ogilvy Craig Perks | 576,000 | 3,200,000 |
| 2000 | Dudley Hart | United States | 269 | −19 | 1 stroke | J. P. Hayes Kevin Wentworth | 522,000 | 2,900,000 |
| 1999 | Vijay Singh | Fiji | 277 | −11 | 2 strokes | Payne Stewart | 468,000 | 2,600,000 |
| 1998 | Mark Calcavecchia (2) | United States | 270 | −18 | 3 strokes | Vijay Singh | 324,000 | 1,800,000 |
| 1997 | Stuart Appleby | Australia | 274 | −14 | 1 stroke | Michael Bradley Payne Stewart | 270,000 | 1,500,000 |
| 1996 | Tim Herron | United States | 271 | −17 | 4 strokes | Mark McCumber | 234,000 | 1,300,000 |
| 1995 | Mark O'Meara | United States | 275 | −9 | 1 stroke | Nick Faldo | 216,000 | 1,200,000 |
| 1994 | Nick Price |  Zimbabwe | 276 | −8 | 1 stroke | Craig Parry | 198,000 | 1,100,000 |
| 1993 | Fred Couples | United States | 207* | −9 | Playoff | Robert Gamez | 198,000 | 1,100,000 |
| 1992 | Corey Pavin | United States | 273 | −15 | Playoff | Fred Couples | 198,000 | 1,100,000 |
| 1991 | Steve Pate | United States | 279 | −9 | 3 strokes | Paul Azinger Dan Halldorson | 180,000 | 1,000,000 |
| 1990 | John Huston | United States | 282 | −6 | 2 strokes | Mark Calcavecchia | 180,000 | 1,000,000 |
| 1989 | Blaine McCallister | United States | 266 | −22 | 4 strokes | Payne Stewart | 144,000 | 800,000 |
| 1988 | Joey Sindelar | United States | 276 | −12 | 2 strokes | Ed Fiori Sandy Lyle Payne Stewart | 126,000 | 700,000 |
| 1987 | Mark Calcavecchia | United States | 279 | −9 | 3 strokes |  Bernhard Langer Payne Stewart | 108,000 | 600,000 |
| 1986 | Kenny Knox | United States | 287 | −1 | 1 stroke | Andy Bean John Mahaffey Jodie Mudd Clarence Rose | 90,000 | 500,000 |
| 1985 | Curtis Strange | United States | 275 | −13 | Playoff | Peter Jacobsen | 90,000 | 500,000 |
| 1984 | Bruce Lietzke | United States | 280 | −8 | Playoff | Andy Bean | 90,000 | 500,000 |
| Honda Inverrary Classic | ||||||||
| 1983 | Johnny Miller (2) | United States | 278 | −10 | 2 strokes | Jack Nicklaus | 72,000 | 400,000 |
| 1982 | Hale Irwin | United States | 269 | −19 | 1 stroke | George Burns Tom Kite | 72,000 | 400,000 |
| American Motors Inverrary Classic | ||||||||
| 1981 | Tom Kite | United States | 274 | −14 | 1 stroke | Jack Nicklaus | 54,000 | 300,000 |
| Jackie Gleason-Inverrary Classic | ||||||||
| 1980 | Johnny Miller | United States | 274 | −14 | 1 stroke | Charles Coody Bruce Lietzke | 54,000 | 300,000 |
| 1979 | Larry Nelson | United States | 274 | −14 | 3 strokes | Grier Jones | 54,000 | 300,000 |
| 1978 | Jack Nicklaus (2) | United States | 276 | −12 | 1 stroke | Grier Jones | 50,000 | 250,000 |
| 1977 | Jack Nicklaus | United States | 275 | −13 | 5 strokes | .svg.png){kind=small} Gary Player | 50,000 | 250,000 |
| 1976 | No tournament. Instead, the Inverrary Golf Club hosted The Players Championship | |||||||
| 1975 | Bob Murphy | United States | 273 | −15 | 1 stroke | Eddie Pearce | 52,000 | 260,000 |
| 1974 | Leonard Thompson | United States | 278 | −10 | 1 stroke | Hale Irwin | 52,000 | 260,000 |
| Jackie Gleason Inverrary-National Airlines Classic | ||||||||
| 1973 | Lee Trevino | United States | 279 | −9 | 1 stroke | Forrest Fezler | 52,000 | 260,000 |
| Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic | ||||||||
| 1972 | Tom Weiskopf | United States | 278 | −10 | 1 stroke | Jack Nicklaus | 52,000 | 260,000 |
*Weather-shortened to 54 holes
Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources[4][5]
Multiple winners
Four men have won the tournament more than once.
- 2 wins
- Jack Nicklaus: 1977, 1978
- Johnny Miller: 1980, 1983
- Mark Calcavecchia: 1987, 1998
- Pádraig Harrington: 2005, 2015
Tournament highlights
- 1972: Tom Weiskopf outduels Jack Nicklaus to win by one shot the first edition of the tournament.[6]
- 1974: Leonard Thompson wins his first ever PGA Tour title by one shot over Hale Irwin. After his victory, Thompson donated $10,000 of his winnings to the Boys Clubs of America.[7]
- 1978: Jack Nicklaus birdies the last five holes to defeat Grier Jones by one shot.[8]
- 1980: Johnny Miller wins his first tournament since his 1976 Open Championship triumph. He finishes two shots ahead of Bruce Lietzke and Charles Coody.[9]
- 1986: Kenny Knox wins by one-shot over Clarence Rose, Jodie Mudd, Andy Bean, and John Mahaffey in spite of shooting a third round 80.[10]
- 1987: Mark Calcavecchia wins his first Honda Classic title.[11] Only the year before he worked as a caddy at the tournament.
- 1991: Steve Pate shoots the worst last-round score by a PGA Tour tournament winner in ten years, a 75, but still holds on to win by three shots over Paul Azinger and Dan Halldorson.[12]
- 1992: Corey Pavin defeats Fred Couples in a sudden-death playoff only after holing a 136-yard 8-iron shot for eagle on the 72nd hole to tie for the lead.[13]
- 1996: Tim Herron becomes the first PGA Tour rookie in 13 years to win a tournament wire-to-wire. He defeats Mark McCumber by four shots.[14]
- 2000: Dudley Hart birdies the last four holes to defeat J. P. Hayes and Kevin Wentworth by one shot.[15]
- 2004: Thirty-eight-year-old PGA Tour rookie Todd Hamilton wins by one shot over Davis Love III.[16] Hamilton would go on to win The Open Championship later that same year.
- 2007: Mark Wilson wins the biggest playoff in the history of the tournament.[17] His birdie on the third hole of sudden death defeats José Cóceres. Camilo Villegas and Boo Weekley, the other participants in the four-man playoff, had been eliminated on the second playoff hole.
- 2012: Rory McIlroy wins and claims the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking.[18] Brian Harman shot a second round 61 to set a new course record.[19]
References
- 1 2 Treglown, Dick (February 28, 1972). "Weiskopf wins Gleason crown". Palm Beach Post. p. D1.
- ↑ Global firm IMG buys company that runs Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens
- ↑ "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ↑ The Honda Classic – Winners – at golfobserver.com
- ↑ The Honda Classic – Winners – at PGATour.com
- ↑ "Weiskopf captures Inverrary golf title". Telegraph-Herald (Dubuque, Iowa). Associated Press. February 28, 1972. p. 10.
- ↑ Leonard Thompson Wins Inverrary Classic
- ↑ Nicklaus rally tops Jones
- ↑ Miller snaps slump with Inverrary golf win
- ↑ Longshot Knox Takes Honda Classic
- ↑ Former Caddy, Calcaveccia wins Honda Golf Classic
- ↑ Pate Fights Winds, Wins Honda Classic
- ↑ Eagle helps Pavin eventually win Honda Classic in playoff
- ↑ Herron shakes off rookie status in Honda Classic win
- ↑ Hart right at home
- ↑ Hamilton captures Honda Classic
- ↑ Wilson wins Honda Classic in playoff
- ↑ Rory McIlroy takes No. 1 spot
- ↑ Brian Harman flirts with golf history
External links
- Official website
- Coverage on the PGA Tour's official site
- PGA National Resort & Spa – Champion course
Coordinates: 26°49′44″N 80°08′28″W / 26.829°N 80.141°W