The Honda Classic

The Honda Classic is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour in south Florida. It was founded in 1972 as Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic,[1] and prior to a schedule change in 2021 was frequently the first of the Florida events in late winter following the "West Coast Swing."

The Honda Classic
Tournament information
LocationPalm Beach Gardens, Florida
Established1972
Course(s)PGA National Resort and Spa
(Champion Course)
Par70
Length7,125 yards (6,515 m)
Organized byIMG
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$8,400,000
Month playedFebruary
Tournament record score
Aggregate264 Justin Leonard (2003)
To par−24 as above
Current champion
United States Chris Kirk
Location Map
PGA National is located in the United States
PGA National
PGA National
Location in the United States
PGA National is located in Florida
PGA National
PGA National
Location in Florida

National Airlines was the sponsor in 1973 with Gleason, and American Motors Corporation (AMC) backed it in 1981. Since 1982, American Honda Motor Company (Honda) was the title sponsor. Honda announced the 2023 tournament was its final as title sponsor. A new title sponsor for 2024 has not yet been announced.

Tournament history

The tournament's predecessor, the National Airlines Open Invitational, ran for just three seasons from 1969 to 1971), all in late March at the Country Club of Miami in Hialeah. The Gleason tournament replaced it on the schedule a month earlier in 1972 at the Inverrary Country Club (East course) in Lauderhill, and was among the richest events on tour with an inaugural purse of $260,000 and a $52,000 winner's share.[2]

The regular event was not played in 1976, as Inverrary hosted the Tournament Players Championship in late February, won by Jack Nicklaus. Gleason's nine-year affiliation ended after 1980.[3]

The 1981 event was renamed "American Motors Inverrary Classic" as it was sponsored by American Motors Corporation, then the following two years it was known as the "Honda Inverrary Classic" after a switch in sponsor to Honda.[4][1] In 1984 the tournament moved to TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs, where it remained until 1991.

From 1992 to 1995, the event was held at the Weston Hills Golf & Country Club in Weston. 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, first at the Country Club at Mirasol through 2006,[5] then to the Champion Course at PGA National Resort and Spa in 2007.[6]

Since 2007, the tournament's main beneficiary is the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation, chaired by Barbara Nicklaus, wife of hall of fame golfer Jack Nicklaus.

IMG bought the tournament's management company in 2013.[7]

Player participation

Some celebrated players have won this tournament, including 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 regular PGA Tour events. The total purse was $6.4 million in 2017, with a top prize of $1.152 million (this can be contrasted to the total purse in 1981 of $300,000 (the equivalent of only $965,666 in 2022 dollars[8]). The original winner's share of $52,000 in 1972 made it one of the richest stops on tour,[2] greater than for any of the four majors; it was more than double that of the Masters, which had a first prize of $25,000 in 1972.[9]

Tournament highlights

Tournament hosts

YearsNo.VenueCityState
2007–present15PGA National Resort and Spa
(Champion Course)
Palm Beach Gardens  Florida  
2003–20064Country Club at Mirasol
1997–20026TPC at Heron BayCoral Springs
19961TPC Eagle Trace
1992–19954Weston Hills Golf and C.C.Weston
1984–19918TPC Eagle TraceCoral Springs
1972–198311Inverrary Country Club
(East Course)
Lauderhill

Winners

YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-upPurse
(US$)
Winner's
share ($)
The Honda Classic
2023United States Chris Kirk266−14PlayoffUnited States Eric Cole8,400,0001,512,000
2022Austria Sepp Straka270−101 strokeRepublic of Ireland Shane Lowry8,000,0001,440,000
2021Australia Matt Jones268−125 strokesUnited States Brandon Hagy7,000,0001,260,000
2020South Korea Im Sung-jae274−61 strokeCanada Mackenzie Hughes7,000,0001,260,000
2019United States Keith Mitchell271−91 strokeUnited States Rickie Fowler
United States Brooks Koepka
6,800,0001,224,000
2018United States Justin Thomas272−8PlayoffUnited States Luke List6,600,0001,188,000
2017United States Rickie Fowler268−124 strokesUnited States Morgan Hoffmann
United States Gary Woodland
6,400,0001,152,000
2016Australia Adam Scott271−91 strokeSpain Sergio García6,100,0001,098,000
2015Republic of Ireland Pádraig Harrington (2)274−6PlayoffUnited States Daniel Berger6,100,0001,098,000
2014United States Russell Henley272−8PlayoffScotland Russell Knox
Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy
United States Ryan Palmer
6,000,0001,080,000
2013United States Michael Thompson271−92 strokesAustralia Geoff Ogilvy6,000,0001,080,000
2012Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy268−122 strokesUnited States Tom Gillis
United States Tiger Woods
5,700,0001,026,000
2011South Africa Rory Sabbatini271−91 strokeSouth Korea Yang Yong-eun5,700,0001,026,000
2010Colombia Camilo Villegas267−135 strokesUnited States Anthony Kim5,600,0001,008,000
2009South Korea Yang Yong-eun271−91 strokeUnited States John Rollins5,600,0001,008,000
2008South Africa Ernie Els274−61 strokeEngland Luke Donald5,500,000990,000
2007United States Mark Wilson275−5PlayoffArgentina José Cóceres
Colombia Camilo Villegas
United States Boo Weekley
5,500,000990,000
2006England Luke Donald276−122 strokesAustralia Geoff Ogilvy5,500,000990,000
2005Republic of Ireland Pádraig Harrington274−14PlayoffUnited States Joe Ogilvie
Fiji Vijay Singh
5,500,000990,000
2004United States Todd Hamilton276−121 strokeUnited States Davis Love III5,000,000900,000
2003United States Justin Leonard264−241 strokeUnited States Chad Campbell
United States Davis Love III
5,000,000900,000
2002United States Matt Kuchar269−192 strokesUnited States Brad Faxon
United States Joey Sindelar
3,500,000630,000
Honda Classic
2001Sweden Jesper Parnevik270−181 strokeUnited States Mark Calcavecchia
Australia Geoff Ogilvy
New Zealand Craig Perks
3,200,000576,000
2000United States Dudley Hart269−191 strokeUnited States J. P. Hayes
United States Kevin Wentworth
2,900,000522,000
1999Fiji Vijay Singh277−112 strokesUnited States Payne Stewart2,600,000468,000
1998United States Mark Calcavecchia (2)270−183 strokesFiji Vijay Singh1,800,000324,000
1997Australia Stuart Appleby274−141 strokeUnited States Michael Bradley
United States Payne Stewart
1,500,000270,000
1996United States Tim Herron271−174 strokesUnited States Mark McCumber1,300,000234,000
1995United States Mark O'Meara275−91 strokeEngland Nick Faldo1,200,000216,000
1994Zimbabwe Nick Price276−81 strokeAustralia Craig Parry1,100,000198,000
1993United States Fred Couples207[lower-alpha 1]−9PlayoffUnited States Robert Gamez1,100,000198,000
1992United States Corey Pavin273−15PlayoffUnited States Fred Couples1,100,000198,000
1991United States Steve Pate279−93 strokesUnited States Paul Azinger
Canada Dan Halldorson
1,000,000180,000
1990United States John Huston282−62 strokesUnited States Mark Calcavecchia1,000,000180,000
1989United States Blaine McCallister266−224 strokesUnited States Payne Stewart800,000144,000
1988United States Joey Sindelar276−122 strokesUnited States Ed Fiori
Scotland Sandy Lyle
United States Payne Stewart
700,000126,000
1987United States Mark Calcavecchia279−93 strokesWest Germany Bernhard Langer
United States Payne Stewart
600,000108,000
1986United States Kenny Knox287−11 strokeUnited States Andy Bean
United States John Mahaffey
United States Jodie Mudd
United States Clarence Rose
500,00090,000
1985United States Curtis Strange275−13PlayoffUnited States Peter Jacobsen500,00090,000
1984United States Bruce Lietzke280−8PlayoffUnited States Andy Bean500,00090,000
Honda Inverrary Classic
1983United States Johnny Miller (2)278−102 strokesUnited States Jack Nicklaus400,00072,000
1982United States Hale Irwin269−191 strokeUnited States George Burns
United States Tom Kite
400,00072,000
American Motors Inverrary Classic
1981United States Tom Kite274−141 strokeUnited States Jack Nicklaus300,00054,000
Jackie Gleason-Inverrary Classic
1980United States Johnny Miller274−142 strokesUnited States Charles Coody
United States Bruce Lietzke
300,00054,000
1979United States Larry Nelson274−143 strokesUnited States Grier Jones300,00054,000
1978United States Jack Nicklaus (2)276−121 strokeUnited States Grier Jones250,00050,000
1977United States Jack Nicklaus275−135 strokesSouth Africa Gary Player250,00050,000
1976: No tournament
1975United States Bob Murphy273−151 strokeUnited States Eddie Pearce260,00052,000
1974United States Leonard Thompson278−101 strokeUnited States Hale Irwin260,00052,000
Jackie Gleason Inverrary-National Airlines Classic
1973United States Lee Trevino279−91 strokeUnited States Forrest Fezler260,00052,000
Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic
1972United States Tom Weiskopf278−101 strokeUnited States Jack Nicklaus260,00052,000

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources:[27][28]

Multiple winners

Four men have won the tournament more than once.

2 wins

Notes

  1. Shortened to 54 holes due to weather.

References

  1. Treglown, Dick (February 28, 1972). "Weiskopf wins Gleason crown". Palm Beach Post. p. D1.
  2. "Weiskopf no longer the brat". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. February 28, 1972. p. 3B.
  3. Shain, Jeff (February 22, 2018). "Flashback: Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic". Pro Golf Weekly. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  4. Smith, Jeff (February 26, 2019). "The Honda Classic Primer: History, TV, Field, Odds". Pro Golf Weekly. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  5. "Golf: Honda Classic". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). March 13, 2006. p. C6.
  6. "Golf: Honda Classic". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). March 6, 2007. p. C4.
  7. Global firm IMG buys company that runs Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens
  8. 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  9. "Golf: Masters". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. August 10, 1972. p. 4B.
  10. "Weiskopf captures Inverrary golf title". Telegraph-Herald. Dubuque, Iowa. Associated Press. February 28, 1972. p. 10.
  11. "Leonard Thompson wins Inverrary Classic". Spartanburg Herald. South Carolina. Associated Press. February 25, 1973. p. B1.
  12. "Nicklaus rally tops Jones". Morning Journal and Record. Meriden, Connecticut. UPI. February 27, 1978. p. 10.
  13. "Miller snaps slump with Inverrary golf win". The Montreal Gazette. March 10, 1980. Retrieved January 14, 2021 via Google News Archive.
  14. "Strange Hits 66-201 Leads Inverrary by Four". The New York Times. March 8, 1981. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  15. Mell, Randall (March 8, 1998). "Nicklaus' Greatest Finish: 1978 at Inverrary?". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  16. "Longshot Knox Takes Honda Classic Title". Herald-Journal. March 2, 1986. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  17. "Former Caddy, Calcaveccia wins Honda Golf Classic". Observer-Reporter. Washington, Pennsylvania. March 9, 1987. Retrieved January 14, 2021 via Google News Archive.
  18. Mayo, Michael (March 11, 1990). "Huston's Feats Incredible in 3rd Pair of Shoes, 28-Year-Old Leads Honda by 1". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  19. "Pate Fights Winds, Wins Honda Classic". The Albany Herald. Georgia. March 11, 1991. Retrieved January 14, 2021 via Google News Archive.
  20. Green, Bob (March 16, 1992). "Eagle helps Pavin eventually win Honda Classic in playoff". Daily Union. Junction City, Kansas. Retrieved January 14, 2021 via Google News Archive.
  21. "Herron shakes off rookie status in Honda Classic win". Times Daily. Alabama. March 12, 1996. Retrieved January 14, 2021 via Google News Archive.
  22. "Hart right at home". Boca Raton News. Florida. March 13, 2000. Retrieved January 14, 2021 via Google News Archive.
  23. "Hamilton captures Honda Classic". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. March 15, 2004. Retrieved January 14, 2021 via Google News Archive.
  24. Reynolds, Tim (March 5, 2007). "Wilson wins Honda Classic in playoff". USA Today. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  25. Harig, Bob (March 4, 2012). "Rory McIlroy takes No. 1 spot". ESPN. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  26. Harig, Bob (March 2, 2012). "Brian Harman flirts with golf history". ESPN. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  27. The Honda Classic – Winners – at golfobserver.com
  28. The Honda Classic – Winners – at PGATour.com

26.829°N 80.141°W / 26.829; -80.141

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