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$8,000,000
Month playedFebruary
Tournament record score
Aggregate264 Justin Leonard (2003)
To par−24 as above
Current champion
Sepp Straka
Location Map
PGA National
Location in the United States
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) has been the title sponsor.

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 $894,180 in 2021 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 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)-upWinner's
share ($)
Purse ($)
The Honda Classic
2022 Sepp Straka270−101 stroke Shane Lowry1,440,0008,000,000
2021 Matt Jones268−125 strokes Brandon Hagy1,260,0007,000,000
2020 Im Sung-jae274−61 stroke Mackenzie Hughes1,260,0007,000,000
2019 Keith Mitchell271−91 stroke Rickie Fowler
Brooks Koepka
1,224,0006,800,000
2018 Justin Thomas272−8Playoff Luke List1,188,0006,600,000
2017 Rickie Fowler268−124 strokes Morgan Hoffmann
Gary Woodland
1,152,0006,400,000
2016 Adam Scott271−91 stroke Sergio García1,098,0006,100,000
2015 Pádraig Harrington (2)274−6Playoff Daniel Berger1,098,0006,100,000
2014 Russell Henley272−8Playoff Russell Knox
Rory McIlroy
Ryan Palmer
1,080,0006,000,000
2013 Michael Thompson271−92 strokes Geoff Ogilvy1,080,0006,000,000
2012 Rory McIlroy268−122 strokes Tom Gillis
Tiger Woods
1,026,0005,700,000
2011 Rory Sabbatini271−91 stroke Yang Yong-eun1,026,0005,700,000
2010 Camilo Villegas267−135 strokes Anthony Kim1,008,0005,600,000
2009 Yang Yong-eun271−91 stroke John Rollins1,008,0005,600,000
2008 Ernie Els274−61 stroke Luke Donald990,0005,500,000
2007 Mark Wilson275−5Playoff José Cóceres
Camilo Villegas
Boo Weekley
990,0005,500,000
2006 Luke Donald276−122 strokes Geoff Ogilvy990,0005,500,000
2005 Pádraig Harrington274−14Playoff Joe Ogilvie
Vijay Singh
990,0005,500,000
2004 Todd Hamilton276−121 stroke Davis Love III900,0005,000,000
2003 Justin Leonard264−241 stroke Chad Campbell
Davis Love III
900,0005,000,000
2002 Matt Kuchar269−192 strokes Brad Faxon
Joey Sindelar
630,0003,500,000
Honda Classic
2001 Jesper Parnevik270−181 stroke Mark Calcavecchia
Geoff Ogilvy
Craig Perks
576,0003,200,000
2000 Dudley Hart269−191 stroke J. P. Hayes
Kevin Wentworth
522,0002,900,000
1999 Vijay Singh277−112 strokes Payne Stewart468,0002,600,000
1998 Mark Calcavecchia (2)270−183 strokes Vijay Singh324,0001,800,000
1997 Stuart Appleby274−141 stroke Michael Bradley
Payne Stewart
270,0001,500,000
1996 Tim Herron271−174 strokes Mark McCumber234,0001,300,000
1995 Mark O'Meara275−91 stroke Nick Faldo216,0001,200,000
1994 Nick Price276−81 stroke Craig Parry198,0001,100,000
1993 Fred Couples207[lower-alpha 1]−9Playoff Robert Gamez198,0001,100,000
1992 Corey Pavin273−15Playoff Fred Couples198,0001,100,000
1991 Steve Pate279−93 strokes Paul Azinger
Dan Halldorson
180,0001,000,000
1990 John Huston282−62 strokes Mark Calcavecchia180,0001,000,000
1989 Blaine McCallister266−224 strokes Payne Stewart144,000800,000
1988 Joey Sindelar276−122 strokes Ed Fiori
Sandy Lyle
Payne Stewart
126,000700,000
1987 Mark Calcavecchia279−93 strokes Bernhard Langer
Payne Stewart
108,000600,000
1986 Kenny Knox287−11 stroke Andy Bean
John Mahaffey
Jodie Mudd
Clarence Rose
90,000500,000
1985 Curtis Strange275−13Playoff Peter Jacobsen90,000500,000
1984 Bruce Lietzke280−8Playoff Andy Bean90,000500,000
Honda Inverrary Classic
1983 Johnny Miller (2)278−102 strokes Jack Nicklaus72,000400,000
1982 Hale Irwin269−191 stroke George Burns
Tom Kite
72,000400,000
American Motors Inverrary Classic
1981 Tom Kite274−141 stroke Jack Nicklaus54,000300,000
Jackie Gleason-Inverrary Classic
1980 Johnny Miller274−142 strokes Charles Coody
Bruce Lietzke
54,000300,000
1979 Larry Nelson274−143 strokes Grier Jones54,000300,000
1978 Jack Nicklaus (2)276−121 stroke Grier Jones50,000250,000
1977 Jack Nicklaus275−135 strokes Gary Player50,000250,000
1976: No tournament
1975 Bob Murphy273−151 stroke Eddie Pearce52,000260,000
1974 Leonard Thompson278−101 stroke Hale Irwin52,000260,000
Jackie Gleason Inverrary-National Airlines Classic
1973 Lee Trevino279−91 stroke Forrest Fezler52,000260,000
Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic
1972 Tom Weiskopf278−101 stroke Jack Nicklaus52,000260,000
  1. Shortened to 54 holes due to weather.

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Source:[10][11]

Multiple winners

Four men have won the tournament more than once.

2 wins

Tournament highlights

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 April 16, 2022.
  9. "Golf: Masters". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. August 10, 1972. p. 4B.
  10. The Honda Classic – Winners – at golfobserver.com
  11. The Honda Classic – Winners – at PGATour.com
  12. "Weiskopf captures Inverrary golf title". Telegraph-Herald. Dubuque, Iowa. Associated Press. February 28, 1972. p. 10.
  13. "Leonard Thompson wins Inverrary Classic". Spartanburg Herald. South Carolina. Associated Press. February 25, 1973. p. B1.
  14. "Nicklaus rally tops Jones". Morning Journal and Record. Meriden, Connecticut. UPI. February 27, 1978. p. 10.
  15. "Miller snaps slump with Inverrary golf win". The Montreal Gazette. March 10, 1980. Retrieved January 14, 2021 via Google News Archive.
  16. "Strange Hits 66-201 Leads Inverrary by Four". The New York Times. March 8, 1981. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  17. Mell, Randall (March 8, 1998). "Nicklaus' Greatest Finish: 1978 at Inverrary?". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  18. "Longshot Knox Takes Honda Classic Title". Herald-Journal. March 2, 1986. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  19. "Former Caddy, Calcaveccia wins Honda Golf Classic". Observer-Reporter. Washington, Pennsylvania. March 9, 1987. Retrieved January 14, 2021 via Google News Archive.
  20. 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.
  21. "Pate Fights Winds, Wins Honda Classic". The Albany Herald. Georgia. March 11, 1991. Retrieved January 14, 2021 via Google News Archive.
  22. 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.
  23. "Herron shakes off rookie status in Honda Classic win". Times Daily. Alabama. March 12, 1996. Retrieved January 14, 2021 via Google News Archive.
  24. "Hart right at home". Boca Raton News. Florida. March 13, 2000. Retrieved January 14, 2021 via Google News Archive.
  25. "Hamilton captures Honda Classic". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. March 15, 2004. Retrieved January 14, 2021 via Google News Archive.
  26. Reynolds, Tim (March 5, 2007). "Wilson wins Honda Classic in playoff". USA Today. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  27. Harig, Bob (March 4, 2012). "Rory McIlroy takes No. 1 spot". ESPN. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  28. Harig, Bob (March 2, 2012). "Brian Harman flirts with golf history". ESPN. Retrieved January 14, 2021.

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