The Cognizant Classic is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tourinsouth Florida. It was founded in 1972asJackie 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."
Tournament information | |
---|---|
Location | Palm Beach Gardens, Florida |
Established | 1972 |
Course(s) | PGA National Resort and Spa (Champion Course) |
Par | 70 |
Length | 7,125 yards (6,515 m) |
Organized by | IMG |
Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
Format | Stroke play |
Prize fund | US$9,000,000 |
Month played | February/March |
Tournament record score | |
Aggregate | 264 Justin Leonard (2003) |
To par | −24 as above |
Current champion | |
Austin Eckroat | |
Location map | |
Location in the United States Show map of the United StatesLocation in Florida Show map of Florida |
National Airlines was the sponsor in 1973 with Gleason, and American Motors Corporation (AMC) backed it in 1981. From 1982to2023, American Honda Motor Company (Honda) was the title sponsor, and it was known as The Honda Classic. In late 2023, Cognizant was announced as the new title sponsor.[2]
The tournament's predecessor, the National Airlines Open Invitational, ran for just three seasons from 1969to1971), 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.[3]
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.[4]
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.[5][1] In 1984 the tournament moved to TPC Eagle TraceinCoral 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,[6] then to the Champion Course at PGA National Resort and Spain2007.[7]
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.[8]
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 millionin2017, 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 $1,005,417 in 2023 dollars[9]). The original winner's share of $52,000 in 1972 made it one of the richest stops on tour,[3] greater than for any of the four majors; it was more than double that of the Masters, which had a first prize of $25,000 in1972.[10]
Years | No. | Venue | City | State |
---|---|---|---|---|
2007–present | 15 | PGA National Resort and Spa (Champion Course) |
Palm Beach Gardens | Florida |
2003–2006 | 4 | Country Club at Mirasol | ||
1997–2002 | 6 | TPC at Heron Bay | Coral Springs | |
1996 | 1 | TPC Eagle Trace | ||
1992–1995 | 4 | Weston Hills Golf and C.C. | Weston | |
1984–1991 | 8 | TPC Eagle Trace | Coral Springs | |
1972–1983 | 11 | Inverrary Country Club (East Course) |
Lauderhill |
Year | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up | Purse (US$) |
Winner's share ($) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cognizant Classic | |||||||
2024 | Austin Eckroat | 263 | −17 | 3 strokes | Min Woo Lee Erik van Rooyen |
9,000,000 | 1,620,000 |
The Honda Classic | |||||||
2023 | Chris Kirk | 266 | −14 | Playoff | Eric Cole | 8,400,000 | 1,512,000 |
2022 | Sepp Straka | 270 | −10 | 1 stroke | Shane Lowry | 8,000,000 | 1,440,000 |
2021 | Matt Jones | 268 | −12 | 5 strokes | Brandon Hagy | 7,000,000 | 1,260,000 |
2020 | Im Sung-jae | 274 | −6 | 1 stroke | Mackenzie Hughes | 7,000,000 | 1,260,000 |
2019 | Keith Mitchell | 271 | −9 | 1 stroke | Rickie Fowler Brooks Koepka |
6,800,000 | 1,224,000 |
2018 | Justin Thomas | 272 | −8 | Playoff | Luke List | 6,600,000 | 1,188,000 |
2017 | Rickie Fowler | 268 | −12 | 4 strokes | Morgan Hoffmann Gary Woodland |
6,400,000 | 1,152,000 |
2016 | Adam Scott | 271 | −9 | 1 stroke | Sergio García | 6,100,000 | 1,098,000 |
2015 | Pádraig Harrington (2) | 274 | −6 | Playoff | Daniel Berger | 6,100,000 | 1,098,000 |
2014 | Russell Henley | 272 | −8 | Playoff | Russell Knox Rory McIlroy Ryan Palmer |
6,000,000 | 1,080,000 |
2013 | Michael Thompson | 271 | −9 | 2 strokes | Geoff Ogilvy | 6,000,000 | 1,080,000 |
2012 | Rory McIlroy | 268 | −12 | 2 strokes | Tom Gillis Tiger Woods |
5,700,000 | 1,026,000 |
2011 | Rory Sabbatini | 271 | −9 | 1 stroke | Yang Yong-eun | 5,700,000 | 1,026,000 |
2010 | Camilo Villegas | 267 | −13 | 5 strokes | Anthony Kim | 5,600,000 | 1,008,000 |
2009 | Yang Yong-eun | 271 | −9 | 1 stroke | John Rollins | 5,600,000 | 1,008,000 |
2008 | Ernie Els | 274 | −6 | 1 stroke | Luke Donald | 5,500,000 | 990,000 |
2007 | Mark Wilson | 275 | −5 | Playoff | José Cóceres Camilo Villegas Boo Weekley |
5,500,000 | 990,000 |
2006 | Luke Donald | 276 | −12 | 2 strokes | Geoff Ogilvy | 5,500,000 | 990,000 |
2005 | Pádraig Harrington | 274 | −14 | Playoff | Joe Ogilvie Vijay Singh |
5,500,000 | 990,000 |
2004 | Todd Hamilton | 276 | −12 | 1 stroke | Davis Love III | 5,000,000 | 900,000 |
2003 | Justin Leonard | 264 | −24 | 1 stroke | Chad Campbell Davis Love III |
5,000,000 | 900,000 |
2002 | Matt Kuchar | 269 | −19 | 2 strokes | Brad Faxon Joey Sindelar |
3,500,000 | 630,000 |
Honda Classic | |||||||
2001 | Jesper Parnevik | 270 | −18 | 1 stroke | Mark Calcavecchia Geoff Ogilvy Craig Perks |
3,200,000 | 576,000 |
2000 | Dudley Hart | 269 | −19 | 1 stroke | J. P. Hayes Kevin Wentworth |
2,900,000 | 522,000 |
1999 | Vijay Singh | 277 | −11 | 2 strokes | Payne Stewart | 2,600,000 | 468,000 |
1998 | Mark Calcavecchia (2) | 270 | −18 | 3 strokes | Vijay Singh | 1,800,000 | 324,000 |
1997 | Stuart Appleby | 274 | −14 | 1 stroke | Michael Bradley Payne Stewart |
1,500,000 | 270,000 |
1996 | Tim Herron | 271 | −17 | 4 strokes | Mark McCumber | 1,300,000 | 234,000 |
1995 | Mark O'Meara | 275 | −9 | 1 stroke | Nick Faldo | 1,200,000 | 216,000 |
1994 | Nick Price | 276 | −8 | 1 stroke | Craig Parry | 1,100,000 | 198,000 |
1993 | Fred Couples | 207[a] | −9 | Playoff | Robert Gamez | 1,100,000 | 198,000 |
1992 | Corey Pavin | 273 | −15 | Playoff | Fred Couples | 1,100,000 | 198,000 |
1991 | Steve Pate | 279 | −9 | 3 strokes | Paul Azinger Dan Halldorson |
1,000,000 | 180,000 |
1990 | John Huston | 282 | −6 | 2 strokes | Mark Calcavecchia | 1,000,000 | 180,000 |
1989 | Blaine McCallister | 266 | −22 | 4 strokes | Payne Stewart | 800,000 | 144,000 |
1988 | Joey Sindelar | 276 | −12 | 2 strokes | Ed Fiori Sandy Lyle Payne Stewart |
700,000 | 126,000 |
1987 | Mark Calcavecchia | 279 | −9 | 3 strokes | Bernhard Langer Payne Stewart |
600,000 | 108,000 |
1986 | Kenny Knox | 287 | −1 | 1 stroke | Andy Bean John Mahaffey Jodie Mudd Clarence Rose |
500,000 | 90,000 |
1985 | Curtis Strange | 275 | −13 | Playoff | Peter Jacobsen | 500,000 | 90,000 |
1984 | Bruce Lietzke | 280 | −8 | Playoff | Andy Bean | 500,000 | 90,000 |
Honda Inverrary Classic | |||||||
1983 | Johnny Miller (2) | 278 | −10 | 2 strokes | Jack Nicklaus | 400,000 | 72,000 |
1982 | Hale Irwin | 269 | −19 | 1 stroke | George Burns Tom Kite |
400,000 | 72,000 |
American Motors Inverrary Classic | |||||||
1981 | Tom Kite | 274 | −14 | 1 stroke | Jack Nicklaus | 300,000 | 54,000 |
Jackie Gleason-Inverrary Classic | |||||||
1980 | Johnny Miller | 274 | −14 | 2 strokes | Charles Coody Bruce Lietzke |
300,000 | 54,000 |
1979 | Larry Nelson | 274 | −14 | 3 strokes | Grier Jones | 300,000 | 54,000 |
1978 | Jack Nicklaus (2) | 276 | −12 | 1 stroke | Grier Jones | 250,000 | 50,000 |
1977 | Jack Nicklaus | 275 | −13 | 5 strokes | Gary Player | 250,000 | 50,000 |
1976: No tournament | |||||||
1975 | Bob Murphy | 273 | −15 | 1 stroke | Eddie Pearce | 260,000 | 52,000 |
1974 | Leonard Thompson | 278 | −10 | 1 stroke | Hale Irwin | 260,000 | 52,000 |
Jackie Gleason Inverrary-National Airlines Classic | |||||||
1973 | Lee Trevino | 279 | −9 | 1 stroke | Forrest Fezler | 260,000 | 52,000 |
Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic | |||||||
1972 | Tom Weiskopf | 278 | −10 | 1 stroke | Jack Nicklaus | 260,000 | 52,000 |
Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources:[28][29]
Four men have won the tournament more than once.
26°49′44″N 80°08′28″W / 26.829°N 80.141°W / 26.829; -80.141