Cognizant Classic

Cognizant 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$9,000,000
Month playedFebruary/March
Tournament record score
Aggregate264 Justin Leonard (2003)
To par−24 as above
Current champion
United States Austin Eckroat
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

The Cognizant 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."

National Airlines was the sponsor in 1973 with Gleason, and American Motors Corporation (AMC) backed it in 1981. From 1982 to 2023, 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]

Tournament history

[edit]

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.[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 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,[6] then to the Champion Course at PGA National Resort and Spa in 2007.[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]

Player participation

[edit]

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 $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 in 1972.[10]

Tournament highlights

[edit]

Tournament hosts

[edit]
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

Winners

[edit]
Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up Purse
(US$)
Winner's
share ($)
Cognizant Classic
2024 United States Austin Eckroat 263 −17 3 strokes Australia Min Woo Lee
South Africa Erik van Rooyen
9,000,000 1,620,000
The Honda Classic
2023 United States Chris Kirk 266 −14 Playoff United States Eric Cole 8,400,000 1,512,000
2022 Austria Sepp Straka 270 −10 1 stroke Republic of Ireland Shane Lowry 8,000,000 1,440,000
2021 Australia Matt Jones 268 −12 5 strokes United States Brandon Hagy 7,000,000 1,260,000
2020 South Korea Im Sung-jae 274 −6 1 stroke Canada Mackenzie Hughes 7,000,000 1,260,000
2019 United States Keith Mitchell 271 −9 1 stroke United States Rickie Fowler
United States Brooks Koepka
6,800,000 1,224,000
2018 United States Justin Thomas 272 −8 Playoff United States Luke List 6,600,000 1,188,000
2017 United States Rickie Fowler 268 −12 4 strokes United States Morgan Hoffmann
United States Gary Woodland
6,400,000 1,152,000
2016 Australia Adam Scott 271 −9 1 stroke Spain Sergio García 6,100,000 1,098,000
2015 Republic of Ireland Pádraig Harrington (2) 274 −6 Playoff United States Daniel Berger 6,100,000 1,098,000
2014 United States Russell Henley 272 −8 Playoff Scotland Russell Knox
Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy
United States Ryan Palmer
6,000,000 1,080,000
2013 United States Michael Thompson 271 −9 2 strokes Australia Geoff Ogilvy 6,000,000 1,080,000
2012 Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy 268 −12 2 strokes United States Tom Gillis
United States Tiger Woods
5,700,000 1,026,000
2011 South Africa Rory Sabbatini 271 −9 1 stroke South Korea Yang Yong-eun 5,700,000 1,026,000
2010 Colombia Camilo Villegas 267 −13 5 strokes United States Anthony Kim 5,600,000 1,008,000
2009 South Korea Yang Yong-eun 271 −9 1 stroke United States John Rollins 5,600,000 1,008,000
2008 South Africa Ernie Els 274 −6 1 stroke England Luke Donald 5,500,000 990,000
2007 United States Mark Wilson 275 −5 Playoff Argentina José Cóceres
Colombia Camilo Villegas
United States Boo Weekley
5,500,000 990,000
2006 England Luke Donald 276 −12 2 strokes Australia Geoff Ogilvy 5,500,000 990,000
2005 Republic of Ireland Pádraig Harrington 274 −14 Playoff United States Joe Ogilvie
Fiji Vijay Singh
5,500,000 990,000
2004 United States Todd Hamilton 276 −12 1 stroke United States Davis Love III 5,000,000 900,000
2003 United States Justin Leonard 264 −24 1 stroke United States Chad Campbell
United States Davis Love III
5,000,000 900,000
2002 United States Matt Kuchar 269 −19 2 strokes United States Brad Faxon
United States Joey Sindelar
3,500,000 630,000
Honda Classic
2001 Sweden Jesper Parnevik 270 −18 1 stroke United States Mark Calcavecchia
Australia Geoff Ogilvy
New Zealand Craig Perks
3,200,000 576,000
2000 United States Dudley Hart 269 −19 1 stroke United States J. P. Hayes
United States Kevin Wentworth
2,900,000 522,000
1999 Fiji Vijay Singh 277 −11 2 strokes United States Payne Stewart 2,600,000 468,000
1998 United States Mark Calcavecchia (2) 270 −18 3 strokes Fiji Vijay Singh 1,800,000 324,000
1997 Australia Stuart Appleby 274 −14 1 stroke United States Michael Bradley
United States Payne Stewart
1,500,000 270,000
1996 United States Tim Herron 271 −17 4 strokes United States Mark McCumber 1,300,000 234,000
1995 United States Mark O'Meara 275 −9 1 stroke England Nick Faldo 1,200,000 216,000
1994 Zimbabwe Nick Price 276 −8 1 stroke Australia Craig Parry 1,100,000 198,000
1993 United States Fred Couples 207[a] −9 Playoff United States Robert Gamez 1,100,000 198,000
1992 United States Corey Pavin 273 −15 Playoff United States Fred Couples 1,100,000 198,000
1991 United States Steve Pate 279 −9 3 strokes United States Paul Azinger
Canada Dan Halldorson
1,000,000 180,000
1990 United States John Huston 282 −6 2 strokes United States Mark Calcavecchia 1,000,000 180,000
1989 United States Blaine McCallister 266 −22 4 strokes United States Payne Stewart 800,000 144,000
1988 United States Joey Sindelar 276 −12 2 strokes United States Ed Fiori
Scotland Sandy Lyle
United States Payne Stewart
700,000 126,000
1987 United States Mark Calcavecchia 279 −9 3 strokes West Germany Bernhard Langer
United States Payne Stewart
600,000 108,000
1986 United States Kenny Knox 287 −1 1 stroke United States Andy Bean
United States John Mahaffey
United States Jodie Mudd
United States Clarence Rose
500,000 90,000
1985 United States Curtis Strange 275 −13 Playoff United States Peter Jacobsen 500,000 90,000
1984 United States Bruce Lietzke 280 −8 Playoff United States Andy Bean 500,000 90,000
Honda Inverrary Classic
1983 United States Johnny Miller (2) 278 −10 2 strokes United States Jack Nicklaus 400,000 72,000
1982 United States Hale Irwin 269 −19 1 stroke United States George Burns
United States Tom Kite
400,000 72,000
American Motors Inverrary Classic
1981 United States Tom Kite 274 −14 1 stroke United States Jack Nicklaus 300,000 54,000
Jackie Gleason-Inverrary Classic
1980 United States Johnny Miller 274 −14 2 strokes United States Charles Coody
United States Bruce Lietzke
300,000 54,000
1979 United States Larry Nelson 274 −14 3 strokes United States Grier Jones 300,000 54,000
1978 United States Jack Nicklaus (2) 276 −12 1 stroke United States Grier Jones 250,000 50,000
1977 United States Jack Nicklaus 275 −13 5 strokes South Africa Gary Player 250,000 50,000
1976: No tournament
1975 United States Bob Murphy 273 −15 1 stroke United States Eddie Pearce 260,000 52,000
1974 United States Leonard Thompson 278 −10 1 stroke United States Hale Irwin 260,000 52,000
Jackie Gleason Inverrary-National Airlines Classic
1973 United States Lee Trevino 279 −9 1 stroke United States Forrest Fezler 260,000 52,000
Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic
1972 United States Tom Weiskopf 278 −10 1 stroke United States Jack Nicklaus 260,000 52,000

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources:[28][29]

Multiple winners

[edit]

Four men have won the tournament more than once.

2 wins

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Shortened to 54 holes due to weather.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Treglown, Dick (February 28, 1972). "Weiskopf wins Gleason crown". Palm Beach Post. p. D1.
  2. ^ "The Cognizant Classic". thecognizantclassic.com. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Weiskopf no longer the brat". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. February 28, 1972. p. 3B.
  4. ^ Shain, Jeff (February 22, 2018). "Flashback: Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic". Pro Golf Weekly. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  5. ^ Smith, Jeff (February 26, 2019). "The Honda Classic Primer: History, TV, Field, Odds". Pro Golf Weekly. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  6. ^ "Golf: Honda Classic". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). March 13, 2006. p. C6.
  7. ^ "Golf: Honda Classic". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). March 6, 2007. p. C4.
  8. ^ Global firm IMG buys company that runs Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens
  9. ^ 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 February 29, 2024.
  10. ^ "Golf: Masters". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. August 10, 1972. p. 4B.
  11. ^ "Weiskopf captures Inverrary golf title". Telegraph-Herald. Dubuque, Iowa. Associated Press. February 28, 1972. p. 10.
  12. ^ "Leonard Thompson wins Inverrary Classic". Spartanburg Herald. South Carolina. Associated Press. February 25, 1973. p. B1.
  13. ^ "Nicklaus rally tops Jones". Morning Journal and Record. Meriden, Connecticut. UPI. February 27, 1978. p. 10.
  14. ^ "Miller snaps slump with Inverrary golf win". The Montreal Gazette. March 10, 1980. Retrieved January 14, 2021 – via Google News Archive.
  15. ^ "Strange Hits 66-201 Leads Inverrary by Four". The New York Times. March 8, 1981. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  16. ^ Mell, Randall (March 8, 1998). "Nicklaus' Greatest Finish: 1978 at Inverrary?". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  17. ^ "Longshot Knox Takes Honda Classic Title". Herald-Journal. March 2, 1986. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  18. ^ "Former Caddy, Calcaveccia wins Honda Golf Classic". Observer-Reporter. Washington, Pennsylvania. March 9, 1987. Retrieved January 14, 2021 – via Google News Archive.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ "Pate Fights Winds, Wins Honda Classic". The Albany Herald. Georgia. March 11, 1991. Retrieved January 14, 2021 – via Google News Archive.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ "Herron shakes off rookie status in Honda Classic win". Times Daily. Alabama. March 12, 1996. Retrieved January 14, 2021 – via Google News Archive.
  23. ^ "Hart right at home". Boca Raton News. Florida. March 13, 2000. Retrieved January 14, 2021 – via Google News Archive.
  24. ^ "Hamilton captures Honda Classic". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. March 15, 2004. Retrieved January 14, 2021 – via Google News Archive.
  25. ^ Reynolds, Tim (March 5, 2007). "Wilson wins Honda Classic in playoff". USA Today. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  26. ^ Harig, Bob (March 4, 2012). "Rory McIlroy takes No. 1 spot". ESPN. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  27. ^ Harig, Bob (March 2, 2012). "Brian Harman flirts with golf history". ESPN. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  28. ^ The Honda Classic – Winners – at golfobserver.com
  29. ^ The Honda Classic – Winners – at PGATour.com
[edit]

26°49′44″N 80°08′28″W / 26.829°N 80.141°W / 26.829; -80.141