The Honda Classic is a PGA Tour golf tournament that is played each March in Florida. It was founded in 1972 as the Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic . In 1981, American Motors (AMC) backed the tournament. Since 1982, Honda has been the title sponsor.

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Tournament history

The event was originally played at the Inverrary Golf Club in Lauderhill, Florida. In 1984, it moved to the TPC at 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 Resort and Spa's Champion Course. The 2007 event had a new executive director, Ken Kennerly, who oversees a newly formed tournament organizing committee.

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.

Player participation

Some celebrated golfers have won this tournament, including Jack Nicklaus in 1977 and 1978. However, it has acquired a reputation for struggling to attract the top players. Tiger Woods has never taken part, Ernie Els was an absentee from 1999 until 2008, and Phil Mickelson since 2002. This is despite the fact that 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 US$5,600,000 in 2009, with a top prize of $1,008,000 (this can be contrasted to the total purse of $300,000 for the match held in 1981).

Part of the problem is this event's place on the schedule. It is the least-heralded of the PGA Tour's "Florida Swing" that includes the Bay Hill Invitational and the CA Championship (a World Golf Championship event). With these two other popular events, plus the The Masters in early April, many of the world's top players choose to take off the week of The Honda Classic. However, the hope is that the field will continue to strengthen due to the change in venue to PGA National, a well-regarded course that has twice hosted the PGA Championship.

Tournament hosts

Years	Venue	City
2007-09	PGA National Resort & Spa (Champion Course)	Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
2003-06	Country Club at Mirasol	Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
1997-2002	TPC at Heron Bay	Coral Springs, Florida
1996	TPC at Eagle Trace	Coral Springs, Florida
1992-95	Weston Hills Golf and Country Club	Weston, Florida
1984-91	TPC at Eagle Trace	Coral Springs, Florida
1972-83	Inverrary Golf Club	Lauderhill, Florida

Winners

Year	Player	Country	Score	To par	1st Prize ($)	Purse ($)
Honda Classic
2009	Y.E. Yang		271	-9	1,008,000	5,600,000
2008	Ernie Els		274	-6	990,000	5,500,000
2007	Mark Wilson		275	-5	990,000	5,500,000
2006	Luke Donald		276	-12	990,000	5,500,000
2005	Pádraig Harrington		274	-14	990,000	5,500,000
2004	Todd Hamilton		276	-12	900,000	5,000,000
2003	Justin Leonard		264	-24	900,000	5,000,000
2002	Matt Kuchar		269	-19	630,000	3,500,000
2001	Jesper Parnevik		270	-18	576,000	3,200,000
2000	Dudley Hart		269	-19	522,000	2,900,000
1999	Vijay Singh		277	-11	468,000	2,600,000
1998	Mark Calcavecchia		270	-18	324,000	1,800,000
1997	Stuart Appleby		274	-14	270,000	1,500,000
1996	Tim Herron		271	-17	234,000	1,300,000
1995	Mark O'Meara		275	-9	216,000	1,200,000
1994	Nick Price		276	-8	198,000	1,100,000
1993	Fred Couples		207*	-9	198,000	1,100,000
1992	Corey Pavin		273	-15	198,000	1,100,000
1991	Steve Pate		279	-9	180,000	1,000,000
1990	John Huston		282	-6	180,000	1,000,000
1989	Blaine McCallister		266	-22	144,000	800,000
1988	Joey Sindelar		276	-12	126,000	700,000
1987	Mark Calcavecchia		279	-9	108,000	600,000
1986	Kenny Knox		287	-1	90,000	500,000
1985	Curtis Strange		275	-13	90,000	500,000
1984	Bruce Lietzke		280	-8	90,000	500,000
Honda Inverrary Classic
1983	Johnny Miller		278	-10	72,000	400,000
1982	Hale Irwin		269	-19	72,000	400,000
American Motors Inverrary Classic
1981	Tom Kite		274	-14	54,000	300,000
Jackie Gleason-Inverrary Classic
1980	Johnny Miller		274	-14	54,000	300,000
1979	Larry Nelson		274	-14	54,000	300,000
1978	Jack Nicklaus		276	-12	50,000	250,000
1977	Jack Nicklaus		275	-13	50,000	250,000
1976	No tournament. Instead, the Inverrary Golf Club hosted The Players Championship
1975	Bob Murphy		273	-15	52,000	260,000
1974	Leonard Thompson		278	-10	52,000	260,000
Jackie Gleason Inverrary-National Airlines Classic
1973	Lee Trevino		279	-9	52,000	260,000
Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic
1972	Tom Weiskopf		278	-10	52,000	260,000

• * weather-shortened to 54 holes

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources ^{[1] [2]}

Multiple winners

Three men have won the tournament more than once.

• 2 wins
• *Jack Nicklaus: 1977, 1978
• *Johnny Miller: 1980, 1983
• *Mark Calcavecchia: 1987, 1998

References

1. Honda Classic - Winners - at golfobserver.com
2. Honda Classic – Winners – at PGATour.com