Cognizant Classic
| 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$9,200,000 |
| Month played | February/March |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 264 Justin Leonard (2003) |
| To par | −24 as above |
| Current champion | |
| Joe Highsmith | |
| Location map | |
PGA National Location in the United States 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] Prior to a schedule change in 2021, this was frequently the first of the Florida events in late winter following the "West Coast Swing."
National Airlines was the sponsor in 1973 with Jackie Gleason. American Motors Corporation backed the event in 1981 as the "American Motors Inverrary Classic". From 1982 until 2023, American Honda Motor Company was the title sponsor, and the tournament was known as The Honda Classic. In late 2023, Cognizant became the new title sponsor, and the event's name was changed.[2]
Tournament history
The tournament's predecessor, the National Airlines Open Invitational, ran for three seasons from 1969 through 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]
Gleason hosted a popular TV variety show with many friends in the entertainment industry and was well known on the PGA Tour at the Doral stop. He was eager to put his name on the new tournament.[4] The 1976 tournament was billed as the Tournament Players Championship held in late February (as the early editions of the tournament were held as established tournaments with an increased purse and qualifications), won by Jack Nicklaus. Gleason's nine-year affiliation ended after 1980 when PGA Tour officials removed him from Tournament Players Championship promotions and focused on commercialization to provide more revenue.[4][5]
The 1981 event was renamed "American Motors Inverrary Classic" as American Motors Corporation sponsored it.[6][7][8] The following two years, it was known as the "Honda Inverrary Classic" after a switch in sponsor to American Honda Motor Company.[9][1]
During this time, the tournament was staged at different Broward County courses giving the Honda Classic "a reputation as a rootless tournament that struggled to attract the top golfers" and it faced decreasing attendance.[6] In 1984, the tournament moved to TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs, where it remained until 1991.
From 1992 through 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 until 2002. In 2003, the event moved to Palm Beach Gardens, first at the Country Club at Mirasol through 2006,[10] then to the Champion Course at PGA National Resort and Spa in 2007.[11]
Since 2007, the tournament's primary 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.[12] The event grew in attendance and charitable contributions under IMG, but the player field suffered primarily because of the schedule that was set by the PGA Tour.[13] By late 2023, Honda ended sponsorship and there was concern about the demise of the biggest sporting event held in Palm Beach County.[13] However, control of the event was moved to PGA Tour's Championship Management Division, a six-year sponsorship was signed with Cognizant, and the event was renamed.[13]
Player participation
Some celebrated players have won this tournament, including Nicklaus in three consecutive years, from 1976 (TPC) to 1978, the only consecutive winner in its history. However, the Honda Classic had acquired a reputation for struggling to attract the top players as it moved from course to course in South Florida.[6] Since 2007, tournament has seen an 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 $1,037,592 in 2024 dollars[14]). 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.[15]
Tournament highlights
- 1972: Tom Weiskopf outdueled Jack Nicklaus by one shot to win the first edition.[3][16]
- 1974: Leonard Thompson earned the first of his three PGA Tour wins, one shot ahead of Hale Irwin. After his victory, Thompson donated $10,000 of his winnings to the Boys Clubs of America.[17]
- 1978: Jack Nicklaus birdied the last five holes to defeat Grier Jones by one shot,[18] for his third consecutive win at Inverrary.
- 1986: Monday qualifier Kenny Knox won by a stroke over Clarence Rose, Jodie Mudd, Andy Bean, and John Mahaffey in spite of shooting a third round 80.[19]
- 1990: John Huston wore three different pairs of shoes in practice and during the tournament after the PGA declared his wedge-soled Weight-Rites illegal.[20]
- 1991: Steve Pate won by three strokes despite returning the worst final-round score by a PGA Tour tournament winner in ten years, a 75.[21]
- 1992: Corey Pavin defeated Fred Couples in a sudden-death playoff after holing an 8-iron from 136-yards on the final hole to tie for the lead.[22]
- 1996: Tim Herron became the first PGA Tour rookie in 13 years to win a tournament wire-to-wire.[23]
- 2004: Thirty-eight-year-old PGA Tour rookie Todd Hamilton won by one shot over Davis Love III.[24] Hamilton would go on to win The Open Championship later that year.
- 2012: With his win, Rory McIlroy rose to the top of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time.[25] Brian Harman shot a course record 61 in the second round.[26]
- 2025: Jake Knapp scored a 59 during the first round.[27] He finished in a tie for sixth, 4 strokes behind winner Joe Highsmith, who became the first golfer in nine years to win a PGA Tour event after making the cut on the number.
Tournament hosts
| Years | No. | Venue | City | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–present | 18 | 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 |
- No event in 1976, Inverrary hosted the Tournament Players Championship.
Winners
| Year | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up | Purse (US$) |
Winner's share ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cognizant Classic | |||||||
| 2025 | Joe Highsmith | 265 | −19 | 2 strokes | Jacob Bridgeman J. J. Spaun |
9,200,000 | 1,656,000 |
| 2024 | Austin Eckroat | 267 | −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 | See 1976 Tournament Players Championship | ||||||
| 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]
Notes
- ^ Shortened to 54 holes due to weather.
References
- ^ a b Treglown, Dick (February 28, 1972). "Weiskopf wins Gleason crown". Palm Beach Post. p. D1.
- ^ Leighfield, Jonny (February 29, 2024). "What Was The Cognizant Classic Previously Called?". Golf Monthly. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Weiskopf no longer the brat". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. February 28, 1972. p. 3B.
- ^ a b Shain, Jeff (February 22, 2018). "Flashback: Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic". Pro Golf Weekly. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- ^ Kjos, Les (March 2, 1983). "The Inverrary Golf Classic takes its last hurrah this..." UPI Archives. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Looking back at storied history of Honda Classic in South Florida". Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation. February 21, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- ^ "1981 American Motors Inverrary Sweepstakes (advertisement)". Retrieved December 30, 2024 – via Flickr.
- ^ "Jack Nicklaus powering through his drive during the 1981 American Motors Inverrary Classic (photograph)". Retrieved December 30, 2024 – via Courtesy of the University of St Andrews Libraries and Museums, ID: 2008-1-23516.
- ^ Smith, Jeff (February 26, 2019). "The Honda Classic Primer: History, TV, Field, Odds". Pro Golf Weekly. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ "Golf: Honda Classic". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. March 13, 2006. p. C6.
- ^ "Golf: Honda Classic". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. March 6, 2007. p. C4.
- ^ Habib, Hal (April 16, 2013). "Global firm IMG buys company that runs Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c D'Angelo, Tom (February 27, 2024). "Cognizant director says to 'buckle up, we're going to go fast and it's going to get even better'". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Golf: Masters". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. August 10, 1972. p. 4B.
- ^ "Weiskopf captures Inverrary golf title". Telegraph-Herald. Dubuque, Iowa. Associated Press. February 28, 1972. p. 10.
- ^ "Leonard Thompson wins Inverrary Classic". Spartanburg Herald. South Carolina. Associated Press. February 25, 1973. p. B1.
- ^ "Nicklaus rally tops Jones". Morning Journal and Record. Meriden, Connecticut. UPI. February 27, 1978. p. 10.
- ^ "Longshot Knox Takes Honda Classic Title". Herald-Journal. March 2, 1986. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Pate Fights Winds, Wins Honda Classic". The Albany Herald. Georgia. March 11, 1991. Retrieved January 14, 2021 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Herron shakes off rookie status in Honda Classic win". Times Daily. Alabama. March 12, 1996. Retrieved January 14, 2021 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ "Hamilton captures Honda Classic". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. March 15, 2004. Retrieved January 14, 2021 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ Harig, Bob (March 4, 2012). "Rory McIlroy takes No. 1 spot". ESPN. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ Harig, Bob (March 2, 2012). "Brian Harman flirts with golf history". ESPN. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ Reynolds, Tim (February 27, 2025). "Jake Knapp shoots a 59 at the Cognizant Classic, 15th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history". Associated Press News.
- ^ The Honda Classic – Winners – at golfobserver.com
- ^ The Honda Classic – Winners – at PGATour.com