Tag: honda classic

Can this Florida PGA Tour staple again become a marquee event? New director believes so

They want a return to the world-class fields regularly seen until about five years ago.

Todd Fleming believes the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches has all the ingredients to become a premier stop on the PGA Tour.

Why else would the 45-year-old leave a job as vice president for global sales at Legends, a company that specializes in solutions for sports organizations and venues?

Fleming, who spent two years as the manager of ticket sales for the Miami Heat in the 2000s, is Cognizant’s new executive director. He will take over running the event after this year’s tournament concludes.

Cognizant will be held Feb. 29-March 3 at PGA National.

“I know we will build a championship this community can take immense pride in, as well as our players,” said Fleming, who worked 14 years at Legends. “This has tremendous potential to be a marquee event on the Tour each and every year.”

Cognizant replaced Honda as the title sponsor of the event that has been held in Palm Beach Gardens the last two decades and at PGA National since 2007. Joie Chitwood, hired by the PGA Tour in May to run the 2026 Presidents Cup, was asked to step in this year on an interim basis to help the event through the transition.

The Tour’s Championship Management division will take over operations of the event.

“The PGA Tour doesn’t do the acquisitions in taking over rights and control of an event if they don’t believe in the marketplace and believe there is a real opportunity for growth,” Fleming said.

Matt Rapp, senior vice-president of the PGA Tour’s Championship Management Division, spoke about the Tour’s desire to continue the event’s growth outside the ropes started by former executive directors Ken Kennerly and Andrew George. They also want a return to the world-class fields regularly seen until about five years ago.

Todd Fleming has been named executive director of the Cognizant Classic.

With Rory McIlory and Rickie Fowler heading the early entries – and the Tour adjusting the schedule in Cognizant’s favor – this year’s tournament is off to a good start.

“The work that’s been done with this event to this point has been incredible,” Fleming said. “You got to build on that.”

While attendance, charitable contributions and the build-out continue to grow, Fleming said the goal also is to stage an event golfers are “juiced up” to play.

“When you’re on the golf course, you’re talking to guys next to you,” Fleming said about the pros. “If we get the right mixture of atmosphere, amenities, the right product and spectator enhancements these guys are going to talk to each other.”

Once that happens, then it’s up to Fleming and his team to “be revolutionary” in how they can think outside the ropes.

“Then we nailed it,” he said. “Then it’s blue sky after that. If we can get this thing going, there is no question in my mind people want to be in this marketplace.”

2023 Honda Classic
Eric Cole tees off at the 17th hole during the third round of the 2023 Honda Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo: Andres Leiva/Palm Beach Post)

Fly on the wall for ’24 Cognizant

Fleming will be on site for this year’s tournament.

“I’ll be a fly on the wall and get as much knowledge as I can,” he said. “Shadowing and listening as much as possible. There’s still some things we have to evolve, make sure we’re putting on an event the community and Palm Beach County is proud of.”

A graduate of the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio, where he was a point guard on the basketball team, Fleming has a reputation as a leader, communicator and motivator.

In 2018, he was named one of Sports Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40.” Prior to joining Legends, he worked in business operations for the Charlotte Bobcats, Dallas Cowboys, New Jersey Nets, Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers. His two-year stint in Miami started in 2004.

While at Legends, Fleming helped complete the Yankees’ $40 million renovation to Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, assisted the Chargers in their move to Los Angeles and helped a company win the right to sell premium seats for the Raiders’ new stadium in Las Vegas.

“Todd’s track record at Legends speaks for itself,” Rapp said. “His vast experience in establishing new partnerships across the sports landscape is perfect for our long-term goals in South Florida as we look to create a best-in-class tournament atmosphere catered for our top PGA Tour players, partners and fans.”

Fleming and his family will move from their current home in Austin, Texas, to Palm Beach County following the 2023-24 school year.

“We are in the perfect epicenter,” Fleming said about growing Cognizant before adding that Palm Beach County needs to be a destination for people who want to see “great golf and have an experience.

“We have an opportunity to do that. We’re going to go all in.”

Can Rickie Fowler help this upcoming PGA Tour stop regain its swagger? Organizers are hoping so

Fowler skipped last year’s event after making 13 consecutive starts. He’s returning in 2024.

One of the PGA Tour’s most recognizable names who makes his home in Palm Beach County is returning to the Cognizant Classic.

Rickie Fowler skipped last year’s event after making 13 consecutive starts. The Jupiter, Florida, resident is returning in 2024, possibly a sign the field could see a significant upgrade.

Fowler is No. 27 in the Official World Golf rankings and coming off a year in which he had eight top 10 finishes and won the Rocket Mortgage Classic, his sixth PGA Tour victory and first in more than four years. He also was a member of the 2023 U.S. Ryder Cup team that lost to Europe in Rome.

“As one of the most exciting players on the PGA Tour, he is a tremendous addition to our field and is sure to generate a plethora of excitement for our partners and fans during tournament week,” Cognizant executive director Joie Chitwood said.

Fowler, 35, won the Cognizant in 2017 with a four-shot victory over Gary Woodland and Morgan Hoffmann. Two years later, he finished tied for second, one shot behind Keith Mitchell.

Rickie Fowler of the United States celebrates winning on the 18th green during the final round of The Honda Classic at PGA National Resort and Spa on February 26, 2017, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Cognizant, formerly known as the Honda Classic, will be held Feb. 29-March 3 at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens.

More: What is the PGA Tour doing to help boost the Cognizant Classic field?

With the PGA Tour adjusting the 2024 schedule to add a week between the West Coast Swing and Cognizant, the start of the Florida Swing, the hope is the field receives a boost.

The 2023 field included four of the top 30 golfers in the world rankings at the time, its fewest in at least a decade. None in the top 10 played for the third consecutive year.

Cognizant signed a six-year deal as the new title sponsor last month and the PGA Tour’s Championship Management division now is running the tournament.

Tom D’Angelo is a sports columnist, reporter at the Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @tomdangelo44.

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Exclusive: PGA Tour taking over management of former Honda Classic, new title sponsorship on the verge of signing

A source says that by 2025, the Tour would like to have as many as 15 tournaments under its new for-profit management side.

The PGA Tour’s Championship Management division is on the verge of assuming control of one of its tournaments and it might not be the last as it shifts into an era of additional for-profit business ventures.

Golfweek has learned that the Tour told employees at the tournament formerly known as the Honda Classic, which has been tentatively re-named The Classic in The Palm Beaches, that it is taking ownership of the event and that employees would be kept on through at least this year’s tournament but will become Tour employees. The event is scheduled for Feb. 29 to March 3, 2024. Once the ink is dry on the contract, the Tour is expected to name Cognizant as the new title sponsor to replace the Japanese automaker.

The Tour has played at PGA National Golf Club since 2007 – and that will continue into the future – when IGP Sports & Entertainment Group assumed management of the event, bringing Barbara and Jack Nicklaus into the fold and with Children’s Healthcare Charity Inc., a 501-C3, as the host organization. In 2013, IMG Worldwide acquired IGP, and has run the event ever since. The Honda Classic was founded in 1972 as the Inverrary Classic with Jackie Gleason as its host.

Honda became the title sponsor in 1982 but, as first reported by Golfweek, said the 2023 edition would be its final year in that role. At the time, it was the longest-running sponsor on the Tour. According to a tournament director who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Honda was willing to pay $13 million per year to renew as title sponsor but balked when the Tour played hardball and demanded $15 million.

“The Tour thought it had a replacement waiting in the wings that was willing to pay the 15 (million) they were asking but they backed out,” the same source said.

2023 Honda Classic
Eric Cole tees off at the 17th hole during the third round of the 2023 Honda Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo: Andres Leiva/Palm Beach Post)

Staffers were told that the Tour’s decision to assume management of the event had to do with the failure to find a new title sponsor willing to pay the bills. But sources tell Golfweek that T-Mobile was set to sign a deal late last year to become the title sponsor as early as 2023 but that deal was squashed by AT&T, which is the Tour’s Official Marketing Partner in the telecommunications space and the longtime title sponsor of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. (At the time, AT&T was also the title sponsor of the AT&T Byron Nelson.)

A PGA Tour spokesperson confirmed that the event is close to securing a new sponsor.

“For fans and the community, the long-term future of The Classic in The Palm Beaches – one of the premier sports and entertainment events in the region – is secure. The PGA Tour is in the final stages of securing a title sponsor and transitioning operators, where the longstanding commitment to charitable giving – working closely with Children’s Healthcare Charity, Inc., will remain a pillar of the event. We look forward to presenting the best version of the PGA Tour’s South Florida event in 2024,” a Tour spokesperson told Golfweek in a text message.

There have been other recent suitors. While Carrier Co., a local company best known as a maker of air conditioning units, conducted talks about sponsoring the South Florida Tour stop, those conversations broke down when it wasn’t able to secure a “signature event” designation. There were also rumors after the framework agreement between the Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund was announced in June that Aramco could step in as the title sponsor. The Tour routinely conducts conversations with potential sponsors.

The Honda Classic attracted one of the best fields less than a decade ago but in recent years it has struggled to attract a world-class field. The 2021 tournament had just five top 50 players and two in the top 20. (This year’s edition improved to 12 of the top 50, but four of the top eight who live in northern Palm Beach County chose not to play.)

“You can’t keep selling a steak if you’re giving them a corn dog,” said a longtime contractor at the Honda Classic, who was familiar with the latest dealings.

Without a title sponsor in place, the Tour announced plans to underwrite the tournament in 2024. Tournament organizers are being asked to contribute $3 million from its reserves with the Tour paying the difference.

2023 Honda Classic
Fans attend the 2023 Honda Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo: Andres Leiva/Palm Beach Post)

The Honda Classic distributed $7.2 million to more than 100 South Florida philanthropic organizations this year and more than $60 million in its history. Meanwhile, the Tour reached an agreement with Jack and Barbara Nicklaus that promises the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, the primary charitable beneficiary of the tournament, will receive a grant of $2.5 million per year for the next five years.

“If it is accurate that the Tour is flying into a more for-profit world that goes against the original genesis of the Tour,” said one former tournament director with knowledge of the changes to be implemented. “That’s troubling.”

A source familiar with the situation said the 2023 total charitable sum was a result of net proceeds from the event combined with the tournament’s successful Birdies for Children program. It is possible the new arrangement could net a similar impact in the market for charity, although not guaranteed.

Less troubling is encouraging news for a new title sponsor. The Tour has renewed interest from Cognizant, an information technology services and consulting company. Cognizant already is a global partner of the Presidents Cup, a relationship that began in 2022 and extends through 2026, and a title partner of the LPGA’s Founders Cup.

“This event has been a staple in South Florida for 50 years, including the last 20 years in Palm Beach County, where it has made an incredible impact on local charities,” Jack and Barbara Nicklaus said in a statement to The Palm Beach Post.

“We are happy to hear that there will be a continued commitment to helping countless important causes, including our Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation.”

According to multiple sources, the Tour is closing in on signing the company as the new title to a multi-year contract with a “discounted deal” for the first year but the Tour is waiting for the ink to dry on the contract to assume management of the event “so it can look like the tournament savior when it announces the new title.”

2023 Honda Classic
The Honda Classic logo is seen on a pin on the 18th hole as Ryan Gerard observes the action on the green during the second round of the Honda Classic at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo: Andres Leiva/Palm Beach Post)

The kickoff to the Florida Swing may not be the only event the Tour takes over, according to a tournament director. Some of the other weaker events may be rolled into the for-profit side of the Tour’s business going forward. The host organization’s contract typically runs hand in hand with the title sponsor contract. As other contracts expire, the Tour will have the option to assume management. A source says the Tour told former Honda staffers that by the end of 2025, the Tour would like to have as many as 15 tournaments in the championship management division.

But will in the neighborhood of 2,000 tournament volunteers still fork over hundreds of dollars for uniforms and give of their time to fill the coffers of a for-profit entity, especially if the Tour goes through with its partnership with the Saudi-backed PIF?

“It’s hard enough getting the necessary volunteers as it is in a post-Covid world. How many do you think are going to sign up if there’s not millions of dollars staying in the community,” a tournament director said.

Change is coming and the Tour’s annual stop in South Florida may be the first of many tournaments to experience this brave new world.

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‘It’s kind of an exciting time’: Eric Cole dishes on his new PGA Tour life after Honda Classic playoff

“There’s a few more people noticing what I’m doing, and that’s something that comes with good golf.”

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — It’s not a bad thing to be noticed. Especially if you’re Eric Cole, the true definition of a grinder who never gave up his dream of playing on the PGA Tour and was rewarded 14 years after turning pro.

What it took was one memorable weekend and the golf world suddenly was talking about this 34-year-old rookie. There he was this week, sitting on the set of the Golf Channel and being referenced by Jay Monahan during the commissioner’s State of the Tour address.

“There’s a few more people noticing what I’m doing,” Cole said Wednesday. “And that’s something that comes with good golf. And I’m all about playing good golf.

“So, you know, it’s kind of an exciting time for me.”

Playing good golf also meant a pathway into this week’s Players Championship, which Cole earned through his runner-up finish at the Honda Classic two weeks ago. That was the best week of his professional career, ending in a playoff and one shot behind winner Chris Kirk.

Cole’s first round at the Players on Thursday was, in his words, “a little bit shaky.” Perhaps uneven is an even better description with five birdies, four bogeys and a double on No. 18 (his ninth hole) in which his drive took an unfortunate bounce into the water. He shot a 1-over 73.

“It could have taken a little more friendly bounce, but it just kicked left, so it’s all good,” the upbeat Cole said about his tee shot at 18. “You’re not supposed to hit it over there.”

What helped Cole’s mood was a birdie on his finishing hole, the 601-yard No. 9. He landed his second shot on the fringe 42 feet from the pin and got up and down with a 4-foot putt.

“It was a good way to end the day,” he said.

Golf in his blood

Cole was born with golf in his blood. His mom, Laura Baugh, was the 1973 LPGA Rookie of the Year and finished with 70 top 10s in a 25-year LPGA career. His dad, Bobby Cole, a South African, won the 1977 Buick Open on the PGA Tour and twice finished third in a major.

But that did not guarantee success, and Eric persevered through the Minor League Golf Tour, the Korn Ferry Tour and even working as a golf teacher and a caddie for good friend Sam Saunders, the grandson of Arnold Palmer. Cole was on Saunders’ bag for the 2019 Florida Swing, including the Players.

“I’m proud of the work he’s put in,” said Baugh, who now lives in Ponte Vedra Beach. “A lot of people really support him and cheer him on because they can identify with him. He’s someone that’s really put in the time and effort. He’s a relatable guy.”

Baugh describes her son’s gallery as “passionate,” and that gallery was in full throttle at PGA National as Cole started his assault on the Champion Course. Four rounds under 70 on one of the toughest tracks on tour got Cole into a playoff.

Yet, despite his most successful (Cole never had a top-10 finish in his 17 previous PGA Tour starts) and profitable week in golf (Cole had $363,880 in career earnings before making $915,880 at Honda), he could not help but think of one shot.

Cole entered the 72nd hole one shot behind Kirk but seized the upper hand after Kirk’s second shot ricocheted into the water. Needing to get up and down from the fringe for a birdie, Cole’s chip shot came out hot and rolled off the green.

Cole settled for a par and left an otherwise memorable tournament with one regret.

“I probably could have played the same club but just played it a little lower,” he said about the chip. “It would have been a little safer shot to where if I did miss-hit it like I did, it would have still probably ended up on the green with the putt instead of up against the collar and the rough.”

With the playoff on the same 18th hole, Kirk tapped in for birdie and Cole’s birdie putt caught the lip.

“I played really well, the first three days, but the last day, I didn’t play as well, especially tee to green,” said Cole, who admitted to being nervous playing in the last group for the first time in a PGA Tour event.

“So it was kind of cool to be able to have a chance to win that tournament, even though I wasn’t playing my best. People talk about that all the time. You don’t have to play perfect golf to win. But to see it firsthand was pretty cool.”

What also was pretty cool was shooting 14 under, a Honda record since the event was moved to PGA National in 2007. He and Kirk now share it.

Cole could not carry the momentum into the Arnold Palmer Invitational the next week. He missed the cut after shooting 80 on the second day.

“I just didn’t play well,” he said. “And Bay Hill was so difficult that you didn’t have a whole lot of room to recover.

“I just played bad and then continued to press and be aggressive and just kind of magnified it. But that happens.”

So does “good golf,” and Cole is hoping that happens more often.

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Ratings for LIV Golf’s 2023 TV debut are in — and they aren’t pretty

“World’s Funniest Animals” outperformed LIV Golf Mayakoba.

LIV Golf League’s decision to debut its second season last week was no mistake. The Honda Classic on the PGA Tour was sandwiched between four designated events (WM Phoenix Open, Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational and Players Championship) comprised of the best players in the world.

Wanting no part of competing with either of those, LIV decided to go against the Honda Classic, hoping to capitalize on owning the stronger field between the two events.

It did not work.

LIV’s first event on The CW Network received 291K viewers on Sunday, according to Josh Carpenter of the Sports Business Journal.

The Honda Classic, on the other hand, reeled in 2.38 million.

The league financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has a long way to go.

For comparison, another CW program, “World’s Funniest Animals,” outperformed LIV Golf Mayakoba.

 

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Former Georgia Bulldog Chris Kirk wins PGA’s Honda Classic in dramatic fashion

Former Dawg Chris Kirk’s first PGA win in almost 8 years comes at The Honda Classic…

Former Georgia Bulldog Chris Kirk is a winner on the PGA Tour again for the first time in nearly eight years with a victory at The Honda Classic.

Kirk entered Sunday’s final round at 13-under par with a two-stroke lead over rookie Eric Coal and maintained a one-stroke lead until his third shot at the 18th hole found the water.

Cole took advantage of the mistake and forced a playoff at the 18th hole.  Kirk’s clutch second shot almost found the cup and led to a tap-in birdie for his fifth PGA Tour win.

Cole was this close to forcing another playoff hole.

Kirk’s win is the 40th PGA Tour win by a former Georgia Bulldog who played under UGA golf coach Chris Haack.

Kirk has secured a spot in the 2023 Masters with the win and moves up to sixth place in FedEx Cup points standings.

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After winning 2023 Honda Classic, Chris Kirk loved that Paul Azinger called him ‘an emotionless robot’

Conversations with Champions is presented by Sentry.

Chris Kirk took a winding road between PGA Tour wins No. 5 and 6. It sounds like he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Asked to describe this moment, he said he said he couldn’t. Rather, he took the time on live television to make sure he acknowledged those closest to him.

“I just have so much to be thankful for. I’m so grateful. I’m so grateful for my sobriety. I’m so grateful for my family. I’m so grateful for everyone that’s supported me throughout the past three or four years especially. Thank you so much,” he said at the conclusion of NBC’s telecast on the 18th green after holding off Eric Cole in a playoff to win the 2023 Honda Classic.

“My wife Tahnee, I have not been the easiest person to be married to always, and my boys, Sawyer, Foster, Wilder, love you guys so much. Can’t wait to see you.”

Here’s everything else Kirk said after his win at PGA National.

Q: You’ve spoken about your form this season, two top 3 finishes already at the Sony and the American Express. How much did you draw on those performances this week?

CHRIS KIRK: I definitely did. I mean, I was obviously very, very nervous today having not won in so long. Coming down the stretch, I felt good. Obviously that putt on 16 was huge and was in a great position on 18, just made a bad swing at the wrong time. I was trying to stay aggressive and hit it in the middle of the green, but in hindsight probably would have been better to hit it over there left somewhere. But thank God it worked out.

Q: The last two days has been dramatic for you. Talk to me about tapping in that putt and what it means to you and all you’ve been through.

CK: Well, I mean, what an unbelievable feeling. I obviously knew that wedge shot was good when I hit it. I felt great about it. But I’ve obviously got to get a little luck for it to end up six inches like that. I just fought really, really hard today. I didn’t play my absolute best, but I never gave up. I heard Paul Azinger say I watched a highlight of me yesterday, and he said I looked like an emotionless robot, and I loved that. I absolutely loved it. I said today, I’m going to be an emotionless robot and I’m going to go stick to my guns and play aggressive and try to do the best I can. I was obviously a little closer than I would have liked, but like I said, thank God it worked out.

Q: The robot worked on the 72nd hole, you were a couple feet away from clearing the penalty area there, but you composed yourself. You had a very good shot on the 4th.

CK: I did, yeah, and a pretty good putt, too. The putt just broke a little bit more than I’ve remembered. I’ve had that one before and hit a nice putt. Yeah, I was very determined no matter how high or low anything got at any moment today that I was just going to not react and just go about my business.

Q: The emotion came out when the putt went in. It’s been since 2015. You know you believed in yourself, but at some point is it going to happen. Today it happened for you again. Has it sunk in yet that you’re a winner again on the PGA Tour?

CK: Definitely not. I mean, I think more than the time, just how much my life has changed in that time, getting close to four years of sobriety, and that is the reason why I’m able to play. It’s the reason why I have such a great relationship with my family. Everything that I have is because of that. I have to remember that first and foremost, and it’ll sink in eventually, but it certainly hasn’t right now.

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Prize money payouts for each PGA Tour player at 2023 Honda Classic

It pays to play well on the PGA Tour.

It pays to play well on the PGA Tour, just ask this week’s winner, Chris Kirk.

The 37-year-old earned his fifth PGA Tour win and first since 2015 at the 2023 Honda Classic on Sunday after beating rookie Eric Cole in a playoff at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Kirk will take home the top prize of $1.512 million and will go down as the last winner of the Honda Classic as the tournament is seeking a new title sponsor with American Honda ending its sponsorship after 42 years. Cole earned $915,600 for his first career top-10.

Check out how much money each PGA Tour player earned this week at the 2023 Honda Classic at PGA National.

More: Take a look inside Chris Kirk’s bag

Honda Classic prize money

Finish Player Score Earnings
1 Chris Kirk -14 $1,512,000
2 Eric Cole -14 $915,600
3 Tyler Duncan -12 $579,600
4 Ryan Gerard -10 $411,600
T5 Shane Lowry -9 $288,120
T5 Ben Martin -9 $288,120
T5 Sepp Straka -9 $288,120
T5 Justin Suh -9 $288,120
T5 Ben Taylor -9 $288,120
T10 David Lingmerth -8 $220,500
T10 Dylan Wu -8 $220,500
T12 Zach Johnson -7 $186,900
T12 Cameron Percy -7 $186,900
T14 Ryan Brehm -6 $136,500
T14 Jim Herman -6 $136,500
T14 Kramer Hickok -6 $136,500
T14 Lee Hodges -6 $136,500
T14 Stephan Jaeger -6 $136,500
T14 Adrian Meronk -6 $136,500
T14 Brandon Wu -6 $136,500
T21 Byeong-Hun An -5 $88,116
T21 MJ Daffue -5 $88,116
T21 Ben Griffin -5 $88,116
T21 Robby Shelton -5 $88,116
T21 Jhonattan Vegas -5 $88,116
T26 Harrison Endycott -4 $65,100
T26 Scott Harrington -4 $65,100
T26 Minwoo Lee -4 $65,100
T29 Dylan Frittelli -3 $46,426
T29 Chesson Hadley -3 $46,426
T29 Garrick Higgo -3 $46,426
T29 William McGirt -3 $46,426
T29 Andrew Novak -3 $46,426
T29 Davis Riley -3 $46,426
T29 Kevin Roy -3 $46,426
T29 Matt Wallace -3 $46,426
T29 Danny Willett -3 $46,426
T29 Aaron Wise -3 $46,426
T29 Carson Young -3 $46,426
T29 Brett Drewitt -3 $46,426
T29 Kevin Chappell -3 $46,426
T42 Christiaan Bezuidenhout -2 $28,188
T42 Will Gordon -2 $28,188
T42 Billy Horschel -2 $28,188
T42 Mark Hubbard -2 $28,188
T42 Sungjae Im -2 $28,188
T42 Taylor Pendrith -2 $28,188
T42 Adam Schenk -2 $28,188
T49 Erik Barnes -1 $20,944
T49 Akshay Bhatia -1 $20,944
T49 Zac Blair -1 $20,944
T49 Adam Svensson -1 $20,944
T49 Jimmy Walker -1 $20,944
T49 Trevor Werbylo -1 $20,944
T55 Joseph Bramlett E $19,404
T55 Brice Garnett E $19,404
T55 Tano Goya E $19,404
T55 Kelly Kraft E $19,404
T55 Brandon Matthews E $19,404
T60 Padraig Harrington 1 $18,732
T60 Matthias Schwab 1 $18,732
T60 Kyle Stanley 1 $18,732
T63 Anders Albertson 2 $17,808
T63 Ryan Armour 2 $17,808
T63 Pierceson Coody 2 $17,808
T63 Vincent Norrman 2 $17,808
T63 J.T. Poston 2 $17,808
T63 Kevin Tway 2 $17,808
T63 S.H. Kim 2 $17,808
T63 Trace Crowe 2 $17,808
T71 Bill Haas 3 $16,884
T71 J.B. Holmes 3 $16,884
T71 Augusto Nunez 3 $16,884
T74 Trevor Cone 4 $16,296
T74 Jason Dufner 4 $16,296
T74 Webb Simpson 4 $16,296
T74 Harry Hall 4 $16,296
78 Tyson Alexander 6 $15,876
79 Cody Gribble 7 $15,708
80 Geoff Ogilvy 9 $15,540

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Winner’s Bag: Chris Kirk, 2023 Honda Classic

Check out the clubs that got the job done at PGA National.

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A complete list of the golf equipment Chris Kirk used to win the PGA Tour’s 2023 Honda Classic at PGA National Resort and Spa:

DRIVER: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (9 degrees), with Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 TX

FAIRWAY WOODS: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond HL (16.5 degrees, TaylorMade Stealth (18 degrees), with Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 TX shafts.

[afflinkbutton text=”Chris Kirk’s TM fairway wood – $329.99″ link=”https://globalgolf.pxf.io/9Wv163″]

IRONS: Callaway Apex Pro 2021 (4), Apex MB 2018 (5-9), with Project X LZ 125 6.5 shafts

[afflinkbutton text=”Chris Kirk’s Callaway irons – $1,479.99″ link=”https://globalgolf.pxf.io/QOVq93″]

WEDGES: Callaway Jaws Raw (46, 50 degrees), Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (56, 60 degrees), with True Temper Dynamic Gold S200 shafts

[afflinkbutton text=”Chris Kirk’s Titleist wedges – $179.99″ link=”https://globalgolf.pxf.io/DVDE6d”]

PUTTER: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

BALL: Titleist Pro V1x

[afflinkbutton text=”Chris Kirk’s Titleist golf ball – $54.99 per dozen” link=”https://globalgolf.pxf.io/x9AxKv”]

GRIPS: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

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Chris Kirk outduels Eric Cole in a playoff to win 2023 Honda Classic

The wait is finally over for Chris Kirk.

The wait is finally over for Chris Kirk.

Kirk rode a second-round 62 into the weekend, slept on a two-shot, 54-hole lead Saturday night and survived a playoff with rookie Eric Cole to win for the fifth time on the PGA Tour and first in eight years.

In his 179th start, Kirk claimed his first win since the 2015 Charles Schwab Challenge and secured an invitation to the Masters Tournament.

But it wasn’t without a rollercoaster of emotions on the final hole. Facing a second shot from the fairway from 257 yards out, Kirk pushed his ball right and could only watch as it bounced off the retaining wall and came splashing down close the blue Honda SUV that floats in the water at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

After a drop and a wedge on, Kirk two-putted the par-5 last for a 69.

Meanwhile, Cole missed the 18th green long and left, overcooked a chip all the way across the green for his third before salvaging par to force the extra golf.

They replayed 18 again, and with his third shot using a 60-degree wedge, Kirk stuffed his approach, spinning it back to with a foot.

Cole’s third shot was from the bunker behind the green and he left it about 10 feet to the right of the hole. Needing to make birdie, his putt lipped out on the left side. Kirk then tapped in his birdie putt to claim the win.

“I just have so much to be thankful for. I’m so grateful,” Kirk said. “I’m so grateful for my sobriety. I’m so grateful for my family. I’m so grateful for everyone that’s supported me throughout the past three or four years especially. Thank you so much.”

He went on to thank his family.

“My wife Tahnee, I have not been the easiest person to be married to always, and my boys, Sawyer, Foster, Wilder, love you guys so much. Can’t wait to see you.”

Back to the wedge in the playoff. Kirk says he knew it was good the minute he struck it.

“I felt great about it but I’ve obviously got to get a little luck for it to end up six inches like that,” he said. “I just fought really, really hard today. I didn’t play my absolute best, but I never gave up. I heard Paul Azinger say I watched a highlight of me yesterday, and he said I looked like an emotionless robot, and I loved that. I absolutely loved it. I said today, I’m going to be an emotionless robot and I’m going to go stick to my guns and play aggressive and try to do the best I can.”

Earlier in the day, Cole had what had been up to that point the shot of the day  after draining a 70-foot double-breaking putt on the par-3 fifth hole to claim a share of the lead.

Earlier this year Kirk finished T-3 at the Sony Open in Hawaii and solo third at the American Express.

Tyler Duncan was solo third at 12 under. Monday qualifier Ryan Gerard was solo fourth at 10 under, earning a spot in the opposite-field Puerto Rico Open next week. The Arnold Palmer Invitational, a designated event, is also next week in Orlando.

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