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PGA Tour Honda Classic

By Brent Kelley, About.com

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Justin Leonard - 2003 Honda Classic

Justin Leonard won the 2003 Honda Classic with a score of 264, setting a tournament scoring record.

Andy Lyons / Getty Images

About the PGA Tour Honda Classic:


The Honda Classic has been a regular stop on the PGA Tour since the early 1970s, always based in Florida. For nearly the first decade of the tournament's existance it was hosted by the great comedian and actor Jackie Gleason.

2009 Tournament
• When: March 5-8
• Where: PGA National (Champion Course), Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
• TV: Golf Channel/NBC

2008 Tournament
Ernie Els won on the PGA Tour for the first time in 3-and-a-half years, edging Luke Donald by a stroke. Els posted rounds of 67-70-70-67 for a 6-under total of 274.

Official Web site
PGA Tour tournament site

PGA Tour Honda Classic Records:

  • Overall record: 264 - Justin Leonard, 2003 (63-70-64-67)
  • Tournament 18-hole record: 62 - Hale Irwin, 1979; Dan Pohl, 1989; Tim Herron, 1996; Jerry Kelly, 2003

PGA Tour Honda Classic Golf Courses:


In 2007 the Honda Classic moved to PGA National (Champions Course) in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and that is here the tournament remains.

In the early days of this tournament, the host course was Inverrary Golf and Country Club (East Course) in Lauderhill, Fla., and "Inverrary" was part of the tournament's name from 1972 through 1983.

Other host courses in this event's history:

  • TPC Eagle Trace, Coral Springs, Fla.
  • Weston Hills Golf and Country Club, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
  • TPC Heron Bay, Coral Springs, Fla.
  • Country Club at Mirasol, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

PGA Tour Honda Classic Trivia and Notes:

  • The Honda Classic debuted on the PGA Tour in 1972 as Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic (Inverrary being the name of the host course). Gleason's name was in the title until 1980, and "Inverrary" until 1983.

  • Jack Nicklaus won the Honda Classic twice, in 1977 and 1978, and is the only back-to-back champion. Both his wins were notable, too. In 1977, he beat Gary Player by five strokes, still the largest margin of victory in this event. And in 1978, he won by finishing with five consecutive birdies. That's the PGA Tour record for most consecutive birdies to finish a tournament and take the win.

  • Before The Players Championship settled into its permanent home at TPC Sawgrass, it rotated among courses. In 1976, The Players Championship took place at Inverrary. Jack Nicklaus won the TPC that year, and on the Honda Classic official Web site Nicklaus is therefore credited with three wins in this tournament. However, that 1976 victory was in The Players Championship, not in the Inverrary Classic, and official PGA Tour records list the Inverrary Classic as "not played" in 1976.

  • Tom Weiskopf won this event's first playing in 1972, edging Nicklaus by a stroke, one of three runner-up finishes for the Golden Bear. Payne Stewart finished second five times in the Honda Classic, without winning.

  • Aside from Nicklaus, the other 2-time winners of this tournament are Johnny Miller (1980, 1983) and Mark Calcavecchia (1987, 1998).

  • In his 2005 victory, Padraig Harrington opened with a 73 and closed with a 63, thereby setting two tournament records: highest first-round score by a winner, and lowest final-round score by a winner.

    PGA Tour Honda Classic - Past Winners:

    (p - playoff; w - weather shortened)


    The Honda Classic
    2008 - Ernie Els, 274
    2007 - Mark Wilson-p, 275
    2006 - Luke Donald, 276
    2005 - Padraig Harrington-p, 274
    2004 - Todd Hamilton, 276
    2003 - Justin Leonard, 264
    2002 - Matt Kuchar, 269
    2001 - Jesper Parnevik, 270
    2000 - Dudley Hart, 269
    1999 - Vijay Singh, 277
    1998 - Mark Calcavecchia, 270
    1997 - Stuart Appleby, 274
    1996 - Tim Herron, 271
    1995 - Mark O’Meara, 275
    1994 - Nick Price, 276
    1993 - Fred Couples-w-p, 207
    1992 - Corey Pavin-p, 273
    1991 - Steve Pate, 279
    1990 - John Huston, 282
    1989 - Blaine McCallister, 266
    1988 - Joey Sindelar, 276
    1987 - Mark Calcavecchia, 279
    1986 - Kenny Knox, 287
    1985 - Curtis Strange-p, 275
    1984 - Bruce Lietzke-p, 280

    Honda Inverrary Classic
    1983 - Johnny Miller, 278
    1982 - Hale Irwin, 269

    American Motors Inverrary Classic
    1981 - Tom Kite, 274

    Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic
    1980 - Johnny Miller, 274
    1979 - Larry Nelson, 274
    1978 - Jack Nicklaus, 276
    1977 - Jack Nicklaus, 275
    1976 - Not played
    1975 - Bob Murphy, 273
    1974 - Leonard Thompson, 278

    Jackie Gleason's Inverrary National Airlines Classic
    1973 - Lee Trevino, 279

    Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic
    1972 - Tom Weiskopf, 278

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