The Honda Classic 2014
MONDAY 24 FEBRUARY TO SUNDAY 2 MARCH 2014
The Honda Classic at PGA National is one of the premier events on the PGA TOUR, and the first stop on the "Florida Swing." Top players on tour, including Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and Lee Westwood, compete for a purse of over $5.6 million. The 2013 champion Michael Thompson rose to victory over The Champion course at PGA National and the infamous Bear Trap – holes 15-17 – commonly regarded as the toughest three-hole stretch on the PGA TOUR.
THE HONDA CLASSIC 2013 PLAYED WITH AN IMPRESSIVE FIELD AND MICHAEL THOMPSON TRIUMPHS!
Congratulations to Michael Thompson, winner of the 2013 tour championship at PGA National Resort & Spa!
Michael Thompson's dream of winning his first PGA TOUR event was walking up the final fairway with a big lead and very little stress. The reality was much different in the 2013 Honda Classic.
Thompson, 27, had a one-shot lead as he stood in the 18th fairway, some 240 yards from the flag with trouble in the way in the shape of a large lake. The motto from his golf team at Alabama was to "finish strong," and Thompson did just that.
Instead of laying up, he drilled a 5-wood into the bunker left of the green, setting up a simple sand shot and a birdie he didn't even need. He closed with a 1-under 69, one of only five rounds under par on a punishing day at PGA National to finally become a PGA TOUR winner. "It allowed me to walk up the fairway and enjoy the experience, see the crowd and ... just finish strong."
"This week was magical," Thompson said. "Just had a groove and kept feeling it,” reported PGATOUR.com.
Honda Classic History
Founded in 1972 as the Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic, The Honda Classic is a PGA TOUR golf tournament played each March at PGA National in Florida. In 1981, American Motors (AMC) backed the tournament, but in 1982, Honda took over the title sponsorship. 3. After years of moving from course to course, the tournament found its home in 2007 on PGA National Resort & Spa's Champion course. The 2007 event marked a new executive director, Ken Kennerly, who oversees the tournament organizing committee. 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.
