The Honda Classic Tees Off in Palm Beach County

The 2018 Honda Classic will be in full swing on Monday, February 19th through Sunday, February 25th as the field of 144 PGA TOUR professionals takes to the links at PGA National Resort & Spa to compete for a total purse of $6.6 million. This tournament marks the 12th consecutive year PGA National Resort & Spa’s Champion Course hosts The Honda Classic, and the 16th straight year it has called Palm Beach County home. The opening tournament rounds tee off at 7:00 am on Thursday, February 22nd and Friday, February 23rd. Weekend action begins at 9:00 am on Saturday, February 24th and Sunday, February 25th.

The Honda Classic has compiled one of the best fields of pro golfers outside of the four golf majors in the world this year. This year, the tournament will feature legends such as Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Daniel Berger, Rory Sabbatini, Adam Scott, and more.

The Honda Classic is one of Palm Beach County’s marquee sporting events. In 2017, this event attracted 203,815 confirmed spectators over seven days between the Monday Pro-Am and Sunday’s final round, a slight increase over the 202,128 that attended in 2016. The modern-day attendance dwarfs the number of fans (83,500) who attended The Honda Classic in 2007 when it moved to PGA National Resort & Spa. The tournament broke the 100,000 barrier in 2010.

"Combined with our entertainment elements, like after-play concerts that included Kenny G on Thursday night, and Tire Kingdom fireworks shows on Friday and Saturday nights, we truly had something for everybody", Honda Classic Executive Director Kenneth R. Kennerly said. People enjoy coming out to the tournament and they have a great time once they are here. We look forward to more great tournaments in the years to come and continuing to grow upon the impact that we make in this community through our Honda Classic Cares initiative and our charitable giving."

While The Honda Classic strives to provide Palm Beach County with a premier professional sporting event, the ultimate goal is to positively impact youth in need through charitable endeavors. The Honda Classic is awarding a record $3.63 million to 133 local organizations which benefit children, which is a 13% more than was distributed in 2016. The $3.63 million being awarded to charity this year includes a second-consecutive individual grant of $1 million to the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation. The lives of more than 32,000 kids and their families in the local community will be

positively impacted this year by the charitable rewards of The Honda Classic. The Honda Classic makes an impact regionally, nationally, and internationally. The tournament provides PGA TOUR excitement to incoming visitors and Palm Beach County residents alike. Fans, media, sponsors, and the players generate nearly 8,000 nightly hotel bookings and pump roughly $45 million into the local economy. Palm Beach County is showcased world-wide as The Honda Classic is televised live on Golf Channel and NBC and is internationally distributed to 250 countries, with a potential reach that exceeds 800 million households.

The Champion Course at PGA National is a major reason why The Honda Classic has blossomed into one of the elite events on the PGA TOUR. The course has become known as one of the most challenging layouts in tournament golf. The Bear Trap, comprised of Holes 15-17, is considered one of the toughest stretches of golf on the PGA TOUR. PGA National has helped build Palm Beach County’s storied golf reputation. In addition to The Honda Classic, PGA National has hosted some of golf’s most defining moments, including the 1983 Ryder Cup and the 1987 PGA Championship. "We feel like we have the best venue on the PGA TOUR," Kennerly said.

Make sure you visit The Honda Classic, one of the greatest spectacles in sports for Palm Beach County. In addition to featuring the best PGA TOUR stars competing, The Honda Classic features a week-long schedule of events and activities, including two pro-am tournaments, golf clinics, practice rounds, children’s activities, an "after play" concert series, and two fireworks shows. For additional event information, ticket packages and commitment list of PGA TOUR professionals competing this year, please visit www.thehondaclassic.com.