| 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 | 264Justin Leonard (2003) |
| To par | −24as above |
| Current champion | |
 Joe Highsmith | |
| Location map | |
TheCognizant Classic is a professionalgolf tournament on thePGA Tour insouth Florida. It was founded in1972 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 in1973 withJackie Gleason.American Motors Corporation backed the event in1981 as the "American Motors Inverrary Classic". From1982 until2023,American Honda Motor Company was the title sponsor, and the tournament was known asThe Honda Classic. In late 2023,Cognizant became the new title sponsor, and the event's name was changed.[2]
The tournament's predecessor, theNational Airlines Open Invitational, ran for three seasons from1969 through1971), all in late March at the Country Club of Miami inHialeah. The Gleason tournament replaced it on the schedule a month earlier in 1972 at theInverrary Country Club (East course) inLauderhill 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 regular event was not played in1976, as Inverrary hosted theTournament Players Championship in late February, won byJack 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" asAmerican Motors Corporation sponsored it.[6][7][8] The following two years, it was known as the "Honda Inverrary Classic" after a switch in sponsor toAmerican Honda Motor Company.[9][1]
During this time, the tournament was staged at differentBroward 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 toTPC Eagle Trace inCoral Springs, where it remained until 1991.
From 1992 through 1995, the event was held at the Weston Hills Golf & Country Club inWeston. 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 toPalm Beach Gardens, first at the Country Club at Mirasol through2006,[10] then to the Champion Course atPGA National Resort and Spa in2007.[11]
Since 2007, the tournament's primary beneficiary is the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation, chaired by Barbara Nicklaus, wife ofhall of fame golferJack 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 thePGA 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]
Some celebrated players have won this tournament, including Nicklaus in1977 and1978, 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] Since2007, 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 in2017, with a top prize of $1.152 million (this can be contrasted to the total purse in1981 of $300,000 (the equivalent of only $1,037,592 in 2024 dollars[14]). The original winner's share of $52,000 in1972 made it one of the richest stops on tour,[3] greater than for any of the fourmajors; it was more than double that of theMasters, which had a first prize of $25,000in1972.[15]
| Years | No. | Venue | City | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–present | 18 | PGA National Resort and Spa (Champion Course) | Palm Beach Gardens | Florida |
| 2003–2006 | 4 | Country Club at Mirasol | ||
| 1997–2002 | 6 | TPC at Heron Bay | Coral Springs | |
| 1996 | 1 | TPC Eagle Trace | ||
| 1992–1995 | 4 | Weston Hills Golf and C.C. | Weston | |
| 1984–1991 | 8 | TPC Eagle Trace | Coral Springs | |
| 1972–1983 | 11 | Inverrary Country Club (East Course) | Lauderhill |
| Year | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up | Purse (US$) | Winner's share ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cognizant Classic | |||||||
| 2025 | Joe Highsmith | 265 | −19 | 2 strokes | Jacob BridgemanJ. 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 FowlerBrooks 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 HoffmannGary 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 McIlroyRyan 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 GillisTiger 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 CóceresCamilo VillegasBoo 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 CampbellDavis Love III | 5,000,000 | 900,000 |
| 2002 | Matt Kuchar | 269 | −19 | 2 strokes | Brad FaxonJoey Sindelar | 3,500,000 | 630,000 |
| Honda Classic | |||||||
| 2001 |  Jesper Parnevik | 270 | −18 | 1 stroke | Mark CalcavecchiaGeoff Ogilvy Craig Perks | 3,200,000 | 576,000 |
| 2000 | Dudley Hart | 269 | −19 | 1 stroke | J. P. HayesKevin 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 BradleyPayne 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 AzingerDan 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 FioriSandy LylePayne Stewart | 700,000 | 126,000 |
| 1987 | Mark Calcavecchia | 279 | −9 | 3 strokes |  Bernhard LangerPayne Stewart | 600,000 | 108,000 |
| 1986 | Kenny Knox | 287 | −1 | 1 stroke | Andy BeanJohn MahaffeyJodie MuddClarence 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 BurnsTom 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 CoodyBruce 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: No tournament | |||||||
| 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]
26°49′44″N80°08′28″W / 26.829°N 80.141°W /26.829; -80.141
