The top players on the PGA Tour have committed to play together in more events. That’s good news for golf fans.
But now it’s up to the Tour to make sure some events, such as the Honda Classic, do not get left behind.
Commissioner Jay Monahan announced Wednesday that top players have agreed to play at least 20 events each year with elevated purses. Of those, 13 are set — the four majors, three events in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, the Players Championship, Genesis Invitational (hosted by Tiger Woods), the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Memorial Tournament (hosted by Jack Nicklaus), WGC-Match Play Championship and Sentry Tournament of Champions.
The Tour, which next season consists of 47 tournaments including the playoffs, will identify four additional elevated events on a yearly rotating basis and players can choose three other FedEx Cup events. The Tour’s decision on the four wildcards each year will make or break events.
These changes are a direct result of the threat caused by Greg Norman and the LIV Golf series.
Honda, played at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, has felt the squeeze in recent years sitting between Genesis and Arnold Palmer and two weeks before the Players.
Time for PGA Tour to step up, help Honda Classic
Now, it’s time for the Tour to help out the tournament that’s:
Held in an area where more professional golfers (including PGA Tour members) reside than any other in the country
Has a unique relationship with Jack and Barbara Nicklaus with their charity being the primary beneficiary
Has the longest running title sponsor on the Tour
Is among the Tour leaders in charitable contributions every year
Honda is the area’s premier sporting event and consistently draws around 200,000 spectators in recent years with the exception of 2021 when the crowds were limited because of COVID.
It has accomplished this even with underwhelming fields.
Given the passion for golf in the area and the weather early in the year, a world-class field would enhance its popularity.
Honda’s fields in recent years have been disappointing, mainly due to the schedule, but also because some golfers aren’t up to the challenge of the Champion Course.
Those factors have left Honda with one golfer ranked in the top 10 in the world in the last three years combined.
One solution could be moving the tournament on the schedule, something that is being discussed. The 2023 Honda is set for Feb. 23-26, the same slot as last year.
With Genesis the previous…
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