FLORIDA’S PALM BEACH GARDENS — Two of the top golf fan favorites, Brooks Koepka and Rickie Fowler, have agreed to compete in the 2022 Honda Classic, a PGA TOUR event that will take place at PGA National Resort & Spa from February 21–27.
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Who has signed on to compete in the Honda Classic in 2021?
Four of the top eight players in the world—Patrick Cantlay, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, and Justin Thomas—who reside in northern Palm Beach County—have chosen not to participate in the competition. At the Genesis Invitational outside of Los Angeles this week, everyone is competing.
This year’s Florida Swing begins with the Honda, then moves on to the Bay Hill Arnold Palmer Invitational, TPC Sawgrass Players Championship, and Innisbrook Resort Valspar Championship. It came after the Palmer, Players, and WGC-Workday Championships at The Concession last year.
Last year, the 15th-ranked Koepka and the 20th-ranked Berger were both forced to withdraw during the tournament week due to injuries. Since joining the tour, both have been regulars at Honda and have only missed the competition due to injury.
Berger, a Dwyer High School alumni, was reluctant to commit until this week because of recent back problems. At the Phoenix Open last week, he missed his first cut in around 10 months, but he said at the time that he was beginning to play again.
The Wellington-raised four-time major champion Koepka expressed satisfaction with his recent play last week after recovering from a number of injuries. He entered this week’s Genesis Invitational with two top 10 finishes in his previous four events, including a tie for third place finish at the Phoenix Open last weekend. The last two days of the Phoenix Open, he was playing in the winning group.
There were only five top 50 players and two top 20 players in the 2021 competition. But when Berger, who was rated No. 15, and Koepka, who was ranked No. 12, withdrew, it was somewhat by accident.
Woodland, the winner of the 2019 U.S. Open, skipped the competition in 2017 after testing positive for COVID.
Other notable players who will be taking on the difficult Champion Course the next week are Billy Horschel, Sungjae Im, Patrick Reed, Joaquin Niemann, Matthew Wolff of Jupiter, Lee Westwood, and Tommy Fleetwood.
The competition consists of Matt Jones, the defending Honda Classic champion, as well as Im, Keith Mitchell, Fowler, Padraig Harrington, Michael Thompson, Rory Sabbatini, Camilo Villegas, and Luke Donald, who have all won the Honda Classic before.
Who will win the 2022 Honda Classic?
Florida Palm Beach Gardens
The 2022 Honda Classic was won by Sepp Straka (-10) He finished with a score of 66 and overcame a five-stroke deficit to Shane Lowry after 54 holes to win by one shot. It marks his first PGA Tour victory overall.
Berger needed an eagle to force a playoff on the last hole, but instead he hit his third wood into the water, made par, and was alone in fourth place at -7. Kurt Kitayama came in third place alone at a one-point advantage.
With only two bogeys in his opening three rounds, Berger appeared impenetrable. PGA National is renowned for being difficult to score on, and this past week was no exception. Chris Kirk, Straka, and first-round leader Kitayama are all within five shots of Berger, who had a rocky start on Sunday. His opening six holes resulted in four over par, and with that, the competition resumed.
Lowry and Straka were more than happy to exploit the situation. With a birdie to start his round, Lowry continued his good performance throughout the day, striking fairways and keeping his golf ball on solid ground. In order to catch up to the leaders, Straka shot a -3 on his final nine and had no bogeys.
None of the top ten players in the world were on the field. Players that were ranked at the top of the field didn’t always win. The 2020 champion Sungjae Im and last week’s winner Joaquin Niemann both missed the cut as Brooks Koepka placed T16 at even par, Louis Oosthuizen T29 at +2, and Brooks Koepka T16 at even par.
A few players who had weeks to remember were Matthias Schwab, who ended T7 and -3, Gary Woodland, who shot a final-round 67 to finish T5 (-4) with Alex Noren, Chris Kirk, who started the day within striking distance of the lead but struggled, and Adam Svensson.
The PGA Tour continues its season next week. The Tour continues its Florida swing by traveling to Bay Hill and Orlando for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The current champion, Bryson DeChambeau, intends to make a full recovery from his injury in time to defend his championship. Viktor Hovland, Hideki Matsuyama, Rory McIlroy, and Jon Rahm are some of the other elite competitors in the tournament. To compete at the Puerto Rico Open, many players who are not on the team will travel there.
Playing in The Honda Classic is Rory McIlroy?
World No. 1 After eight holes in the second round of the Honda Classic, Rory McIlroy withdrew due to wisdom tooth issues. When the WD happened in the second round, McIlroy was seven over par. He parted ways with playing companions Mark Wilson and Ernie Els after exchanging handshakes on the eighth green.
He provided the following information to local reporters:
McIlroy admitted that he had been dealing with a painful wisdom tooth that was soon to be extracted. “I took Advil to soothe it after it started troubling me once more last night. This morning it was quite uncomfortable again, and I was just unable to concentrate. My playing partners were starting to feel the effects, which was really worrying me.”
While expressing his regret to the sponsor, McIlroy also mentioned how much he enjoys playing in the Honda Classic.
Even though the results haven’t indicated it, he said, he felt like his game was improving.
How many athletes will compete in the 2022 Honda Classic?
The 2022 With the regular Friday entry deadline having passed, the field for the Honda Classic is already determined. This competition will be held at the PGA National Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and will include a PGA Tour field.
The likes of Brooks Koepka, Daniel Berger, Sungjae Im, and others are among the field leaders at the Honda Classic.
This event, which will feature a 144-player field and be played over four days, will be the 17th on the 2021–2022 PGA Tour schedule.
Is Jordan Spieth taking part in this year’s Honda Classic?
Jordan Spieth’s PR agency responded to a question regarding the Honda Classic by telling CBS12 that, “Although his calendar is constantly changing, Jordan is not intending to play at this moment.” Spieth usually competes in all the other tournaments during the Florida Swing, but he has never participated in the Honda Classic.
Who is the Honda Classic favorite?
The 2020 champion Sungjae Im is the obvious favorite, according to SI Sportsbook, followed by Niemann and Berger, who played for Florida State, at +1600.
Jack Nicklaus should be at the Honda Classic, why not?
In recent years, Honda’s crops have suffered. But is that because it’s sandwiched between so many famous tournaments and in a tight spot on the schedule, or is it because some people have deemed the course to be too difficult a challenge?
Nicklaus is of the opinion that it is a mix. He once claimed that because he disliked being recruited to compete in events during his career, he would not actively seek out players for the tournament, a portion of the earnings of which go to the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation.
When asked if players avoid Honda because it’s a challenging course, Thompson responded, “Yeah. Absolutely.” It is also in a challenging time slot before being added.
The mental strain gets harder the harder the golf course, he remarked. The Tour requires everything of you, so having time off and resting—not only our bodies, but also our minds—is an important part of managing our games throughout the year.
However, not everyone is afraid of a challenge. Despite the challenging nature of the course, locals like Koepka, Berger, Rickie Fowler, Gary Woodland, and others are constantly present to support their local tournament.
The top four golfers in the world rankings, Patrick Cantlay, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, and Justin Thomas, all live in northern Palm Beach County, yet none of them have participated in a Honda tournament since 2019. Thomas won the 2018 tournament and has played once more; Cantlay has never been up for the challenge.
The 2017 champion, who will play in his 13th straight Honda, said, “What I enjoy about PGA National is you get such a diversity of tee shots, you’re not always hitting driver.” Fowler is from Jupiter. You have a driver, a 5-wood, a 3-wood, and irons. Off the tee, getting into play is everything, and that’s when the challenge starts.
Florida native Billy Horschel, who now resides near Jacksonville, thinks the program is ideal for him. But he is aware that not everyone will find it appealing.
I adore that golf course; it perfectly suits my game, he added. “You must manage your golf ball and use your brain to navigate the situation.
The Honda Classic: Fan Experience
PGA talents of the highest caliber will be on display during the 2022 Honda Classic. The Honda Classic has something for every fan, including first-rate public sitting areas, several on-site public events, and a large selection of food and drink options.
To play in the 2022 Honda Classic this February, fan favorites Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler, and Tommy Fleetwood are among the first early committments. The three athletes will compete against a top-notch competition that already includes Louis Oosthuizen, Lee Westwood, Gary Woodland, and others.
Where is The Honda Classic Played?
The Honda Classic has its permanent home at the PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens since 2007. Although the club has five magnificent 18-hole courses, The Honda Classic is always played on the unique Champion Course. After undergoing a renovation in 2014, the course is now renowned for “The Bear Trap,” a difficult three-hole stretch created by none other than Jack Nicklaus, the Golden Bear.
How Do I Get Honda Classic Tickets?
Golf fans have a range of alternatives for watching the best golfers in the world compete thanks to ticket sales. There are no capacity limitations at this time, and all tickets and parking cards will be digital. Tickets can be ordered online or over the phone at 1-844-846-6328.
The Honda Classic, in collaboration with Pratt & Whitney, is giving away free tickets to Active Duty, Reservists, Retirees, their registered Dependents, and Non-Retired Veterans from Thursday through Sunday of tournament week in appreciation of the people who have served our country and are still doing so.
Parking Options
The following parking choices are available to event attendees: General Parking ($10), Ballenisles Parking ($25), or PGA of America Lot ($50). You can also utilize a ridesharing service like Uber and be dropped off and/or picked up at our designated UBER spot. Here is more information on parking.
Make Sure to Check Out Palm Beach Gardens
Check see Palm Beach Gardens in between watching the golfers. With a retail environment that rivals golf, shop like a pro. While the outdoor Downtown Gardens offers boutiques and eateries, the Gardens Mall features upscale department stores and designer brands ready for the runway. At PGA Commons, Mainstreet at Midtown, and Legacy Place, there is still more shopping to be done. All of these locations can be found along PGA Boulevard, which serves as Palm Beach Gardens’ main thoroughfare and can be reached from either I-95 or the Florida Turnpike.
Why are the golfers at The Honda Classic 2022 sporting yellow ribbons?
The “Play Yellow” motif was influenced by the yellow shirts Nicklaus frequently wore during tournament final rounds in support of Craig Smith, a close friend’s son who was battling bone cancer. At the age of 13, Craig passed away in 1971.