As spring inches closer, the PGA Tour heads to the Sunshine State and begins with a rejuvenated visit to Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
The challenging Champion course at PGA National is the familiar host but with a different name. Don't call it the Honda Classic, the longtime sponsor has departed and the tournament is now the Cognizant Classic.
The new sponsor is getting a nice return on investment in its first year with the strongest field the event has seen in years. Nineteen of the world's top 50 players are entered, led by world No. 2 Rory McIlroy, playing for the first time since 2018. The Ulsterman said last month he'd play more leading up to the Masters and this could be the start of a busy Florida Swing with the Arnold Palmer Invitational next week followed by the Players Championship.
Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire
Also in the field is Rickie Fowler, the 2017 champion, as well as defending champion Chris Kirk and 2022 winner Sepp Straka.
The Champion course is a 7,125-yard par-70 that can give pros fits. You'll hear "Bear Trap" plenty during broadcasts, referring to the three-hole stretch of Nos. 15, 16, 17 that feature two par-3s and a par-4. Water is in play on all three holes and many rounds have been ruined over that stretch.
The winning score has only reached double-digits under par in four of the last 12 years, though Kirk won last year at 14 under.
Here's the preliminary entry list from the PGA Tour.
Commitments to the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches (February 29-March 3) include 2012 champion Rory McIlroy (first start at the event since 2018) and Ryan Palmer, who is making his 500th career start on the PGA TOUR.
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) February 23, 2024
Field: pic.twitter.com/nhazje4noQ
