The Honda Classic Archives - Golf Digest Middle East

Report: Long-time sponsor Honda to end ties to PGA Tour event in Florida

Golf Digest Middle East — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 06:43:22 +0000

By Tod Leonard
The PGA Tour is losing one of its most loyal and long-standing sponsors.

Honda will end its sponsorship of the tournament played each year in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, after the 2023 Honda Classic, according to a story first reported by Golfweek, which cited multiple sources. The car company has sponsored the event since 1982, making it the longest-running uninterrupted title sponsorship on the PGA Tour.

The work to acquire a new sponsor has begun, tournament director Andrew George told Golfweek. “We’re going to get right to work on solidifying a place for 2024,” George said. “We’re not going to be without title, without an event going forward. The moment is going to continue.”

The PGA Tour has not responded to a request for comment.

The move by Honda comes at a time when the landscape of the PGA Tour schedule is shifting. The Honda Classic, which once boasted strong fields, seemingly has been weakened by its position on the schedule, immediately following the Tiger Woods-hosted Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles. Beginning in 2023, the Genesis will be preceded by an ‘elevated’ WM Phoenix Open with a larger purse and elite field. The tour moves on to Riviera and then across the country to the Honda at PGA National. The popular Arnold Palmer Invitational is the week after the Honda, and the Players Championship follows after that.

As noted by Golfweek, only five of the top 50 players in the World Ranking played in the 2021 event, with 12 competing this year. The tournament’s $8.4 million purse is among the lowest of any PGA Tour events played in the US.

The tournament dates back to 1972 and has been played at PGA National since 2007. The Children’s Healthcare Charity has been the host organisation and the primary charitable beneficiary is the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation.

Sepp Straka won the 2022 Honda Classic, beating Shane Lowry by one shot.

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Let’s project when Tiger Woods will make his return to golf

Golf Digest Middle East — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 04:29:53 +0000

By Sam Weinman

It is inevitable when hearing that Tiger Woods has been cleared by doctors to resume full practice to start thinking about when we might actually see him play competitive golf again. Is this dangerously premature seeing how he hasn’t played a tournament in eight months? Sure. Didn’t his agent Mark Steinberg just say that the 14-time major champion would take things slow as a precaution? Maybe.

But in the event Woods’ practice goes better than expected, he starts getting restless, and decides he’s ready to take on all comers, we might as well consider some of his options.

Option 1: Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, Las Vegas, Nov. 2-5.

Odds of this happening: Slimmer than Charles Howell III on a juice diet.

Woods will have presumably only been practicing for a couple of weeks, and there will be plenty of rust to contend with. On the plus side, this is an event he won way back in 1996, and he might be motivated to reprise this photo.

Option 2: Hero World Challenge, Bahamas, Nov. 30-Dec. 3

Odds of this happening: About as likely as a reunion with Stevie.

It still feels really early, and right now, Woods isn’t on the field list (which consists of only 18 players, by the way). Then again, this is HIS event, there’s no cut, and even if he chops away around to a 72-hole total of 10-over par, he’d still be guaranteed a top 20.

US PGA TOUR

Option 3: Farmers Insurance Open, San Diego, Jan. 25-28

Odds of this happening: Crazier things have happened

There’s a level of comfort at Torrey Pines for Woods, where he’s won seven times as a pro, including the 2008 U.S. Open. But that record can also be a deterrent seeing how it elicits unreasonable comparisons to his former self. This happened last year, when Woods played his only two official rounds on the PGA Tour and missed the cut by a mile.

Icon Sportswire

Option 4: The Honda Classic, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Feb. 22-25, 2018

Odds of this happening: Less likely.

On one hand, it’s a home game for Woods, and he’s won here as well, so one could see why PGA National might be appealing. The reason it wouldn’t be appealing? It’s consistently among the toughest courses on the PGA Tour, with enough looming water to perhaps send shivers down Woods’ recently-fused back.

Option 5: Arnold Palmer Invitational, Orlando, Fla., March 15-18, 2018

Odds of this happening: Marginally decent.

Bay Hill too has been kind to Woods, where he’s won eight times, so there are many of the inherent benefits and drawbacks he’d also face at Torrey Pines. Working in the tournament’s favor is it’s a manageable five months away, and it will be a chance to honor the memory of the tournament’s late namesake.

Option 6: The Masters, Augusta, Ga., April 5-8, 2018

Odds of this happening: Also decent, if ill-advised.

One would think that if Woods was in good enough shape play the Masters, he would also be well enough to get a tune-up in at an event like Bay Hill first. Strangely, though, Woods has taken this route before. In 2010, he opted for Augusta to be the site of his return to golf after a self-imposed exile in the wake of his sex scandal. Even as recently as 2015, Woods missed two months due to injury and decided to make the Masters the site of his return. It might not be the most prudent way to prepare for a major championship, but Woods has proven he’s not afraid to jump in cold.

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Tiger Woods’ former coach: Woods “unlikely” to regain form

Golf Digest Middle East — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 06:38:15 +0000

By Joel Beall

It’s been an inauspicious week for Tiger Woods’ ongoing return. The former No. 1 fired a first-round 77 at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and withdrew from second-round play due to back spasms, developments so dour that Vegas released odds regarding Woods’ possible retirement. Also adding to the sorrow: Butch Harmon. In an interview with Sky Sports, Tiger’s former coach sounded skeptical on the 14-time major winner’s prospects.

“I’d like to say yes, but it doesn’t seem likely at the moment,” Harmon said to Sky Sports, regarding Woods’ chances to regain his heyday form. “Tiger is 41 years old, he’s had three back surgeries and four knee surgeries, and the young kids on Tour right now are playing better and better.”

According to Harmon, the biggest goal for Woods should be health, and judging by a slower swing speed, he’s far from 100 percent.

“Are we ever going to see him playing at the heights he did back in the early 2000s? Probably not, but the main thing he has to do right now is somehow get himself healthy,” Harmon said. “He’s been off for almost a year and a half, and now he’s come back but he still can’t finish a tournament. To me, that’s not a good sign.”

Not that Harmon — who was with Woods for eight major titles — isn’t pulling for Tiger. But Harmon appears to be accepting reality.

“We all want to see him playing well again, but right now I’m concerned that someone I have admired for so long, and who I believe is the best player who ever lived, might not be able to play at any kind of level again,” he remarked.

After an off week, Woods is scheduled to appear at the Genesis Open and Honda Classic.

Photo by Kristina Nabieva

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Tiger Woods confirmed for Omega Dubai Desert Classic

Kent Gray — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 13:49:45 +0000

Dubai, UAE (January 5, 2017) — Tiger Woods has added the 28^th Omega Dubai Desert Classic to the most anticipated, and suddenly surprisingly hectic, comeback in all of sports.

In a major coup for tournament organiser ‘golf in DUBAi’, the 14-time major champion has been confirmed to headline the February 2-5 Desert Swing finale at Emirates Golf Club.

It will be Woods’ eighth appearance at the $2.65 million European Tour event on the Majlis course where he captured the famed silver coffee pot in 2006 and 2008 and has three other top 5s.

Woods’ undisclosed Dubai deal, first floated by Golf Digest Middle East as a real possibility on December 14, means the former world No.1 will play four events in a five-week stretch, a fast and furious start to 2017 that contradicts the cotton wool comeback many had anticipated following 15 months on the sidelines.

The 41-year-old will tee it up in Dubai a week after his 2017 bow at the Farmers’ Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego from January 26-29. He has also committed to two other PGA Tour starts as his comeback from multiple back surgeries begins to take shape: the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club in California (February 16-19) and The Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida (February 23-26).

Emirates GC is a favoured hunting ground of Woods’ who is a combined 92-under par for the 28 career rounds on the Majlis since his debut at Emirates GC in 2001.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing in Dubai and it’s fantastic to see how the city has grown phenomenally from when I first started playing there,” said Woods who will attempt to join South African Ernie Els as just the second three-time winner of the “Major of the Middle East”.

“I still remember making that long putt on the 18th [a 25-footer in 2008 to pip Martin Kaymer by a stroke]. That was nice. Also, I remember I shot three straight 64s, but only two of them were counted because one was in the Pro-Am. That was the year (2001) when I finished runner-up to Thomas (Bjorn).

“When you win in Dubai, you know you’ve beaten an outstanding field. The support from the fans is also just wonderful.”

The fans are sure to play the mutual appreciation game with Woods’ return transforming what shaped as a bog standard Desert Classic (in relative terms given the quality of fields consistently assembled in Dubai), into another box office hit.

Woods will join world No.2 Rory McIlroy, reigning Open champion Henrik Stenson and defending Desert Classic and U.S. Masters champion Danny Willett in a stellar field that has suddenly trumped the Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, McIlroy, Stenson and Willett-headlined Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship (January 19-22) for potential pulling power.

Woods produced a sizzling 65 in the final round to win the 2008 tournament with a -14 total of 274 – Getty Images

Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice chairman and CEO of ‘golf in DUBAi’, acknowledged Woods’ return was a boon for the Desert Classic with the collective glare of the golfing world set to be focused on Woods’ every move at Emirates GC.

TV viewership figures skyrocketed when Woods made his return at his own Hero World Challenge last month, up 190 percent on Thursday compared to the previous year’s Tiger-less opening round, while the final round was the most viewed Q4 round in Golf Channel history.

But while he made the most birdies (24) during rounds of 73-65-70-76 in the Bahamas, his much-trumpeted comeback was contextualised by a 15^th placing in a 18-strong field reduced to 17 when Justin Rose withdrew with a back injury. It was also on a course that wasn’t set up anywhere near as tough as a regular PGA Tour layout, let alone a major championship venue.

Indeed, much competitive ring-rust must be shed before a fairer indication of Woods’ ability to add to his 79 PGA Tour wins and close in on Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors can be ascertained, ensuring global interest in his San Diego bow and Dubai return.

SEE ALSO:
Tiger’s Classic timeline

“We are naturally delighted and proud that Tiger Woods is joining us for the 2017 Omega Dubai Desert Classic and, like every one, I also look forward to seeing his trademark fist-pumps,” Buamaim said.

“Having one of the world’s greatest golfers play in your event is something many tournament organisers dream of, so for us to be able to welcome him to the Majlis Course for the eighth time is a major boost for golf in the Middle East, especially Dubai.

“Tiger has always been a great ambassador for golf in Dubai, having spoken highly of the city and the tournament during his visits here. I am confident his presence will create a global buzz as always, giving a fresh impetus to tourism in the city. After all, he is Tiger Woods for a reason, one who transcends all races, ages and genders.”

Also confirmed are Ryder Cup veterans Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood, European’s outgoing and incoming Ryder Cup captain’s Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn, 2016 DP World Tour Championship winner Matthew Fitzpatrick and fellow Hazeltine Ryder Cup debutants Chris Wood, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Andy Sullivan and Thomas Pieters.

‘golf in DUBAi’ CEO Mohamed Juma Buamaim is flanked by Woods and 2004 champion Mark O’Meara after the U.S. duo won the Challenge Match Trophy during the 2011 Omega Dubai Desert Classic. – Getty Images

Ryder Cup talisman Ian Poulter is also poised to continue his comeback from an injury-plagued 2016 on the Majlis while there will be much interest in the performance of Dubai born and bred 17-year-old Indian amateur Rayhan Thomas and 20-year-old Australian Curtis Luck.

The bearded Luck has secured starts in three of this year’s four majors after winning the U.S. and Asia Pacific Amateur championships as well as his first pro title, the Western Australia Open on the PGA Tour of Australasia, last year.

Tickets to the 28^th Omega Dubai Desert Classic, AED 175 for each of the championship days or AED 695 for a season pass – are available for purchase at www.dubaidesertclassic.com/tickets

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