Official PGA TOUR Essential Guide to Golf: December 2020 - May 2021

Page 124

TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW

MARCH 18-21, 2021

The Honda Classic

Location & Course Information

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA. PGA NATIONAL RESORT & SPA (CHAMPION)

Notable Course Features

2020 Champion

Sungjae Im, South Korea

Quick Facts

Field: 144 players Format: 72 holes stroke play Purse: $7 million Winner’s Share: $1,260,000 FedExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Charity Benefit

The Honda Classic donated a record $5.35 million in 2020 to 103 South Florida philanthropic organizations. It included a $1.4 million grant to the tournament’s main beneficiary, the Nicklaus Children’s Healthcare Foundation.

Media Coverage

“After being so close so many weeks and having a bunch of top-10s, using that experience this week was big.” — Sungjae Im

HOW SUNGJAE IM WON

Sungjae Im moved into contention with birdies on four of the first five holes of the final round and claimed the victory with birdies on the two par-3 holes of “The Bear Trap,” Nos. 15 and 17. The 21-year-old shot a closing 66 to come from three strokes behind, surging out of a four-way tie for the lead with his late birdies.  Im ranked first in Strokes Gained: Tee-toGreen (3.072 per round) and T2 in Greens in Regulation Percentage (69.44).  Im had seven birdies in the final round and his 19 for the week tied for the most birdies.

Player

Pos

1

2

Sungjae Im

1

72

Mackenzie Hughes

2

71

Tommy Fleetwood

3

70

68

Byeong Hun An

T4

76

66

Social Media

@TheHondaClassic @thehondaclassic @thehondaclassic

PGA TOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE DECEMBER 2020 – MAY 2021

T41 Honda Classic.v4.indd 124

CHECK THIS OUT  At 21 years, 11 months, two days, Sungjae Im became the youngest winner of The Honda Classic, (Rory McIlroy, age 22 in 2012).  Im became the second player from South Korea to win the event, joining Y.E. Yang (2009).  The 2020 Honda Classic was the first nonmajor PGA TOUR event since the 1996 NEC World Series of Golf without any players posting a score of 5-under or better in a round.  Lee Westwood, who was T4 at age 46, was bidding to become the event’s oldest champion (Padraig Harrington, age 43 in 2015).

LEADERBOARD 2020

Golf Channel/NBC

124

20 20

The Champion course is known for a three-hole stretch nicknamed “The Bear Trap” prominently featuring approaches over water. Water guards three sides of the green at the 179-yard 15th and again at the 175-yard 17th. On the 434-yard 16th, water runs the entire length of the hole and must be carried with the second shot.

In his 50th PGA TOUR start, Sungjae Im of South Korea secured his first career PGA TOUR victory. Birdies at two of the final four holes completed his come-from-behind victory at PGA National’s Champion course.

3

4

Total Score

FedExCup Points

Earnings

66

70

66

72

66

66

274/-6

500

$1,260,000

275/-5

300

$763,000

67

71

68

67

276/-4

190

$483,000

277/-3

108.75

$280,000

Daniel Berger

T4

69

70

69

69

277/-3

108.75

$280,000

Brendan Steele

T4

68

67

71

71

277/-3

108.75

$280,000

Lee Westwood

T4

67

69

71

70

277/-3

108.75

$280,000

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

Originally designed by George and Tom Fazio in 1981, The Champion course at PGA National was redesigned by Jack Nicklaus in 1990 and again in 2014. With water in play on 16 holes and strategic bunkering, it is one of the sterner tests on the PGA TOUR. Yardage: 7,125; par 70.

W W W.P GAT OUR.COM

04/01/2021 15:54


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.