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10 Amazing Moments from The Honda Classic (now and then)

The Honda Classic is one of the PGA’s signature events. First played in 1972, the Honda Classic is typically the first PGA golf tournament played in Florida each year. The tournament is currently played at the PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. It is the seventh home of the Honda Classic.

Honda Classic Moments
The 2018 event was won by Justin Thomas, who collected $1.2 million in winnings. Thomas is on an incredible roll at the moment. Last year’s PGA Championship winner has continued his excellent play in 2018. His momentum is so strong, it could lead him to another major victory this year.

Thomas had some amazing moments at the Honda Classic 2018. But were any of them good enough to make our list of 10 Amazing Moments from the Honda Classic (now and then)? Let’s find out.

Are you kidding?

From 1984 to 1991, the Honda Classic was played at TPC Eagle Trace. The players hated the course due to the insane high winds that blew across it. Kenny Knox won there in 1986 despite shooting an 80 during one round. The winds and golf were so bad that Greg Norman famously called it a “carnival”. The tournament moved in 1992 to Weston Hills. However, the 1996 edition of the Honda Classic had to be played at Eagle Trace in a one-off. Why was it moved back to Eagle Trace? Weston Hills had two bar mitzvahs schedule the day of the tournament. One party agreed to move, while the other party refused to go. It caused the tournament to be played at Eagle Trace once more and the return of “carnival” golf.

Justin Thomas confronts fan

Thomas won a dramatic playoff against Luke List to win this year’s event. Thomas had to sink a three-foot putt to win the playoff and collect his eighth career PGA Tour win. However, before he stepped up to the putt, Thomas confronted a heckling fan. After taking the fan to task, Thomas preceded to win the tournament in the playoff.

Tiger’s back (we hope)

Tiger Woods showed he may not be finished after all at this year’s event. The golf world has praised his performance in Florida and Woods’ 12th place finish was a positive end to the tournament. Woods led the Honda Classic field in proximity to the hole (29’3″). It’s not vintage Woods, at least not yet.

Tiger attacks a goose

Woods may have had a good tournament, but the goose he hit on the 8th hole didn’t. Woods 3-wood drive hit one of the course’s geese as it casually walked on the fairway. Check out the video.

Making the cut

Ty Tryon has record just one professional golf win since touring pro in 2001. However, Tryon did the unthinkable when he made the cut at the Honda Classic as a 16-year-old high school student that same year.

Was it the shoes?

John Huston won the 1990 edition of the tournament. However, just before Huston took to the course in round 1, he came under fire with the USGA due to his footwear. Huston wore a pair of Weight-Rite golf shoes for the tournament. The shoes were designed to keep a player’s weight on the inside of their feet. Huston wasn’t able to wear the shoes for the Honda Classic as they were seen as “performance enhancing”. He still won the tournament. It was his first professional win.

Knox wins first pro tournament

Kenny Knox won the 1986 edition of the Honda Classic, and his final round, seventh hole tee shot has gone down in history. On the par-3, Knox hit his tee shot into a bunker. He then sent his sand shot onto the green, where it rolled off into a water hazard. Knox took a drop in the bunker and holed his shot for a 4. He completed the entire third round in 45 mph winds.

Rory becomes No. 1

The 2012 tournament came down to Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods. McIlroy was seeking his first ever No. 1 world ranking. Meanwhile, Woods was trying to re-obtain past glories. In the end, McIlroy defeated his rival by two strokes. McIlroy went to No. 1 after the tournament and Woods eventually won three tournaments in the same year.

List puts in great performance

It is no shame that Luke List lost to Justin Thomas in a playoff at the Honda Classic this year. The 11-year golf professional has never won on the PGA Tour. List has made only one cut at a major tournament, and that came over a decade ago when he was an amateur. List finished with a –8 at the Honda Classic. Hopefully, the golf veteran can kick-on in upcoming PGA events.

Alex Noren continues strong play

Sweden’s Alex Noren may be an unknown on the PGA Tour, but the golfer finished third at this year’s Honda Classic. Noren was tied for the tournament lead when he teed off on the 18th hole. His ball snagged on the bunker and he followed it up by missing a birdie once he got on the green. It killed his chance of winning, but it did leave him with third place.

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