In a state loaded with golf courses and home to the PGA Tour’s Florida Swing, only one county with 160 golf courses can boast three professional tournaments. In the grand scheme of things, Palm Beach County can be considered the Golf Capital of the World, but suffice it to say, it is definitely the Golf Capital of Florida. In the span of 114 days, starting this week, the county will host an event on each of the three major tours.
The trifecta starts at the amazing Broken Sound Old Course in Boca Raton the first weekend in November where an elite field of Champions Tour players will compete at the TimberTech Championship, the last event before the season ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship. Darren Clarke will defend as last year’s champion while 64-year-old Hall of Famer Bernhard Langer, a Boca Raton resident, leads the Champions tour earnings list. Langer is the only player to win the TimberTech twice in the championship’s 15-year history and was second to Clarke last year.
The action stays in Boca Raton when the Gainbridge LPGA comes to town January 27-30, 2022 with Nelly Korda defending her crown at the beautiful Robert Von-Hagge designed Boca Rico Golf Club. Finally area fans will be allowed to view the world’s best ladies compete again in a full-field event.
“I love an event where you can stay at home,” said local resident and 3-time LPGA winner Austin Ernst, a member of the U.S. Solheim Cup team. “It just makes the week a lot easier.”
“What moves the needle for us is the hours and hours of network coverage to a worldwide audience, with millions of eyeballs seeing our city in all its glory,” said Scott Singer, Mayor of Boca Raton.
Then, area fans get their last look at the world’s best golfers when the PGA TOUR’s Honda Classic returns to the newly remodeled PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens the last weekend in February, the 24th thru the 27th. According to the PGA, there will be no restrictions on the number of spectators this year which is good news for the players who thrive on the crowd’s excitement, and the local charities who count on the more than $7 million the three tours combine to donate. Australian Matt Jones will defend his 2021 title versus a much improved field of top players.
This year the Honda leads the ‘Florida Swing’ rather than being stuck between the Player’s and World Golf Championship in March last year, which will lure the better players to participate on the Nicklaus designed Champions course. Even long time California resident Phil Mickelson has purchased a home in Jupiter which should prompt 50 year-old ‘Lefty’ to play both the TimberTech and the Honda. Expect more big names like McIlroy, Koepka, Thomas and Johnson to play while sleeping in their own homes in the evening as well.
Hosting events on all three of major tours doesn’t happen as often as you might think. Prior to 2020, the last time it happened was 2008.
To learn more about Palm Beach County golf, please visit https://discover.pbcgov.org/parks/golf/Pages/default.aspx.
