Welcome to CaddyBytes' coverage of the Cognizant Classic, a premier Florida Swing event played at the demanding PGA National Resort. Formerly the Honda Classic, this tournament is famous for the legendary “Bear Trap” and its reputation as one of the Tour’s toughest tests.
Featuring a full field of 144 players, the Champion Course challenges golfers with strategic water hazards and relentless pressure, making it a key stop for players building momentum toward the season’s first major championships.
With a history dating back to 1972, past champions include Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller, Hale Irwin, and more recently Sepp Straka, Chris Kirk, and Matt Jones, cementing its status as a classic on the PGA Tour schedule.
Beyond competition, the Cognizant Classic supports South Florida charities, including children’s healthcare initiatives, blending elite golf with meaningful community impact.
Cognizant Classic
2026 Cognizant Classic
Tournament Details
Date: February 24-27, 2026
Location: PGA National Resort, FL
Field: 144 PGA Tour professionals
Home of the infamous "Bear Trap"
Tournament DetailsCognizant Classic History (1972 - Present)
2026 Cognizant Classic
Upcoming Event
PGA National Resort
Full field of 144 PGA Tour players
$9 million purse
500 FedExCup points to winner
2025 Cognizant Classic
Recent Champion
PGA National Resort
Part of PGA Tour's Florida Swing
Features the famous "Bear Trap"
500 FedExCup points to winner
2020s Cognizant Classic
Modern Champions
PGA National Resort
Chris Kirk won in 2023
Sepp Straka champion in 2022
Matt Jones won in 2021
2010s Cognizant Classic
Memorable Victories
PGA National Resort
Keith Mitchell won in 2019
Justin Thomas champion in 2018
Rickie Fowler won in 2017
2000s Cognizant Classic
Tournament Growth
Various Florida Venues
Padraig Harrington won twice (2005, 2015)
Event moved to PGA National in 2007
Ernie Els champion in 2008
Tournament Format
Full-Field Event
144 Players Compete
72-hole stroke play format
Top 65 and ties make the cut
Full FedExCup points awarded
Challenging Venue
PGA National Resort
Champion Course
Home of the famous "Bear Trap"
Course Details:
Par 70, 7,140 yards
The Bear Trap
Infamous Stretch
Holes 15-17
Three of golf's toughest holes
Named for Jack Nicklaus
Water hazards on every shot
Historic Champions
Legendary Winners
Golf Greats
Jack Nicklaus won in 1977
Johnny Miller champion in 1980
Hale Irwin won in 1981
The Cognizant Classic Legacy
The Cognizant Classic has established an impressive legacy as one of the PGA Tour's most challenging and charitable events since its inception in 1972. Originally known as the Honda Classic, the tournament has evolved through various sponsors and venues before finding its permanent home at PGA National Resort in 2007, where it has grown into one of the premier events on the Florida Swing.
The tournament's unique identity is defined by the infamous "Bear Trap" - holes 15 through 17 on the Champion Course, which represent one of the most difficult three-hole stretches in professional golf. This challenging finish, combined with PGA National's demanding layout and plentiful water hazards, creates a tournament where precision and nerve are tested as much as skill, often producing dramatic Sunday finishes that have become a hallmark of the event.
Beyond the competition, the Cognizant Classic's charitable impact represents one of professional golf's most significant community contributions. The tournament serves as a major fundraiser for children's healthcare initiatives in South Florida, with proceeds benefiting the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation and other local organizations. This commitment to improving children's health has made the event not just a golf tournament, but a vital community resource that has raised millions for worthy causes.
As the tournament continues to thrive under its new sponsorship with Cognizant, it maintains its core identity as both a supreme test of golf and a powerful force for good. The event's challenging course design, combined with its substantial charitable impact and its position as a key Florida Swing event, has made the Cognizant Classic a model for how professional golf can simultaneously showcase elite competition while creating lasting positive change in local communities.