Jack Nicklaus remains optimistic about Honda Classic's future despite title sponsor pulling out

The 73-time PGA Tour champion Jack Nicklaus has voiced his views on the prospects for the 73rd Honda Classic tournament. This event, the eighth of the PGA Tour's 2023 season, saw its title sponsor of 40 years, Honda, end its association. Hence, the 2023 edition of the tournament will be the final time the Japanese company will sponsor it.

Nicklaus was interacting with reporters at the PGA National Resort on February 26, 2023, when he presented his outlook.

Nicklaus is a resident of Palm Beach Gardens and his foundation, Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation, has been one of the primary beneficiaries of the PGA Tour event. The golf legend also gave his opinion on the changes in the PGA Tour schedule for next year.

2022 Presidents Cup - Day One (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

The modifications made by the PGA Tour for its 2024 season include reduced fields and the removal of the 36-hole cut. The tournaments are to be reduced to 70-78 player fields with incremented purse sizes and additional FedEx Cup points.

"Next year’s schedule … Pebble and LA are their elevated tournaments,” Nicklaus said. “Phoenix is not. Then they go to Mexico, then they come here. So, we will have players next year. And then they’ve got Bay Hill and Players."

Jack Nicklaus remains optimistic that the Honda Classic will carry on despite its ancillary stature on the PGA Tour.

None of the top 17 golfers of the world took part in the Honda Classic that took place earlier this year. Yet, the 18-time Major champion believes the modified schedule of the PGA Tour for the 2024 season will be instrumental in attracting more players and fans alike.

“The tournament’s going to be just fine. The tournament’s just fine anyway. Look at how this town has supported this event without having a great field. They stayed with it, supported it. I think they’ve done great.”

Jack Nicklaus

Jack Nicklaus refuses to lobby players into playing at the Honda Classic

Jack Nicklaus has maintained his integrity by refusing to lobby players into playing the tournament in southern California. Several top pros on the PGA Tour missed out on the event despite residing near the PGA National.

Niklaus expressed his contempt over the practice of unethically influencing players to join the Honda Classic by saying:

“I didn’t like when people did it to me. If you’re going to play, you’re going to play. If you’re not going to play, you’re not going to play.”

This attitude adds further lustre to the already-legendary stature of The Golden Bear.