Cognizant Classic has a new presenting sponsor and another name change
The Palm Beaches have joined the Cognizant Classic as a presenting sponsor, which has forced another name change for the PGA Tour event.
The tournament now is the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches, its fourth name in less than a year, or since American Honda ended the longest-running uninterrupted title sponsorship deal of a PGA Tour event following the 2023 tournament.
The partnership with the PGA Tour consists of the Palm Beach County Tourist Developmental Council, Palm Beach County Sports Commission and Discover The Palm Beaches. The PGA Tour's Championship Management division now is running the event.
"The support from this community and all of its constituents has played an incredible role in the longtime success of the tournament," Cognizant Executive Director Joie Chitwood said. "And we are excited to work closely with everyone to deliver a tremendous experience for our fans in 2024."
Cognizant will be held Feb. 29-March 3 at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens. The PGA Tour announced Tuesday that the purse will increase to $9 million, up from $8.4 million in 2023.
Last month, Cognizant was named title sponsor for the event that was sponsored by Honda for 42 years. The tournament made its PGA Tour debut in 1972 as the Jackie Gleason Inverrary Classic and was held in Lauderhill. It has been played on the Champion Course at PGA National since 2007.
"Palm Beach County lives up to its reputation in every way possible as Florida’s premier travel destination and every golfer’s dream destination," Palm Beach County Mayor Maria Sachs said in a release. "We are pleased to be a presenting sponsor for such an important event and economic driver for our county."
The final Honda Classic distributed a record $7.2 million to more than 100 South Florida philanthropic organizations and nearly $70 million in charitable contributions during American Honda’s time as title sponsor.
Last year's tournament, won by Chris Kirk in a playoff over Delray Beach's Eric Cole, was the last as the Honda Classic. It became the Classic in the The Palm Beaches until a title sponsor was signed. After Cognizant signed a six-year deal last month, it briefly was known as the Cognizant Classic.
Cognizant is an IT and consulting company that helps businesses modernize technology. Its headquarters are in Teaneck, New Jersey, and it has 66 offices and retail locations throughout the U.S., including Tampa.
As a global partner of the Presidents Cup and a title partner of the LPGA Tour’s Founders Cup, Cognizant has experience in the golf sponsorship business.
The Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation will remain the primary charitable beneficiary of the event, which it has been since 2007.
“This is a significant and well-aligned partnership for us with the PGA Tour as the Palm Beaches are recognized as Florida’s Golf Capital and a world-renowned golf destination,” said Milton Segarra, president and CEO of Discover The Palm Beaches. “This tournament is a part of the history and DNA of PGA National Resort and of the Palm Beaches and we want to ensure that this legacy endures.”
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Another name change for Cognizant Classic after Palm Beaches join as sponsor
