Chris Kirk has made history by winning the 2021 Honda Classic and taking home an unprecedented $1,512,000. This is the largest paycheck of his career, which now includes five PGA Tour victories. But it was also a huge Sunday for other players who didn’t pick up a trophy.
Eric Cole, a 34-year-old Tour rookie, made $915,600 in losing to Kirk on the first playoff hole. It was $551K more than he had earned in 14 previous starts this season. Tyler Duncan, who finished solo third, picked up $579,600. He had only made three of 12 cuts this season before the Honda.
Ryan Gerard also made history by competing in his first regular PGA Tour event and pocketing over $400,000. Gerard, 23, earned his way into the event via Monday qualifying. His only other Tour experience came in the form of a missed cut at the 2022 U.S. Open.
Overall, an incredible $9,820,816 was awarded in prize money and FedExCup points at the Honda Classic. This was a huge event for both the Tour and the players, and the large payouts will be a huge help to many of these professional golfers.
Chris Kirk certainly earned his win, but he wasn’t the only one to benefit from this event. The Honda Classic provided a great opportunity for players to gain experience and make money, and the winners and losers alike were certainly grateful for the opportunity.
