NEWS

Rory headlines Honda Classic field

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PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Officials with The Honda Classic are calling this year's field the best ever.

Sixteen of the top 25 players in the world are entered in the Feb. 26-March 1 event on the PGA National Resort & Spa's Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens.

Leading the way is world No. 1 Rory McIlroy.

"I think the word continues to spread around the PGA Tour that this is a special event that kicks off the Florida swing," Honda Classic Executive Director Ken Kennerly said. "Each year, more players are deciding to come and be a part of it."

Other top 25 players in the field include Sergio Garcia (7), Justin Rose (8), Martin Kaymer (11), Rickie Fowler (12) Hideki Matsuyama (14), Patrick Reed (15), Victor Dubuisson (16), Billy Horschel (17), Phil Mickelson (18), Brooks Koepka (19), Graeme McDowell (20), Dustin Johnson (21), Zach Johnson (22), Chris Kirk (23) and Jamie Donaldson (25).

Other notable top 50 players entered are Lee Westwood (27), Charl Schwartzel (30), Ian Poulter (35), Keegan Bradley (37), Luke Donald (46), Louis Oosthuizen (47) and Jason Dufner (tied for 49).

Back to defend his title is 2014 winner Russell Henley.

On Thursday, Martin County resident Tiger Woods -- ranked No. 66 -- announced he would not play in the event.

Hobe Sound's Freddie Jacobson (No. 101), Stuart native Derek Fathauer (No. 196) and Palm City's Ken Duke (No. 299) also are entered.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

MONDAY

--12:30-5 p.m.: Miami Dolphins Pro-Am

TUESDAY

--7 a.m. to 6 p.m.: PGA Tour professionals practice rounds (Champion Course)

--4 p.m.: Junior Golf Clinic with Dennis Walters

WEDNESDAY

--7 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Gold Pro-Am (Champion Course)

THURSDAY

--7 a.m.: The Honda Classic, first round

--6-9 p.m.: After Play Concert Series (Michelob Ultra Terrace)

FRIDAY

--7 a.m.: The Honda Classic, second round

--6-9 p.m.: After Play Concert Series (Michelob Ultra Terrace)

--7:30 p.m.: Fireworks

SATURDAY

--9 a.m.: The Honda Classic, third round

--Noon to 8 p.m.: Kids Club

--6-8 p.m.: Dance Party

--6-9 p.m.: After Play Concert Series (Michelob ULTRA Terrace)

--7:30 p.m.: Fireworks

MARCH 1

--9 a.m.: The Honda Classic, final round

--6 p.m.: Awards ceremony (18th Green)

THE HONDA CLASSIC FIELD

Robert Allenby, Woody Austin, Sang-Moon Bae, Blayne Barber, Ricky Barnes, Charlie Beljan, Daniel Berger, Thomas Bjorn, Zac Blair, Jonas Blixt, Jason Bohn, Keegan Bradley, Scott Brown, Angel Cabrera, Chad Campbell, Paul Casey, Alex Cejka, Stewart Cink, Erik Compton, Ben Crane, Jon Curran, Brian Davis, Brendon de Jonge, Graham DeLaet, Jamie Donaldson, Luke Donald, Victor Dubuisson, Jason Dufner, Ken Duke, Ernie Els, Harris English, Derek Ernst, Matt Every, Derek Fathauer, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano, Tony Finau, Martin Flores, Rickie Fowler, Oscar Fraustro, Stephen Gallacher, Sergio Garcia, Brice Garnett, Robert Garrigus, Lucas Glover, Fabian Gomez, Andres Gonzales, Retief Goosen, Luke Guthrie, Chesson Hadley, Adam Hadwin, Brian Harman, Padraig Harrington, Dudley Hart, David Hearn, Russell Henley, Jim Herman, Justin Hicks, Morgan Hoffmann, Tom Hoge, Max Homa, Billy Horschel, Charles Howell III, John Huh, Billy Hurley III, Ryo Ishikawa, Freddie Jacobson, Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson, Martin Kaymer, Jerry Kelly, Chris Kirk, Kevin Kisner, Colt Knost, Russell Knox, Brooks Koepka, Jason Kokrak, Scott Langley, Danny Lee, Marc Leishman, Spencer Levin, David Lingmerth, Jamie Lovemark, Joost Luiten, Will MacKenzie, Ben Martin, Hideki Matsuyama, Graeme McDowell, William McGirt, Rory McIlroy, George McNeill, Phil Mickelson, Francesco Molinari, Seung-Yul Noh, Sean O'Hair, Louis Oosthuizen, Carlos Ortiz, Jeff Overton, Ryan Palmer, John Peterson, Carl Pettersson, Scott Piercy, D.A. Points, Ian Poulter, Andrew Putnam, Patrick Reed, Kyle Reifers, Jim Renner, Patrick Rodgers, Andres Romero, Justin Rose, Rory Sabbatini, Paul Scaletta, Charl Schwartzel, Vijay Singh, Scott Stallings, Brendan Steele, Shawn Stefani, Robert Streb, Chris Stroud, Brian Stuard, Daniel Summerhays, Andrew Svoboda, Hudson Swafford, Justin Thomas, Michael Thompson, Nicholas Thompson, David Toms, Cameron Tringale, Bo Van Pelt, Jhonattan Vegas, Scott Verplank, Camilo Villegas, Nick Watney, Boo Weekley, Mike Weir, Lee Westwood, Tim Wilkinson, Mark Wilson, Y.E. Yang

Alternates: Mark Hubbard, Jarrod Lyle, Chad Collins, Heath Slocum, Byron Smith, S.J. Park, Cameron Percy, Steve Alker, Bill Lunde, Eric Axley.

This article was from Treasure Coast Newspapers, Stuart, Fla. and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.