McIlroy, Westwood make early commitment to Honda

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PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy will play in the 2012 Honda Classic.

McIlroy, whose brilliant performance at Congressional Country Club is one of the top stories in golf this year, has committed into next year's event through his agent, Chubby Chandler. He has played in the last two Honda Classic events.

Lee Westwood also has been granted an exemption into The 2012 Honda.

"Lee and Rory both like to play the Honda Classic," Chandler said. "I am not sure whether it's the golf course or the fact that it is in between two World Championship events and the guys go over for three straight weeks. And West Palm Beach isn't the worst place to hang out for a week. So I've already committed Lee and Rory to next year's Honda Classic."

The early commitments of McIlroy and Westwood is a continued sign of The Honda Classic's increasing presence on the International golf scene. Both players have a worldwide schedule and play a limited number of PGA TOUR events outside of the major championships.

"It's an endorsement of everything we have tried to accomplish the past five years," Kennerly said. "We set out to make The Honda one of the elite stops in tournament golf and a showcase event for Palm Beach County. When the best players in the world make your event a fixture on their calendar, I think that tells you that you are doing the right things."