PGA TOUR

Honda Classic

Site: Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.

Course: PGA National Resort and Spa, Champion Course (7,241 yards, par 70).

Purse: $5.6 million. Winner’s share: $1,008,000.

Television: Golf Channel (Thursday, noon-3 p.m., 5:30-8:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m; Friday, noon-3 p.m., 5:30-8:30 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.) and NBC (Saturday-Sunday, noon-3 p.m.).

Last year: Ernie Els ended a nearly four-year PGA Tour victory drought, beating 2007 winner Luke Donald by a stroke.

Last week: Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy won the Accenture Match Play Championship for the second time in four years, beating England’s Paul Casey 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final.

Notes: Els, 14th in the world ranking, is coming off a quarterfinal loss to Stewart Cink at Dove Mountain. … Erik Compton received a sponsor exemption. Ten months removed from his second heart transplant, he’s playing his first event since daughter Petra’s birth Feb. 22. … Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia also are in the field along with Vijay Singh, Camilo Villegas, Boo Weekley, Fred Couples, Davis Love III, 19-year-old Irishman Rory Mcllory and Hawaii teen Tadd Fujikawa. … In 1992 at Weston Hills, Corey Pavin holed out from 136 yards for eagle to force a playoff with Couples, then won with a birdie on the second extra hole.

LPGA TOUR

HSBC Women’s Champions

Site: Singapore.

Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.

Course: Tanah Merah Country Club, Garden Course (6,547 yards, par 72).

Purse: $2 million. Winner’s share: $300,000.

Television: Golf Channel (Friday, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 2-3 p.m.).

Last year: Lorena Ochoa opened her season with a runaway victory, beating Annika Sorenstam by 11 strokes.

Last week: Ochoa won the Honda LPGA Thailand for her 25th career title, rallying for a three-stroke victory over South Korea’s Hee Young Park.

Notes: Ochoa won five of her first six events last year. … Ochoa and Paula Creamer top the 78-player field along with SBS Open winner Angela Stanford, young South Korean star Jiyai Shin, Suzann Pettersen, Cristie Kerr, Morgan Pressel, Juli Inkster, Natalie Gulbis, Se Ri Pak and Karrie Webb.

CHAMPIONS TOUR

Toshiba Classic

Site: Newport Beach, Calif.

Schedule: Friday-Sunday.

Course: Newport Beach Country Club (6,807 yards, par 72).

Purse: $1.7 million. Winner’s share: $255,000.

Television: Golf Channel (Friday, 3:30-5:30 p.m., 9-11 p.m.; Saturday, 3:30-6:30 p.m., 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m.,; Sunday, 4-6:30 p.m., 9-11:30 p.m.

Last year: German star Bernhard Langer won the first of his three 2008 titles.

Last event: Loren Roberts won The ACE Group Classic on Feb. 22, his second victory in the event in four years.

Notes: Langer won the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship in Hawaii for his fifth senior victory. … In 2004, Tom Purtzer matched the tour record with an opening 60 en route to a one-stroke victory over Morris Hatalsky.

AUSTRALASIA

New Zealand PGA Championship

Site: Christchurch, New Zealand.

Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.

Course: Clearwater Golf Club (7,122 yards, par 72).

Purse: $600,000. Winner’s share: $108,000.

Television: Golf Channel (Saturday-Sunday, 7:30-9:30 a.m.).

Last year: American Darron Stiles closed with a 4-under 68 for a one-stroke victory.

Last week: Australia’s Alistair Presnell won the Moonah Classic in Fingal, Australia.

Notes: New Zealand amateur Danny Lee, the Johnnie Walker Classic winner two weeks ago, is in the field after missing the cut at Moonah Links. Also the U.S. Amateur champion, the 18-year-old Lee plans to turn pro after the Masters.

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