The Honda Classic gets underway in February – it is a staple tournament on the PGA Tour for the motor-enthusiast.
The Florida-based event is perhaps the best chance for patrons to gape at the array of stunning supercars that characterise a professional golfer’s garage.
Why is this? Well, the sheer number of Tour players living in nearby Jupiter allows pros to forego the courtesy car and park their own rides at PGA National.
It’s certainly worth having a peek in the clubhouse lot if you can.
Ultimately, many Tour players have millions at their disposal. As such, rare, custom and iconic cars are one of their most popular indulgences.
Here, we take a look at what the pros are driving and the stories behind them.
Ian Poulter
Ian Poulter is one of the most active golfers on social media.
Given that he is an undeniable petrolhead, it is common for the Englishman to show off his stunning car collection – a collection that is largely characterised by his affinity with Ferrari.
After gaining his Tour card in 2000, Poulter told himself that he would buy a Ferrari following his first tournament win. However, when he won the Italian Open in October of the same year, he realised that his winner’s cheque wasn’t quite big enough to realise this dream.
Indeed, it was only by his third tournament win – once again (and fittingly) the Italian Open in 2002 – that he pulled the trigger, purchasing a Ferrari 360.
The ‘Postman’ has revealed that since this first purchase, his love affair with Ferrari grew – as did his car collection.
Of his Ferraris, his haul includes an Enzo, a 550 Barchetta, a Testarossa – Ian’s father’s favourite model – as well as a 275 GTB/4.
His current collection is somewhat of a museum – with Poulter admitting that he only drives his Ferraris (and accompanying motors) sparingly.
However, Poulter recently took another of his Ferrari’s – a 288 GTO – on a stunning road trip from Lyon to Monaco in June, and has confirmed that it is the most enjoyment he’s ever had in one of his cars.
Two LaFerrari’s are perhaps the pinnacle of Poulter’s collection, who has described owning the pair as a dream for a Ferrari fan.
The original LaFerrari, as well as the variant LaFerrari Aperta, are extremely rare – only 499 originals and 200 Aperta’s were ever produced.
Outside of his overwhelming Ferrari obsession, Poulter owns a Ford GT and keeps a Bugatti in his garage on loan from a friend in the industry.
More recently, during the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, he picked up a Mercedes G-wagon V8 BiTurbo to use for the week.
Poulter hosts private client events for his collection, and absolutely loves to show interested parties the fruits of his career earnings.
Rickie Fowler
Rickie Fowler’s love of golf is perhaps only matched by his love of cars – and the colour orange.
The Oklahoma State alum actually grew up racing dirt bikes, and has ridden them since he was 3 years old. His father encouraged Rickie to follow in his footsteps, as he used to ride quads and three-wheels professionally.
Given the choice between riding and golf, Fowler chose the latter. With dirt biking too much of a danger risk to his career, he adapted his passion to include cars.
Fowler now counts track days as the best way for him to get his adrenaline flowing that is both fun, and safe for his career.
His long-time partnership with Mercedes has a big influence on his garage, which includes the practical GLS 63 SUV – particularly useful for tournament trips to the airport and hauling his gear around. Another Mercedes – an AMG GT S – formed part of Rickie’s collection as of last year.
Outside of his Mercs, Fowler has owned a Mitsubishi Evo X the longest. Upon receiving his PGA Tour card, he added a Nissan GT-R and his fondness for it has seen him more recently purchase the R35 and R34 versions.
Though by no means in the same league as Poulter, a Ferrari 458 ensures that the Italian giants are represented in Fowler’s collection.
The American has admitted that he enjoys owning cars with specs that are not commonplace amongst consumers.
His 1966 Mini, for example, has been completely redone – painted matt black with orange wheels to represent his collegiate affinity.
A big F1 fan, Rickie enjoys heading to races whenever possible – a perk of his relationship with the very successful Mercedes and Red Bull brands.
Bubba Watson
Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler both shared leading roles in the PGA’s exclusive charitable boy band ‘Golf Boys’ back in 2011.
They also share a love of cars.
Bubba announced in 2016 that he had purchased 37 cars in 12 years and is now a part-owner of a Chevrolet dealership in Florida.
A car buff from a young age, the most famous purchase Watson has made is a General Lee – one of the 1969 Dodge Chargers used to film the Dukes of Hazzard TV series.
The left-hander bought ‘LEE 1’ in 2012 at an auction in Arizona for $110,000.
In 2015, Bubba was embroiled in controversy surrounding the Confederate flag that was painted on the car.
The two-time Masters champion pledged to paint over the flag with the American iteration, amid ongoing outcry against its symbolism. In June 2015, nine people were killed at a historic black church in Charleston, with the accused gunman having posed in photos with the Confederate battle flag.
Watson said after his round at the Greenbrier Classic in West Virginia that his decision “was the right gesture for me to do”. He also said the American flag sent a statement that everyone is “created equal”.
Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy has Ian Poulter to thank for part of his car collection.
The Northern Irishman bought Poulter’s F12 Ferrari back in 2015, a reality which Poulter indicated was emotional to deal with when he saw it at a consequent tournament.
Still, their relationship seems as strong as ever – the Europeans continuing to collaborate as a pair at the Ryder Cup in France last year.
Although McIlroy’s garage is somewhat of a mystery, it is heavily rumoured that he once owned a Bugatti Veyron, and was pictured driving a $400,000 Lamborghini Aventador in 2013.
In 2015, McIlroy owned a BMW i8, as well as the M6 Gran Coupe courtesy of the same manufacturer. Rory had been given the opportunity to drive the i8 at the BMW Championship in 2014, before snagging his own model a year later.
Indeed, BMW have offered some of their finest contemporary models as hole-in-one prizes during their years with the European Tour.
Here’s a collection of the brilliant aces that have won a new set of car keys:
Which of the above would you most like to own?
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