Major economic impact expected from Tiger Woods appearance in The Honda Classic

An appearance by Tiger Woods at The Honda Classic in March is expected to deliver a major economic boost to Palm Beach County and the surrounding region.

More than 110,000 people attended the golf tournament last year and more than $30 million was pumped into the local economy.

Early estimates suggested those figures could grow by 25 percent with Woods at The Honda Classic.

"It creates more jobs," said Joel Paige, vice president and managing director of PGA National Resort & Spa. "Tourism is obviously a big part of Palm Beach business. It really is kind of a win-win for everybody when we get busy like this [because] it just stays right here in the community."

Owners of businesses near there, who already see an increase in profits during the golf tournament, expected  a substantial increase in business in March.

"We expect to have a lot of players and a lot of player's wives in here during the Classic," said Russell Beverstein, owner of Russell's Blue Water Grill, in the 2400 block of PGA Boulevard. "There are people in town looking to have great food [and] looking to have a good time. We're excited and we're getting ready."

Paige, of PGA National Resort & Spa, expected the boost from The Honda Classic to continue through the second half of the year.