Sentry Tournament of Champions

Sentry Tournament of Champions. It is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, traditionally serving as the opening event of the calendar year. Held annually in early January at the Plantation Course at Kapalua on the island of Maui, the event features an exclusive field of tournament winners from the previous season. The competition is known for its scenic oceanfront setting and its role in launching the FedEx Cup season.

History

The event was founded in 1953 as the Tournament of Champions, conceived by legendary sports promoter Fred Corcoran to showcase winners from the previous year. Initially held at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas, it moved to the La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California in 1969. The tournament found a long-term home in 1999 when it relocated to the Plantation Course at Kapalua, a Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore design. This move to Hawaii solidified its identity as a prestigious season-opening celebration for champions, with past winners including icons like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Tiger Woods.

Tournament format

The competition utilizes a stroke play format over 72 holes, with no cut, ensuring all qualified participants play all four rounds. The field is composed exclusively of golfers who won an official PGA Tour event during the preceding calendar year, including winners of the FedEx Cup playoffs and the Players Championship. In recent years, the eligibility criteria were expanded to also include all qualifiers for the previous season's Tour Championship, significantly increasing the field size. The Plantation Course at Kapalua is renowned for its dramatic elevation changes, expansive fairways, and challenging trade winds, creating a unique strategic test.

Winners

The list of champions includes many of the greatest players in golf history. Early dominant figures include Gene Littler, who won the event five times, and Jack Nicklaus, a three-time champion. In the modern era, Tiger Woods has five victories, a record he shares with Littler. Other notable multiple winners are Stuart Appleby, who achieved a historic three-peat from 2004 to 2006, and Dustin Johnson, a two-time champion. Recent winners have featured prominent stars such as Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, and Jon Rahm, highlighting the event's continued status as a premier gathering of elite talent.

Records and statistics

The tournament scoring record of 261 (−31) is held by Cameron Smith, set during his 2022 victory. The lowest single-round score is a 59, achieved by Justin Thomas during the 2017 event. Gene Littler and Tiger Woods share the record for most victories with five each. The largest margin of victory is eight strokes, accomplished by Stuart Appleby in 2005 and matched by Jordan Spieth in 2016. The Plantation Course at Kapalua also holds the distinction of featuring the longest hole on the PGA Tour, the par-5 18th, which measures over 660 yards.

Sponsorship and name changes

The event has undergone several name changes due to evolving sponsorship agreements. For many years, it was known as the Mercedes Championships after Mercedes-Benz became the title sponsor. This was followed by sponsorship from Hyundai Motor Company, leading to the Hyundai Tournament of Champions moniker. In 2018, Sentry Insurance, a company based in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, assumed title sponsorship, creating the current Sentry Tournament of Champions name. These partnerships with major corporations like Sentry Insurance and former backers Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai Motor Company have been crucial for the tournament's substantial purse growth and overall prestige.

Category:Golf tournaments in Hawaii Category:PGA Tour events Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1953