Sentry Tournament of Champions

The Sentry Tournament of Champions is the calendar-year opening tournament of golf’s PGA Tour season, played in Hawaii on the island of Maui. Founded in 1953, the field is restricted to golfers who won a tournament on the tour during the previous calendar year. From 1986 through 2013, it was the opening event of each tour season; the PGA Tour switched to its wrap-around October–September season in the fall of 2013.


THE SKINNY

Location Kapalua, Hawaii
Established 1953, 65 years ago
Course(s) Kapalua Resort
Plantation Course
(1999–present)
Par 73
Length 7,452 yards (6,814 m)
Organized by PGA Tour[1]
Tour(s) PGA Tour
Format Stroke play
Prize fund $6.3 million
Month played January
Tournament record score
Aggregate 261 Ernie Els (2003)
To par −31* Ernie Els (2003)
* PGA Tour record

HISTORY

The Sentry Tournament of Champions is held during the first week of January and, since 1999, has been played over the Plantation Course at the Kapalua Resort near Lahaina on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Unlike most PGA Tour events, it is a par 73 course.

Previous venues have been the Desert Inn Country Club in Las Vegas, Nevada, from the event’s inception until 1966, and the Stardust Country Club, also in Las Vegas, in 1967 and 1968. For the following thirty years, it was played at La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California; it moved from May in 1985 to January in 1986, and relocated to Maui in 1999.

The tournament has had several title sponsors, the first being Mutual of New York (MONY) between 1975 and 1990. After three years of sponsorship by Infiniti, German car maker Mercedes-Benz began a sixteen-year association with the event and the Tournament of Champions name was dropped. In 2010 the tournament entered a new ten-year agreement with Korean broadcasting company Seoul Broadcasting System, with the tournament being renamed as the SBS Championship. Hyundai took over title sponsorship in 2011 with SBS remaining a sponsor. In 2017, SBS became title sponsor again after Hyundai took over title sponsorship of the PGA Tour event at Riviera Country Club. Sentry Insurance signed on as the event’s title sponsor with a five-year agreement starting in 2018.

From 2012 to 2015, the tournament used a Friday–Monday format, joining the Deutsche Bank Championship as the only two PGA Tour events with this format. The format allowed the tournament to have its own day to finish, and not compete against the second day of the NFL Wild Card Playoff round.


TELEVISION

While being played at LaCosta, the weekend rounds were traditionally televised by ABC Sports. However, after moving to Hawai’i in 1999, the time difference was not conducive to network television. The event moved to ABC’s cable partner ESPN for four-round coverage. In 2007, the event moved to four-round coverage on the Golf Channel. In 2012, NBC Sports began showing weekend play, while also producing the new Monday final round for sister network Golf Channel. In 2018, coverage went entirely to the Golf Channel.


WINNERS

Year Player Country Score To par Margin
of victory
Runner(s)-up 1st prize ($)
Sentry Tournament of Champions
2018 1,134,000
SBS Tournament of Champions
2017 Justin Thomas  United States 270 −22 3 strokes Japan Hideki Matsuyama 1,220,000
Hyundai Tournament of Champions
2016 Jordan Spieth  United States 262 −30 8 strokes United States Patrick Reed 1,180,000
2015 Patrick Reed  United States 271 −21 Playoff United States Jimmy Walker 1,140,000
2014 Zach Johnson  United States 273 −19 1 stroke United States Jordan Spieth 1,140,000
2013 Dustin Johnson  United States 203 −16 4 strokes United States Steve Stricker 1,140,000
2012 Steve Stricker  United States 269 −23 3 strokes Scotland Martin Laird 1,120,000
2011 Jonathan Byrd  United States 268 −24 Playoff United States Robert Garrigus 1,120,000
SBS Championship
2010 Geoff Ogilvy (2)  Australia 270 −22 1 stroke South Africa Rory Sabbatini 1,120,000
Mercedes-Benz Championship
2009 Geoff Ogilvy  Australia 268 −24 6 strokes United States Anthony Kim
United States Davis Love III
1,120,000
2008 Daniel Chopra  Sweden 274 −18 Playoff United States Steve Stricker 1,100,000
2007 Vijay Singh  Fiji 278 −14 2 strokes Australia Adam Scott 1,100,000
Mercedes Championships
2006 Stuart Appleby (3)  Australia 284 −8 Playoff Fiji Vijay Singh 1,080,000
2005 Stuart Appleby (2)  Australia 271 −21 1 stroke United States Jonathan Kaye 1,060,000
2004 Stuart Appleby  Australia 270 −22 1 stroke Fiji Vijay Singh 1,060,000
2003 Ernie Els  South Africa 261 −31 8 strokes South Korea K. J. Choi
United States Rocco Mediate
1,000,000
2002 Sergio García  Spain 274 −18 Playoff United States David Toms 720,000
2001 Jim Furyk  United States 274 −18 1 stroke South Africa Rory Sabbatini 630,000
2000 Tiger Woods (2)  United States 276 −16 Playoff South Africa Ernie Els 522,000
1999 David Duval  United States 266 −26 9 strokes United States Mark O’Meara
United States Billy Mayfair
468,000
1998 Phil Mickelson (2)  United States 271 −17 1 stroke United States Mark O’Meara
United States Tiger Woods
306,000
1997 Tiger Woods  United States 202 −14 Playoff United States Tom Lehman 216,000
1996 Mark O’Meara  United States 271 −17 3 strokes England Nick Faldo
United States Scott Hoch
180,000
1995 Steve Elkington (2)  Australia 278 −10 Playoff United States Bruce Lietzke 180,000
1994 Phil Mickelson  United States 276 −12 Playoff United States Fred Couples 180,000
Infiniti Tournament of Champions
1993 Davis Love III  United States 272 −16 1 stroke United States Tom Kite 144,000
1992 Steve Elkington  Australia 279 −9 Playoff United States Brad Faxon 144,000
1991 Tom Kite (2)  United States 272 −16 1 stroke United States Lanny Wadkins 144,000
MONY Tournament of Champions
1990 Paul Azinger  United States 272 −16 1 stroke Australia Ian Baker-Finch 135,000
1989 Steve Jones  United States 279 −9 3 strokes South Africa David Frost
United States Jay Haas
135,000
1988 Steve Pate  United States 202 −14 1 stroke United States Larry Nelson 90,000
1987 Mac O’Grady  United States 278 −10 1 stroke United States Rick Fehr 90,000
1986 Calvin Peete  United States 267 −21 6 strokes United States Mark O’Meara 90,000
1985 Tom Kite  United States 275 −13 6 strokes United States Mark McCumber 72,000
1984 Tom Watson (3)  United States 274 −14 5 strokes United States Bruce Lietzke 72,000
1983 Lanny Wadkins (2)  United States 280 −8 1 stroke United States Raymond Floyd 72,000
1982 Lanny Wadkins  United States 280 −8 3 strokes United States Andy Bean
Australia David Graham
United States Craig Stadler
United States Ron Streck
63,000
1981 Lee Trevino  United States 273 −15 2 strokes United States Raymond Floyd 54,000
1980 Tom Watson (2)  United States 276 −12 3 strokes United States Jim Colbert 54,000
1979 Tom Watson  United States 275 −13 6 strokes United States Bruce Lietzke
United States Jerry Pate
54,000
1978 Gary Player (2)  South Africa 281 −7 2 strokes United States Andy North
United States Lee Trevino
45,000
1977 Jack Nicklaus (5)  United States 281 −7 Playoff United States Bruce Lietzke 45,000
1976 Don January (2)  United States 277 −11 5 strokes United States Hubert Green 45,000
1975 Al Geiberger  United States 277 −11 Playoff South Africa Gary Player 40,000
Tournament of Champions
1974 Johnny Miller  United States 280 −8 1 stroke United States Buddy Allin
United States John Mahaffey
40,000
1973 Jack Nicklaus (4)  United States 276 −12 1 stroke United States Lee Trevino 40,000
1972 Bobby Mitchell  United States 280 −8 Playoff United States Jack Nicklaus 33,000
1971 Jack Nicklaus (3)  United States 279 −9 8 strokes Australia Bruce Devlin
South Africa Gary Player
United States Dave Stockton
33,000
1970 Frank Beard (2)  United States 273 −15 7 strokes United States Billy Casper
England Tony Jacklin
South Africa Gary Player
30,000
1969 Gary Player  South Africa 284 −4 2 strokes United States Lee Trevino 30,000
1968 Don January  United States 276 −8 1 stroke United States Julius Boros 30,000
1967 Frank Beard  United States 278 −6 1 stroke United States Arnold Palmer 20,000
1966 Arnold Palmer (3)  United States 283 −5 Playoff United States Gay Brewer 20,000
1965 Arnold Palmer (2)  United States 277 −11 2 strokes United States Chi-Chi Rodríguez 14,000
1964 Jack Nicklaus (2)  United States 279 −9 2 strokes United States Al Geiberger
United States Doug Sanders
12,000
1963 Jack Nicklaus  United States 273 −15 5 strokes United States Tony Lema
United States Arnold Palmer
13,000
1962 Arnold Palmer  United States 276 −12 1 stroke United States Billy Casper 11,000
1961 Sam Snead  United States 273 −15 7 strokes United States Tommy Bolt 10,000
1960 Jerry Barber  United States 268 −20 4 strokes United States Jay Hebert 10,000
1959 Mike Souchak  United States 281 −7 2 strokes United States Art Wall, Jr. 10,000
1958 Stan Leonard  Canada 275 −13 1 stroke United States Billy Casper 10,000
1957 Gene Littler (3)  United States 285 −3 3 strokes United States Billy Casper
United States Jimmy Demaret
United States Dow Finsterwald
United States Billy Maxwell
10,000
1956 Gene Littler (2)  United States 281 −7 4 strokes United States Cary Middlecoff 10,000
1955 Gene Littler  United States 280 −8 13 strokes United States Jerry Barber
United States Pete Cooper
United States Bob Toski
10,000
1954 Art Wall, Jr.  United States 278 −10 6 strokes United States Al Besselink
United States Lloyd Mangrum
10,000
1953 Al Besselink  United States 280 −8 1 stroke United States Chandler Harper 10,000

MULTIPLE WINNERS

Fourteen men have won the tournament more than once through 2017.

  • 5 wins
    • Jack Nicklaus: 1963, 1964, 1971, 1973, 1977
  • 3 wins
    • Stuart Appleby: 2004, 2005, 2006
    • Gene Littler: 1955, 1956, 1957
    • Arnold Palmer: 1962, 1965, 1966
    • Tom Watson: 1979, 1980, 1984
  • 2 wins
    • Frank Beard: 1967, 1970
    • Steve Elkington: 1992, 1995
    • Don January: 1968, 1976
    • Tom Kite: 1985, 1991
    • Phil Mickelson: 1994, 1998
    • Gary Player: 1969, 1978
    • Lanny Wadkins: 1982, 1983
    • Tiger Woods: 1997, 2000
    • Geoff Ogilvy: 2009, 2010

TOURNAMENT HIGHLIGHTS

  • 1953: Al Besselink wins the inaugural Tournament of Champions (TOC) by one shot over Chandler Harper.
  • 1955: Gene Littler is victorious at the TOC for the first time. He wins by 13 shots over Pete Cooper, Jerry Barber, and Bob Toski.
  • 1957: For the third consecutive year, Gene Littler is victorious at the TOC. He finishes three shots ahead of Billy Casper, Jimmy Demaret, Dow Finsterwald, and Billy Maxwell.
  • 1959: Mike Souchak wins by two shots over Art Wall, Jr. in spite of his shooting a final round 77.
  • 1960: Jerry Barber shoots 268, a TOC tournament mark for its time in Las Vegas. He beats Jay Hebert by four shots.
  • 1962: Arnold Palmer earns his first TOC title. He birdies the 72nd hole to finish one shot ahead of Billy Casper.
  • 1963: Jack Nicklaus wins the TOC for the first time. He finishes five shots ahead of Tony Lema and Arnold Palmer.
  • 1966: Arnold Palmer successfully defends his TOC title by defeating Gay Brewer 69 to 73 in an 18-hole playoff. For Brewer, it’s his second 18-hole playoff loss in a week. In the tournament prior to the TOC, The 1966 Masters Tournament, Brewer was defeated by Jack Nicklaus.
  • 1967: Frank Beard prevents Arnold Palmer from winning a third straight TOC. He holes a seven-foot par putt on the 72nd hole to win by one shot over Palmer.
  • 1969: Gary Player wins in the United States for the first time since his 1965 U.S. Open triumph. He finishes two shots ahead of Lee Trevino.
  • 1972: Bobby Mitchell wins the TOC after he sinks a 20-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a sudden death playoff with Jack Nicklaus.
  • 1973: Jack Nicklaus wins the TOC for a fourth time. He beats Lee Trevino by one shot.
  • 1977: Jack Nicklaus collects his fifth and final TOC title. He birdies the third hole of a sudden death playoff to defeat Bruce Lietzke.
  • 1978: Just like the week previous at Masters, Gary Player comes back from seven shots behind to win. He finishes two shots ahead of Andy North and Lee Trevino.
  • 1980: Tom Watson wins by three shots over Jim Colbert. The original margin of victory was five shots but Watson was penalized two shots by tour officials after he was overheard giving advice to his playing partner Lee Trevino.
  • 1981: Lee Trevino earns his first PGA Tour victory in California. He beats Raymond Floyd by two shots.
  • 1982: Ron Streck comes to the 72nd hole tied with Lanny Wadkins but three putts to seemingly lose by one shot. After play is finished, Streck is assessed a two-shot penalty for moving a tree branch in his face on the 70th hole. The penalty drops Streck into a four-way tie for second along with Andy Bean, David Graham, and Craig Stadler and costs him over $14,000 in prize money.
  • 1985: Tom Kite shoots a first round 64 on his way to a six shot triumph over Mark McCumber.
  • 1986: Calvin Peete shoots a new tournament 72 hole scoring record, 267. He finishes six shots ahead of Mark O’Meara.
  • 1991: Tom Kite wins the TOC for a second time when Lanny Wadkins three putts the 71st hole from just eighteen feet.
  • 1995: Steve Elkington birdies the second hole of a sudden death playoff to defeat Bruce Lietzke. During the tournament’s final round, third round leader John Huston putted a ball into a lake.
  • 1997: Tiger Woods, who would eventually go on to winning PGA Player of the Year for 1997, birdies the first hole of a sudden death playoff to defeat Tom Lehman.
  • 1999: David Duval wins the first edition of the tournament played in Hawaii. He finishes nine shots ahead of Mark O’Meara and Billy Mayfair.
  • 2000: Tiger Woods wins his fifth consecutive PGA Tour event. He sinks a forty-foot birdie putt on the second hole of a sudden death playoff to beat Ernie Els.
  • 2003: Ernie Els shoots a tournament record 261 on his way to an eight-shot victory over Rocco Mediate and K. J. Choi.
  • 2006: Stuart Appleby defeats Vijay Singh on the first hole of a sudden death playoff. In doing so, Appleby joins Gene Littler as the only golfer to win the tournament three consecutive years.
  • 2010: Geoff Ogilvy successfully defends his tournament title. He finishes one shot ahead of Rory Sabbatini.

 


This article uses material from the Wikipedia article “Tournament of Champions (golf)”, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.