Tournament of Champions (golf)

(Redirected from Mercedes Championships)

The Sentry is the calendar-year opening tournament of golf's PGA Tour season, played in Hawaii on the island of Maui.[2] The tournament was founded in 1953; for most of its history the field was restricted to golfers who won a tournament on the tour during the previous calendar year, but players who qualified for the preceding Tour Championship are now invited as well.[3][4] From 1986 through 2013, it was the opening event of each tour season; the PGA Tour switched to its wrap-around season (starting season in September and ending in August) in the fall of 2013. In 2022, Cameron Smith shot the lowest 72 hole to-par score in the history of the PGA Tour (−34) to win the tournament.

The Sentry
Tournament information
LocationKapalua, Hawaii
Established1953
Course(s)Kapalua Resort
(Plantation Course)
Par73
Length7,596 yards (6,946 m)
Organized byPGA Tour[1]
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$20,000,000
Month playedJanuary
Tournament record score
Aggregate258 Cameron Smith (2022)
To par−34[a] as above
Current champion
United States Chris Kirk
Location map
Kapalua Resort is located in Hawaii
Kapalua Resort
Kapalua Resort
Location in Hawaii

History

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The Sentry 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.[3] Hyundai took over title sponsorship in 2011 with SBS remaining a sponsor.[5] In 2017, SBS became title sponsor again after Hyundai took over title sponsorship of the PGA Tour event at Riviera Country Club.[6] Sentry Insurance signed on as the event's title sponsor with a five-year agreement starting in 2018,[7] later extended through 2030.[8]

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.

For the 2021 tournament, the PGA Tour announced that the field would be expanded to include the 30 players qualifying for the 2020 Tour Championship in addition to tournament winners during the 2020 calendar year. The change was made following the cancellation of ten tournaments due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] The 2022 edition reverted to the usual winners-only field, but the addition of Tour Championship qualifiers was made permanent in 2023.[4] The tournament had a name change for 2024 as a result, dropping the traditional Tournament of Champions name again.

Television

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While being played at LaCosta, the weekend rounds were traditionally televised by ABC Sports. However, after moving to Hawaii 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. Starting in 2018, Thursday-Sunday coverage split between Golf Channel and NBC, with the latter picking up weekend coverage when not in conflict with the network's broadcasts of NFL playoff games.[10]

Winners

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Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up Winner's
share ($)
The Sentry
2024   Chris Kirk 263 −29 1 stroke   Sahith Theegala 3,600,000
Sentry Tournament of Champions
2023   Jon Rahm 265 −27 2 strokes   Collin Morikawa 2,700,000
2022   Cameron Smith 258 −34 1 stroke   Jon Rahm 1,476,000
2021   Harris English 267 −25 Playoff   Joaquín Niemann 1,340,000
2020   Justin Thomas (2) 278 −14 Playoff   Patrick Reed
  Xander Schauffele
1,340,000
2019   Xander Schauffele 269 −23 1 stroke   Gary Woodland 1,300,000
2018   Dustin Johnson (2) 268 −24 8 strokes   Jon Rahm 1,260,000
SBS Tournament of Champions
2017   Justin Thomas 270 −22 3 strokes   Hideki Matsuyama 1,220,000
Hyundai Tournament of Champions
2016   Jordan Spieth 262 −30 8 strokes   Patrick Reed 1,180,000
2015   Patrick Reed 271 −21 Playoff   Jimmy Walker 1,140,000
2014   Zach Johnson 273 −19 1 stroke   Jordan Spieth 1,140,000
2013   Dustin Johnson 203[b] −16 4 strokes   Steve Stricker 1,140,000
2012   Steve Stricker 269 −23 3 strokes   Martin Laird 1,120,000
2011   Jonathan Byrd 268 −24 Playoff   Robert Garrigus 1,120,000
SBS Championship
2010   Geoff Ogilvy (2) 270 −22 1 stroke   Rory Sabbatini 1,120,000
Mercedes-Benz Championship
2009   Geoff Ogilvy 268 −24 6 strokes   Anthony Kim
  Davis Love III
1,120,000
2008   Daniel Chopra 274 −18 Playoff   Steve Stricker 1,100,000
2007   Vijay Singh 278 −14 2 strokes   Adam Scott 1,100,000
Mercedes Championships
2006   Stuart Appleby (3) 284 −8 Playoff   Vijay Singh 1,080,000
2005   Stuart Appleby (2) 271 −21 1 stroke   Jonathan Kaye 1,060,000
2004   Stuart Appleby 270 −22 1 stroke   Vijay Singh 1,060,000
2003   Ernie Els 261 −31 8 strokes   K. J. Choi
  Rocco Mediate
1,000,000
2002   Sergio García 274 −18 Playoff   David Toms 720,000
2001   Jim Furyk 274 −18 1 stroke   Rory Sabbatini 630,000
2000   Tiger Woods (2) 276 −16 Playoff   Ernie Els 522,000
1999   David Duval 266 −26 9 strokes   Mark O'Meara
  Billy Mayfair
468,000
1998   Phil Mickelson (2) 271 −17 1 stroke   Mark O'Meara
  Tiger Woods
306,000
1997   Tiger Woods 202[b] −14 Playoff   Tom Lehman 216,000
1996   Mark O'Meara 271 −17 3 strokes   Nick Faldo
  Scott Hoch
180,000
1995   Steve Elkington (2) 278 −10 Playoff   Bruce Lietzke 180,000
1994   Phil Mickelson 276 −12 Playoff   Fred Couples 180,000
Infiniti Tournament of Champions
1993   Davis Love III 272 −16 1 stroke   Tom Kite 144,000
1992   Steve Elkington 279 −9 Playoff   Brad Faxon 144,000
1991   Tom Kite (2) 272 −16 1 stroke   Lanny Wadkins 144,000
MONY Tournament of Champions
1990   Paul Azinger 272 −16 1 stroke   Ian Baker-Finch 135,000
1989   Steve Jones 279 −9 3 strokes   David Frost
  Jay Haas
135,000
1988   Steve Pate 202[b] −14 1 stroke   Larry Nelson 90,000
1987   Mac O'Grady 278 −10 1 stroke   Rick Fehr 90,000
1986   Calvin Peete 267 −21 6 strokes   Mark O'Meara 90,000
1985   Tom Kite 275 −13 6 strokes   Mark McCumber 72,000
1984   Tom Watson (3) 274 −14 5 strokes   Bruce Lietzke 72,000
1983   Lanny Wadkins (2) 280 −8 1 stroke   Raymond Floyd 72,000
1982   Lanny Wadkins 280 −8 3 strokes   Andy Bean
  David Graham
  Craig Stadler
  Ron Streck
63,000
1981   Lee Trevino 273 −15 2 strokes   Raymond Floyd 54,000
1980   Tom Watson (2) 276 −12 3 strokes   Jim Colbert 54,000
1979   Tom Watson 275 −13 6 strokes   Bruce Lietzke
  Jerry Pate
54,000
1978   Gary Player (2) 281 −7 2 strokes   Andy North
  Lee Trevino
45,000
1977   Jack Nicklaus (5) 281 −7 Playoff   Bruce Lietzke 45,000
1976   Don January (2) 277 −11 5 strokes   Hubert Green 45,000
1975   Al Geiberger 277 −11 Playoff   Gary Player 40,000
Tournament of Champions
1974   Johnny Miller 280 −8 1 stroke   Buddy Allin
  John Mahaffey
40,000
1973   Jack Nicklaus (4) 276 −12 1 stroke   Lee Trevino 40,000
1972   Bobby Mitchell 280 −8 Playoff   Jack Nicklaus 33,000
1971   Jack Nicklaus (3) 279 −9 8 strokes   Bruce Devlin
  Gary Player
  Dave Stockton
33,000
1970   Frank Beard (2) 273 −15 7 strokes   Billy Casper
  Tony Jacklin
  Gary Player
30,000
1969   Gary Player 284 −4 2 strokes   Lee Trevino 30,000
1968   Don January 276 −8 1 stroke   Julius Boros 30,000
1967   Frank Beard 278 −6 1 stroke   Arnold Palmer 20,000
1966   Arnold Palmer (3) 283 −5 Playoff   Gay Brewer 20,000
1965   Arnold Palmer (2) 277 −11 2 strokes   Chi-Chi Rodríguez 14,000
1964   Jack Nicklaus (2) 279 −9 2 strokes   Al Geiberger
  Doug Sanders
12,000
1963   Jack Nicklaus 273 −15 5 strokes   Tony Lema
  Arnold Palmer
13,000
1962   Arnold Palmer 276 −12 1 stroke   Billy Casper 11,000
1961   Sam Snead 273 −15 7 strokes   Tommy Bolt 10,000
1960   Jerry Barber 268 −20 4 strokes   Jay Hebert 10,000
1959   Mike Souchak 281 −7 2 strokes   Art Wall Jr. 10,000
1958   Stan Leonard 275 −13 1 stroke   Billy Casper 10,000
1957   Gene Littler (3) 285 −3 3 strokes   Billy Casper
  Jimmy Demaret
  Dow Finsterwald
  Billy Maxwell
10,000
1956   Gene Littler (2) 281 −7 4 strokes   Cary Middlecoff 10,000
1955   Gene Littler 280 −8 13 strokes   Jerry Barber
  Pete Cooper
  Bob Toski
10,000
1954   Art Wall Jr. 278 −10 6 strokes   Al Besselink
  Lloyd Mangrum
10,000
1953   Al Besselink 280 −8 1 stroke   Chandler Harper 10,000

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.

Multiple winners

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Sixteen men have won the tournament more than once through 2023.

Tournament highlights

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  • 1953: Al Besselink wins the inaugural Tournament of Champions (TOC) by one shot over Chandler Harper.[11]
  • 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.[12]
  • 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.[13]
  • 1959: Mike Souchak wins by two shots over Art Wall Jr. in spite of his shooting a final round 77.[14]
  • 1960: Jerry Barber shoots 268, a TOC tournament mark for its time in Las Vegas. He beats Jay Hebert by four shots.[15]
  • 1962: Arnold Palmer earns his first TOC title. He birdies the 72nd hole to finish one shot ahead of Billy Casper.[16]
  • 1963: Jack Nicklaus wins the TOC for the first time. He finishes five shots ahead of Tony Lema and Arnold Palmer.[17]
  • 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.[18]
  • 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.[19]
  • 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.[20]
  • 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[21]
  • 1973: Jack Nicklaus wins the TOC for a fourth time. He beats Lee Trevino by one shot.[22]
  • 1977: Jack Nicklaus collects his fifth and final TOC title. He birdies the third hole of a sudden death playoff to defeat Bruce Lietzke.[23]
  • 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.[24]
  • 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.[25]
  • 1981: Lee Trevino earns his first PGA Tour victory in California. He beats Raymond Floyd by two shots.[26]
  • 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.[27]
  • 1985: Tom Kite shoots a first round 64 on his way to a six shot triumph over Mark McCumber.[28]
  • 1986: Calvin Peete shoots a new tournament 72 hole scoring record, 267. He finishes six shots ahead of Mark O'Meara.[29]
  • 1991: Tom Kite wins the TOC for a second time when Lanny Wadkins three putts the 71st hole from just eighteen feet.[30]
  • 1995: Steve Elkington birdies the second hole of a sudden death playoff to defeat Bruce Lietzke.[31] During the tournament's final round, third round leader John Huston putted a ball into a lake.[32]
  • 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.[33]
  • 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.[34]
  • 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.[35]
  • 2003: Ernie Els shoots a tournament record 261 on his way to an eight-shot victory over Rocco Mediate and K. J. Choi.[36]
  • 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 golfers to win the tournament three consecutive years.[37]
  • 2010: Geoff Ogilvy successfully defends his tournament title. He finishes one shot ahead of Rory Sabbatini.[38]

Notes

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  1. ^ PGA Tour scoring record to par.
  2. ^ a b c Shortened to 54 holes due to weather.

References

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  1. ^ PGA Tour takes over Maui’s 2012 Hyundai Tournament of Champions
  2. ^ "Fall Series events to offer full FedExCup points". PGA Tour. June 26, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "SBS to sponsor season-opening event through 2019". PGA Tour. May 7, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Sentry extends as title sponsor of Tournament of Champions through 2035". PGA Tour. August 23, 2022.
  5. ^ "Hyundai taking over sponsorship at Kapalua". PGA Tour. November 4, 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  6. ^ "Hyundai Ends Sponsorship of Tournament of Champions". Maui Now. January 21, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  7. ^ "Tournament of Champions getting a new sponsor for 2018 event". CBS Sports. August 16, 2017.
  8. ^ "Sentry extends as title sponsor of Tournament of Champions thru 2030". PGA Tour. December 31, 2019.
  9. ^ "Eligibility criteria added to 2021 Sentry Tournament of Champions". PGA Tour. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  10. ^ "How to watch Sentry Tournament of Champions, Round 1: Tee times, live leaderboard, TV times".
  11. ^ Besselink Captures Tournament of Champions by Stroke
  12. ^ Gene Littler easy tourney champ
  13. ^ Littler Captures Third Tourney Of Champions
  14. ^ Souchak Beats Wall By 2 Strokes
  15. ^ Jerry Barber tops champions
  16. ^ Arnold Palmer Does It Again
  17. ^ Jack Loafs to Victory at 'Vegas'
  18. ^ Palmer Wins In A Breeze
  19. ^ Frank Beard Wins Tourney On Final Hole
  20. ^ Gary Nabs Champions
  21. ^ Mitchell Snatches Tournament Of Champions Purse From Jack
  22. ^ Jack Wins Title
  23. ^ Nicklaus Wins Playoff With Birdie on 3rd Hole
  24. ^ Player Does It Again, Charges To T Of C Victory
  25. ^ Watson penalized 2 shots, but wins by 3
  26. ^ Trevino edges Floyd for 2-stroke victory
  27. ^ Golfer Streck pulls a no-no
  28. ^ Kite Front-Running Victor In Tournament Of Champions
  29. ^ Peete Takes 6-Stroke Victory In Tournament of Champions
  30. ^ Kite, With a Final 69, Outlasts Wadkins
  31. ^ Elkington wins Mercedes event
  32. ^ Putt into lake costs Huston crown
  33. ^ Woods wins Mercedes playoff
  34. ^ Duval cruises to Mercedes victory
  35. ^ With 40-Foot Putt in Playoff, Woods Matches Hogan's Streak
  36. ^ Tour Scoring Record Starts Els's Season Right
  37. ^ Appleby claims third straight Mercedes Championship
  38. ^ Ogilvy bests Sabbatini by one stroke
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21°00′22″N 156°38′24″W / 21.006°N 156.64°W / 21.006; -156.64