The Sentry Tournament of Champions is a prestigious annual golf tournament on the PGA Tour that is held in Kapalua, Hawaii. It is a winner-take-all event, meaning that the prize money is given entirely to the winner. The tournament is a limited-field event, open only to golfers who have won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year. This exclusivity has made the Sentry Tournament of Champions a coveted title among golfers, and its history is filled with memorable moments and notable winners.
The origins of the Sentry Tournament of Champions can be traced back to the 1950s, when it was known as the Hawaiian Open. The tournament was held at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was sponsored by the Honolulu Advertiser newspaper. The inaugural event took place in January 1953 and was won by Sam Snead, who took home the top prize of $2,400.
Over the years, the Sentry Tournament of Champions has undergone several changes in format, venue, and sponsorship. In 1964, the tournament moved to the Kauai Lagoons Golf Club on the island of Kauai, and in 1999 it was held at the Kapalua Resort on the island of Maui. In 2016, the tournament was rebranded as the Sentry Tournament of Champions, named after its new sponsor, Sentry Insurance.
Despite these changes, the Sentry Tournament of Champions has remained a fixture on the PGA Tour and has consistently attracted some of the top golfers in the world. The tournament has a rich history of memorable moments and notable winners, including several who have gone on to achieve great success in the world of golf.
One of the most memorable moments in the history of the Sentry Tournament of Champions came in 2000, when Tiger Woods won the tournament for the third consecutive year. This feat had never been accomplished before, and it cemented Woods’s status as one of the greatest golfers of all time.
Other notable winners of the Sentry Tournament of Champions include Jack Nicklaus, who won the tournament in 1971 and 1973, and Phil Mickelson, who won it in 2005 and 2013. More recently, Justin Thomas won the tournament in 2017 and 2018, while Xander Schauffele won in 2019 and 2020.
In addition to these individual accomplishments, the Sentry Tournament of Champions has also witnessed several historic team performances. In 1998, a team of eight golfers from the United States, known as the “Tiger Woods All-Stars,” competed against a team of eight international golfers in a special exhibition match. The U.S. team emerged victorious, with Woods leading the way with a dominant performance.
Another memorable team moment came in 2006, when the Sentry Tournament of Champions hosted the inaugural “Sentry Cup,” a special exhibition match featuring a team of American golfers against a team of international golfers. The American team, led by Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, won the match by a narrow margin, solidifying their status as some of the top golfers in the world.
Other notable winners of the Sentry Tournament of Champions include Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, and Phil Mickelson. In 2015, Jordan Spieth won the tournament and set a new scoring record of 253, which was 25 under par. Spieth went on to have an outstanding year, winning the Masters and the U.S. Open and finishing second in the PGA Championship.
In recent years, the Sentry Tournament of Champions has become known for its challenging and scenic course at the Kapalua Resort. The Plantation Course, designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, is a par 73 and measures 7,452 yards. It is known for its wide fairways and large, undulating greens, as well as its stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.
In addition to the main tournament, the Sentry Tournament of Champions also hosts a number of other events and activities for fans, including a pro-am tournament, a junior clinic, and a concert series. The tournament is also known for its charitable giving, with proceeds from the event going to various charitable organizations in Hawaii.
Overall, the Sentry Tournament of Champions has a rich history and is a highly respected and beloved event on the PGA Tour. It continues to attract the top golfers in the world and provides a thrilling and memorable experience for fans.
Here is a list of the past winners of the Sentry Tournament of Champions:
2022 – Cameron Smith
2021 – Harris English
2020 – Justin Thomas
2019 – Xander Schauffele
2018 – Dustin Johnson
2017 – Justin Thomas
2016 – Jordan Spieth
2015 – Patrick Reed
2014 – Zach Johnson
2013 – Dustin Johnson
2012 – Steve Stricker
2011 – Jonathan Byrd
2010 – Geoff Ogilvy
2009 – Geoff Ogilvy
2008 – Daniel Chopra
2007 – Vijay Singh
2006 – Stuart Appleby
2005 – Stuart Appleby
2004 – Ernie Els
2003 – Mike Weir
2002 – Jerry Kelly
2001 – Tiger Woods
2000 – Tiger Woods
1999 – Mark O’Meara
1998 – David Duval
1997 – Nick Price
1996 – Brad Faxon
1995 – Scott Hoch
1994 – Steve Elkington
1993 – Vijay Singh
1992 – Bill Glasson
1991 – David Frost
1990 – Steve Pate
1989 – Mark Calcavecchia
1988 – Curtis Strange
1987 – Joey Sindelar
1986 – Bob Tway
1985 – Calvin Peete
1984 – Lanny Wadkins
1983 – Tom Watson
1982 – Tom Watson
1981 – Tom Watson
1980 – Johnny Miller
1979 – Tom Watson
1978 – Al Geiberger
1977 – Tom Watson
1976 – Tom Watson
1975 – Jack Nicklaus
1974 – Jack Nicklaus
1973 – Jack Nicklaus
1972 – Jack Nicklaus
1971 – Jack Nicklaus
1970 – Frank Beard
1969 – George Archer
1968 – Billy Casper
1967 – Arnold Palmer
1966 – Arnold Palmer
1965 – Jack Nicklaus
1964 – Arnold Palmer
1963 – Arnold Palmer
1962 – Arnold Palmer
1961 – Arnold Palmer
1960 – Arnold Palmer
1959 – Dow Finsterwald
1958 – Arnold Palmer
1957 – Arnold Palmer
1956 – Cary Middlecoff
1955 – Cary Middlecoff
1954 – Cary Middlecoff
1953 – Sam Snead
Past Sentry Tournament of Champions Highlights
(1999) Notah Begay III
Notah Begay III is a former professional golfer who had a successful career on the PGA Tour. One of his most notable accomplishments came in 1999, when he won the Sentry Tournament of Champions, which was then known as the Mercedes Championships. This tournament, which is held annually in Hawaii, is open only to golfers who have won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year. Begay’s win in 1999 made him the first Native American to win a PGA Tour event.
In his rookie year on the PGA Tour, Begay had a solid season, with several top-10 finishes. However, it was his win at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in 1999 that put him on the map. Begay shot a final-round 65 to win the tournament by two strokes over Phil Mickelson, becoming the first Native American to win a PGA Tour event. This win also marked his first PGA Tour win, it was a career defining moment for him.
(2000) Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods is one of the greatest golfers of all time, and his win at the 2000 Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii was one of the many memorable moments in his illustrious career. The tournament was held at the Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maui, which is a challenging and beautiful course that is known for its lush, tropical setting. Woods arrived at the tournament as the reigning PGA Tour player of the year, and he quickly established himself as the favorite to win.
In the first round, Woods started strong with a seven-under-par 66, and he never looked back. He continued to play outstanding golf throughout the tournament, consistently shooting low scores and putting pressure on his opponents. By the final round, Woods had built a commanding lead, and he ultimately won the tournament by a whopping 11 strokes, the largest margin of victory in the tournament’s history at that time. This win was Woods’ fifth consecutive PGA Tour win, setting another record. He finished at 24-under-par for the tournament and set a tournament record for the lowest 72-hole score. This was also his first tournament win of the year, starting off a dominant year for him.
(2001) Retief Goosen
In 2001, Retief Goosen won the Sentry Tournament of Champions, which was held at the Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii. This win marked Goosen’s second PGA Tour victory, and he accomplished it by defeating Mark Calcavecchia in a playoff. This tournament, which is open only to golfers who have won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year, Goosen’s win came after a solid season in 2000. He had a steady final round, shooting even-par 72, to finish in a tie for first with Calcavecchia, he then went on to win the playoff. This victory solidified Goosen’s place as one of the top players on the PGA Tour and kickstarted a successful career for the golfer from South Africa.
(2002) Ernie Els
In 2002, Ernie Els won the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii. This was Els’ first PGA Tour victory of the season, and his 7th overall. He captured the tournament title by a three-stroke margin over Vijay Singh. Els had a solid performance throughout the tournament, shooting four rounds in the 60s, and his winning score of 273 (-15) set the 72-hole tournament record at that time. With this victory, Els continues to prove his worth as one of the top golfers in the world and solidified his place as one of the best players of his generation. This win also marked one of the many victories of his successful career.
(2003) Mike Weir
In 2003, Mike Weir won the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii. This tournament, which is open only to golfers who have won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year, was the fourth PGA Tour victory of his career. Weir won by four strokes over Charles Howell III, with a tournament total of 274 (-14). He had an impressive performance, shooting four rounds in the 60s, and had a final round of 68, which sealed his victory. This win was a significant moment in Weir’s career, it was one of his early careers defining moments and gave him confidence going forward in his golfing journey.
(2004) Stuart Appleby
In 2004, Stuart Appleby won the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii. This was Appleby’s fifth PGA Tour victory and his first of the season. He won the tournament in a playoff against Vijay Singh after both golfers had finished the tournament at 270 (-18). Appleby had an incredible performance throughout the tournament and particularly in the final round, where he shot a 63. The victory marked a career-defining moment for Appleby, it gave him a lot of confidence going forward in his career and helped him become one of the top golfers on the PGA Tour.
(2005) Steve Stricker
In 2005, Steve Stricker won the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii. This was Stricker’s fourth PGA Tour victory, and he won the tournament in dramatic fashion by making a birdie on the final hole to secure a one-stroke win over Vijay Singh. This was Stricker’s first victory of the year and the first of back-to-back win in this tournament. He had a solid performance throughout the tournament with four rounds in the 60s and a tournament total of 275 (-13). This victory marked a turning point in Stricker’s career, it helped him establish himself as a regular contender on the PGA Tour and it was the beginning of a great run of golf for him.
(2006) Steve Stricker
In 2006, Steve Stricker won the Sentry Tournament of Champions again at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii. This was Stricker’s fifth PGA Tour victory and his second consecutive win in this tournament. He won by two strokes over Charles Howell III, with a tournament total of 275 (-13). Stricker continued to showcase his great form from the previous year, with four rounds in the 60s and he had an impressive final round of 66. This victory was significant for Steve Stricker as it helped him to build on his success from the previous year, it solidified his position as one of the best golfers on the PGA tour and marked him as a player to watch out for in the future.
(2007) Vijay Singh
In 2007, Vijay Singh won the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii. This was Singh’s second victory at this tournament, and he won by one stroke over defending champion Steve Stricker. This was also his first win of the season. He finished the tournament with a tournament total of 271 (-17). Singh’s performance was consistent throughout the tournament, with four rounds in the 60s and he had a final round of 67 which helped secure his victory. This win was a significant moment for Singh, as it marked the first time a player successfully defended his title and won the tournament back-to-back. It was also his 31st PGA Tour victory.
(2008) Daniel Chopra
In 2008, Daniel Chopra won the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii. This was Chopra’s second PGA Tour victory, and he won the tournament in a playoff against Aaron Baddeley. Chopra came into the final round two strokes behind, but he shot a final round of 67 to force the playoff. On the first playoff hole, Chopra made a birdie to secure the victory. This win was a breakthrough moment for Chopra, who had struggled to establish himself on the PGA Tour. This victory helped solidify his position as a consistent player and a force to be reckoned with on the tour. It was also the first time a player from Sweden had won the tournament.
(2009) Geoff Ogilvy
In 2009, Geoff Ogilvy won the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii. This was Ogilvy’s sixth PGA Tour victory, and his first win of the season. He won the tournament by three strokes over defending champion Daniel Chopra, with a tournament total of 271 (-17). Ogilvy had a solid performance throughout the tournament, shooting four rounds in the 60s and he had an impressive final round of 67 which secured his victory. This win was an important moment for Ogilvy, it kickstarted a successful season for him and helped him establish himself as one of the top golfers on the PGA Tour.
(2010) Steve Stricker
In 2010, Steve Stricker won the Sentry Tournament of Champions for the third time at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii. This was Stricker’s eighth PGA Tour victory and his third win at this tournament. He won by six strokes over Martin Laird, with a tournament total of 271 (-17). Stricker had a fantastic performance throughout the tournament, shooting four rounds in the 60s and he had an impressive final round of 66 which secured his victory. This win marked a remarkable achievement for Stricker, he became the first player to win the tournament three times, it was a testimony of his consistency and mastery at the course, also it was a great way to start the year for him.
(2011) Jonathan Byrd
In 2011, Jonathan Byrd won the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii. This was Byrd’s fourth PGA Tour victory and his first win of the season. He won by one stroke over Robert Garrigus, with a tournament total of 271 (-17). Byrd had a solid performance throughout the tournament, shooting four rounds in the 60s and he had a final round of 67 which secured his victory. This win was a significant moment for Byrd, it marked a breakthrough for him on the PGA Tour and helped establish him as a consistent player on the tour. It was also the first time a golfer from Georgia won this tournament.
(2012) Steve Stricker
In 2012, Steve Stricker won the Sentry Tournament of Champions for the fourth time at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii. This was Stricker’s ninth PGA Tour victory and his fourth win at this tournament, which ties a record for most wins in this event. He won by three strokes over Jonathan Byrd, with a tournament total of 269 (-19). Stricker had a fantastic performance throughout the tournament, shooting four rounds in the 60s and he had an impressive final round of 65 which secured his victory. This win marked another remarkable achievement for Stricker, he became the first player to win the tournament four times, it was a testimony of his dominance at the course and continued consistency in the tournament.
(2013) Dustin Johnson
In 2013, Dustin Johnson won the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii. This was Johnson’s fifth PGA Tour victory and his first win of the season. He won by eight strokes over Steve Stricker and Ian Poulter, with a tournament total of 273 (-21). Johnson had a commanding performance throughout the tournament, shooting four rounds in the 60s and he had an impressive final round of 68 which secured his victory. This win was a significant moment for Johnson, it marked a continuation of his success on the PGA Tour and helped establish him as a consistent top-performer on the tour. He has since then gone on to win numerous other tournaments and accolades.
(2014) Zach Johnson
In 2014, Zach Johnson won the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii. This was Johnson’s tenth PGA Tour victory, and his first win of the season. He won by one stroke over Jordan Spieth, with a tournament total of 273 (-15). Johnson had a steady performance throughout the tournament, shooting four rounds in the 60s and he had a final round of 67 which secured his victory. This win was a significant moment for Johnson, it marked his return to form on the PGA Tour and helped establish him as a consistent top-performer on the tour. His victory also ended the tournament’s streak of six consecutive wins by first-time winners.
(2015) Patrick Reed
In 2015, Patrick Reed won the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii. This was Reed’s fourth PGA Tour victory, and his first win of the season. He won by four strokes over Jimmy Walker and Jason Day, with a tournament total of 271 (-17). Reed had a strong performance throughout the tournament, shooting four rounds in the 60s and he had an impressive final round of 67 which secured his victory. This win was a significant moment for Reed, as it marked a continuation of his success on the PGA Tour and helped establish him as a top-performer on the tour. It also marked a breakthrough for Reed in his career, he had a great start for the year and went on to win multiple other tournaments and accolades.
(2016) Jordan Spieth
In 2016, Jordan Spieth won the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maul, Hawaii. This was Spieth’s fifth PGA Tour victory, and his first win of the season. He won by eight strokes over Patrick Reed and Hideki Matsuyama, with a tournament total of 271 (-27). Spieth had an incredible performance throughout the tournament, shooting four rounds in the 60s and he had an impressive final round of 63 which secured his victory. This win was a significant moment for Spieth, as it marked a continuation of his dominance on the PGA Tour and helped establish him as one of the top golfers in the world. The tournament victory also set the record for the most strokes under par by a winner in the tournament’s history.
(2017) Justin Thomas
In 2017, Justin Thomas won the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii. This was Thomas’ fifth PGA Tour victory, and his first win of the season. He won by four strokes over Hideki Matsuyama and Daniel Berger, with a tournament total of 268 (-19). Thomas had a solid performance throughout the tournament, shooting four rounds in the 60s and he had a final round of 67 which secured his victory. This win was a significant moment for Thomas, as it marked a continuation of his success on the PGA Tour and helped establish him as a top-performer on the tour. Thomas went on to win multiple other tournaments, including his first major and become World number 1 that year.
(2018) Dustin Johnson
In 2018, Dustin Johnson won the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii. This was Johnson’s 17th PGA Tour victory, and his first win of the season. He won by eight strokes over Jon Rahm, with a tournament total of 268 (-28). Johnson had an outstanding performance throughout the tournament, shooting four rounds in the 60s and he had an impressive final round of 67 which secured his victory. This win was a significant moment for Johnson, as it marked a continuation of his dominance on the PGA Tour, winning his second tournament at Kapalua and helped establish him as one of the top golfers in the world. This win also set a new tournament record of 28 under par.
(2019) Xander Schauffele
In 2019, Xander Schauffele won the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii. This was Schauffele’s fourth PGA Tour victory, and his first win of the season. He won by one stroke over Gary Woodland, with a tournament total of 268 (-28). Schauffele had a strong performance throughout the tournament, shooting four rounds in the 60s and he had a final round of 67 which secured his victory. This win was a significant moment for Schauffele, as it marked a continuation of his success on the PGA Tour and helped establish him as a top-performer on the tour. He also become the first player to win the tournament in his debut appearance, and tied the tournament record of 28 under par.
(2020) Collin Morikawa
In 2020, Collin Morikawa won the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii. This was Morikawa’s first PGA Tour victory and it came in just his seventh start as a professional. He won by two strokes over Harris English and Justin Thomas with a tournament total of 275 (-19). Morikawa had a steady performance throughout the tournament, shooting four rounds in the 60s and he had a final round of 66 which secured his victory. This win was a significant moment for Morikawa, as it marked a breakthrough for him on the PGA Tour and helped establish him as a top-performer on the tour. He also became one of the youngest players to win the tournament, at 23 years old.
(2021) Harris English
Harris English won the Sentry Tournament of Champions tournament in 2021. He defeated Jonathan Nguyen in the finals. The tournament was held at the Gallagher Academy in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event featured three teams from each of the four regions of the United States. The Sentry event featured a double-elimination format with each team playing each other twice. The first game was played on January 25th and the second on January 31st. Each team then played one more game against another team from their region before advancing to the finals where they played against Harris English on February 7th and 8th. He defeated his opponent, Nathan Drake, in the final round of the tournament. Harris was crowned as the world’s best player and earned a $1 million prize.
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