Activities Sports & Athletics Sentry Tournament of Champions Golf Tournament on the PGA Tour Print Jordan Spieth received a lei and the trophy after winning the PGA Tour's Tournament of Champions in 2016. Tom Pennington/Getty Images Sports & Athletics Golf Golf Tournaments Basics History Gear Golf Courses Famous Golfers Baseball Bicycling Billiards Bodybuilding Bowling Boxing Car Racing Cheerleading Extreme Sports Football Gymnastics Ice Hockey Martial Arts Professional Wrestling Skateboarding Skating Paintball Soccer Swimming & Diving Table Tennis Tennis Track & Field Volleyball Other Activities Learn More By Brent Kelley Brent Kelley Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on 01/06/20 This tournament became known as the Sentry Tournament of Champions beginning in 2018, when Sentry took over from SBS as the title sponsor. Before that, Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz had been title sponsors. This tournament is the first event of the calendar year on the PGA Tour and is open only to golfers who won a tour event during the preceding season. That means the field is usually only around 35 or so golfers, but if any player drops out, that golfer is not replaced in the field. 2020 TournamentJustin Thomas earned his second win in this tournament in part by denying defending champ Xander Schauffele his second-consecutive win here. Thomas, Schauffele and Patrick Reed tied at 278, forcing the three-player playoff. Schauffel was eliminated on the first extra hole, then Thomas won it with a birdie on the third playoff hole. 2019 Tournament Xander Schauffele tied the tournament's 18-hole scoring record in the final round to surge to the victory. Schauffele's 62 gave him a 23-under-par finish of 269, one stroke better than runner-up Gary Woodland. It was the fourth career PGA Tour win for Schauffele. 2018 Sentry Tournament of ChampionsIt was a runaway victory for Dustin Johnson. Johnson won four PGA Tour tournaments during the 2016-17 season, and picked right up with another win to open 2018. He scored 66-65 on the weekend to finish at 24-under 268, eight strokes ahead of runner-up Jon Rahm. It was Johnson's 17th career PGA Tour win. Official Web site Tournament Records at the Tournament of Champions Overall: 261 - Ernie Els, 2003 Tournament course record: 62 - K.J. Choi, 2002; Graeme McDowell, 2011; Xander Schauffele, 2019 Wins: 5 - Jack Nicklaus Sentry Tournament of Champions Golf Course The PGA Tour Sentry Tournament of Champions is played on The Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort in Kapalua, Hawaii, a course the tournament moved to in 1999. From 1953-68, this tournament was played in Las Vegas, Nev., first at the Desert Inn Country Club, then at Stardust Country Club. In 1969, the tournament moved to La Costa Country Club in Carlsbad, Calif., and was played there every year through 1998, before moving to Hawaii. Tournament of Champions Trivia and Notes The tournament dates to 1953, with Al Besselink as the first champion. Until 1993, "Tournament of Champions" was always part of the event name. The event name then floated among several title sponsors, until, with the 2011 tournament, "Tournament of Champions" was restored to the event title. Jack Nicklaus holds the record with five wins in this event. The Golden Bear won in 1963, 1964, 1971, 1973 and 1977. Two golfers have won the Hyundai Tournament of Champions three consecutive years: Gene Littler (1955-57) and Stuart Appleby (2004-06). Two others won the tournament three times total: Arnold Palmer (1962, 1965-66) and Tom Watson (1979, 1980, 1984). Both of Tiger Woods' victories have come in playoffs. In 1997, Woods and Tom Lehman had to return in very bad weather to finish the weather-shortened tournament. Woods nearly holed his tee shot, and the playoff was over almost as soon as it began. In 2000, Woods and Ernie Els staged a memorable duel before Woods won the playoff. At the 2016 tournament, Jordan Spieth became just the second golfer in tour history to finish a 72-hole tournament at 30-under or lower. Winners of the PGA Tour's Tournament of Champions (Changes in the tournaments name are noted; p-playoff; w-weather shortened.) 2020 - Justin Thomas-p, 2782019 - Xander Schauffele, 2692018 - Dustin Johnson, 268 SBS Tournament of Champions2017 - Justin Thomas, 270 Hyundai Tournament of Champions2016 - Jordan Spieth, 2622015 - Patrick Reed-p, 2712014 - Zach Johnson, 2732013 - Dustin Johnson-w, 2032012 - Steve Stricker, 2692011 - Jonathan Byrd, 268 SBS Championship2010 - Geoff Ogilvy, 270 Mercedes-Benz Championship2009 - Geoff Ogilvy, 2682008 - Daniel Chopra, 2742007 - Vijay Singh, 278 Mercedes Championships2006 - Stuart Appleby-p, 2842005 - Stuart Appleby, 2712004 - Stuart Appleby, 2702003 - Ernie Els, 2612002 - Sergio Garcia-p, 2742001 - Jim Furyk, 2742000 - Tiger Woods-p, 2761999 - David Duval, 2661998 - Phil Mickelson, 2711997 - Tiger Woods-pw, 2021996 - Mark O'Meara, 2711995 - Steve Elkington-p, 2781994 - Phil Mickelson-p, 276 Infiniti Tournament of Champions1993 - Davis Love III, 2721992 - Steve Elkington-p, 2791991 - Tom Kite, 272 MONY Tournament of Champions1990 - Paul Azinger, 2721989 - Steve Jones, 2791988 - Steve Pate-w, 2021987 - Mac O'Grady, 2781986 - Calvin Peete, 2671985 - Tom Kite, 2751984 - Tom Watson, 2741983 - Lanny Wadkins, 2801982 - Lanny Wadkins, 2801981 - Lee Trevino, 2731980 - Tom Watson, 2761979 - Tom Watson, 2751978 - Gary Player, 2811977 - Jack Nicklaus-p, 2811976 - Don January, 2771975 - Al Geiberger-p, 277 Tournament of Champions1974 - Johnny Miller, 2801973 - Jack Nicklaus, 2761972 - Bobby Mitchell-p, 2801971 - Jack Nicklaus, 2791970 - Frank Beard, 2731969 - Gary Player, 2841968 - Don January, 2761967 - Frank Beard, 2781966 - Arnold Palmer-p, 2831965 - Arnold Palmer, 2771964 - Jack Nicklaus, 2791963 - Jack Nicklaus, 2731962 - Arnold Palmer, 2761961 - Sam Snead, 2731960 - Jerry Barber, 2681959 - Mike Souchak, 2811958 - Stan Leonard, 2751957 - Gene Littler, 2851956 - Gene Littler, 2811955 - Gene Littler, 2901954 - Art Wall, 2781953 - Al Besselink, 280