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PGA Tour SBS Championship

By Brent Kelley, About.com

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Stuart Appleby - Mercedez-Benz Championship

Stuart Appleby won this even three consecutive years, 2004-06.

Robert Laberge / Getty Images

About the PGA Tour SBS Championship::

The SBS Championship took that name beginning in 2010, after being sponsored by Mercedes-Benz from 1994-2009. The tournament dates to 1953 when it debuted as the Tournament of Champions. That name stuck through 1993, when the name changed to Mercedes Championships; then Mercedes-Benz Championship in 2007.

This tournament is the season-opener 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 limited to 35 or so players, although if any player drops out, that golfer is not replaced in the field.

2010 SBS Championship
• When: Jan. 7-10
• Where: Plantation Course at Kapalua, Kapalua, Hawaii

2009 Tournament
Geoff Ogilvy teed off the 2009 season with a stellar performance, cruising to a 6-stroke victory. Ogilvy posted rounds of 67, 68, 65 and 68 to top runners-up Anthony Kim and Davis Love III.

Official Web site

PGA Tour SBS Championship Records:

  • Overall: 261 - Ernie Els, 2003
  • Tournament course record: 62 - K.J. Choi, 2002

PGA Tour SBS Championship Course:

The SBS Championship 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.

PGA Tour SBS Championship Trivia and Notes:

  • 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 Mercedes three straight 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.

    • PGA Tour SBS Championship Winners:

    (p-playoff; w-weather shortened)

    Mercedes-Benz Championship
    2009 - Geoff Ogilvy, 268
    2008 - Daniel Chopra, 274
    2007 - Vijay Singh, 278

    Mercedes Championships
    2006 - Stuart Appleby-p, 284
    2005 - Stuart Appleby, 271
    2004 - Stuart Appleby, 270
    2003 - Ernie Els, 261
    2002 - Sergio Garcia-p, 274
    2001 - Jim Furyk, 274
    2000 - Tiger Woods-p, 276
    1999 - David Duval, 266
    1998 - Phil Mickelson, 271
    1997 - Tiger Woods-pw, 202
    1996 - Mark O'Meara, 271
    1995 - Steve Elkington-p, 278
    1994 - Phil Mickelson-p, 276

    Infiniti Tournament of Champions
    1993 - Davis Love III, 272
    1992 - Steve Elkington-p, 279
    1991 - Tom Kite, 272

    MONY Tournament of Champions
    1990 - Paul Azinger, 272
    1989 - Steve Jones, 279
    1988 - Steve Pate-w, 202
    1987 - Mac O'Grady, 278
    1986 - Calvin Peete, 267
    1985 - Tom Kite, 275
    1984 - Tom Watson, 274
    1983 - Lanny Wadkins, 280
    1982 - Lanny Wadkins, 280
    1981 - Lee Trevino, 273
    1980 - Tom Watson, 276
    1979 - Tom Watson, 275
    1978 - Gary Player, 281
    1977 - Jack Nicklaus-p, 281
    1976 - Don January, 277
    1975 - Al Geiberger-p, 277

    Tournament of Champions
    1974 - Johnny Miller, 280
    1973 - Jack Nicklaus, 276
    1972 - Bobby Mitchell-p, 280
    1971 - Jack Nicklaus, 279
    1970 - Frank Beard, 273
    1969 - Gary Player, 284
    1968 - Don January, 276
    1967 - Frank Beard, 278
    1966 - Arnold Palmer-p, 283
    1965 - Arnold Palmer, 277
    1964 - Jack Nicklaus, 279
    1963 - Jack Nicklaus, 273
    1962 - Arnold Palmer, 276
    1961 - Sam Snead, 273
    1960 - Jerry Barber, 268
    1959 - Mike Souchak, 281
    1958 - Stan Leonard, 275
    1957 - Gene Littler, 285
    1956 - Gene Littler, 281
    1955 - Gene Littler, 290
    1954 - Art Wall, 278
    1953 - Al Besselink, 280

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