- Hyundai Tournament of Champions
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Hyundai Tournament of Champions Tournament information Location Kapalua, Hawaii Established 1953 Course(s) Plantation Course, Kapalua Resort Par 73 Length 7,411 yards Tour(s) PGA Tour Format Stroke play Prize fund $5,600,000 Month played January Tournament record score Aggregate 261 Ernie Els (2003) To par -31* Ernie Els (2003)
* PGA Tour recordCurrent champion Jonathan Byrd The Hyundai Tournament of Champions is the opening event of golf's PGA Tour season. Founded as the Tournament of Champions in 1953, the field is restricted to golfers who won a tournament on the tour during the previous season.[1]
Contents
History
The Hyundai Tournament of Champions is held during the first week of January and, since 1999, has been played over the Plantation Course at the Kapalua Resort near Lahaina on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Previous venues have been the Desert Inn Country Club in Las Vegas, Nevada, from the event's inception until 1966, and the Stardust Country Club, also in Las Vegas, in 1967 and 1968. For the following thirty years, it was played at La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California, after which it moved to its current location in Hawaii.
The tournament has had several title sponsors, the first being Mutual of New York (MONY) between 1975 and 1990. After three years of sponsorship by Infiniti, German car maker Mercedes-Benz began a sixteen year association with the event and the Tournament of Champions name was dropped. In 2010 the tournament entered a new ten year agreement with Korean broadcasting company Seoul Broadcasting System, with the tournament being renamed as the SBS Championship.[1] Hyundai took over title sponsorship in 2011 with SBS remaining a sponsor.[2]
Winners
Year Player Country Score To par 1st Prize ($) Hyundai Tournament of Champions 2011 Jonathan Byrd 
United States268PO -24 1,120,000 SBS Championship 2010 Geoff Ogilvy 
Australia270 -22 1,120,000 Mercedes-Benz Championship 2009 Geoff Ogilvy Australia268 -24 1,120,000 2008 Daniel Chopra 
Sweden274PO -18 1,100,000 2007 Vijay Singh 
Fiji278 -14 1,100,000 Mercedes Championships 2006 Stuart Appleby Australia284PO -8 1,080,000 2005 Stuart Appleby Australia271 -21 1,060,000 2004 Stuart Appleby Australia270 -22 1,060,000 2003 Ernie Els 
South Africa261 -31 1,000,000 2002 Sergio García 
Spain274PO -18 720,000 2001 Jim Furyk United States274 -18 630,000 2000 Tiger Woods United States276PO -16 522,000 1999 David Duval United States266 -26 468,000 1998 Phil Mickelson United States271 -17 306,000 1997 Tiger Woods United States202PO -14 216,000 1996 Mark O'Meara United States271 -17 180,000 1995 Steve Elkington Australia278PO -10 180,000 1994 Phil Mickelson United States276PO -12 180,000 Infiniti Tournament of Champions 1993 Davis Love III United States272 -16 144,000 1992 Steve Elkington Australia279PO -9 144,000 1991 Tom Kite United States272 -16 144,000 MONY Tournament of Champions 1990 Paul Azinger United States272 -16 135,000 1989 Steve Jones United States279 -9 135,000 1988 Steve Pate United States202 -14 90,000 1987 Mac O'Grady United States278 -10 90,000 1986 Calvin Peete United States267 -21 90,000 1985 Tom Kite United States275 -13 72,000 1984 Tom Watson United States274 -14 72,000 1983 Lanny Wadkins United States280 -8 72,000 1982 Lanny Wadkins United States280 -8 63,000 1981 Lee Trevino United States273 -15 54,000 1980 Tom Watson United States276 -12 54,000 1979 Tom Watson United States275 -13 54,000 1978 Gary Player 
South Africa281 -7 45,000 1977 Jack Nicklaus United States281PO -7 45,000 1976 Don January United States277 -11 45,000 1975 Al Geiberger United States277PO -11 40,000 Tournament of Champions 1974 Johnny Miller United States280 -8 40,000 1973 Jack Nicklaus United States276 -12 40,000 1972 Bobby Mitchell United States280PO -8 33,000 1971 Jack Nicklaus United States279 -9 33,000 1970 Frank Beard United States273 -15 30,000 1969 Gary Player South Africa284 -4 30,000 1968 Don January United States276 -8 30,000 1967 Frank Beard United States278 -6 20,000 1966 Arnold Palmer United States283PO -5 20,000 1965 Arnold Palmer United States277 -11 14,000 1964 Jack Nicklaus United States279 -9 12,000 1963 Jack Nicklaus United States273 -15 13,000 1962 Arnold Palmer United States276 -12 11,000 1961 Sam Snead United States273 -15 10,000 1960 Jerry Barber United States268 -20 10,000 1959 Mike Souchak United States281 -7 10,000 1958 Stan Leonard 
Canada275 -13 10,000 1957 Gene Littler United States285 -3 10,000 1956 Gene Littler United States281 -7 10,000 1955 Gene Littler United States280 -8 10,000 1954 Art Wall, Jr. United States278 -10 10,000 1953 Al Besselink United States280 -8 10,000 Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
PO - won in playoffMultiple winners
Fourteen men have won the SBS Championship more than once through 2011.
- 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.[3]
- 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.[4]
- 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.[5]
- 1959: Mike Souchak wins by two shots over Art Wall, Jr. in spite of his shooting a final round 77.[6]
- 1960: Jerry Barber shoots 268, a TOC tournament mark for its time in Las Vegas. He beats Jay Hebert by four shots.[7]
- 1962: Arnold Palmer earns his first TOC title. He birdies the 72nd hole to finish one shot ahead of Billy Casper.[8]
- 1963: Jack Nicklaus wins the TOC for the first time. He finishes five shots ahead of Tony Lema and Arnold Palmer.[9]
- 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.[10]
- 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.[11]
- 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.[12]
- 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[13]
- 1973: Jack Nicklaus wins the TOC for a fourth time. He beats Lee Trevino by one shot.[14]
- 1977: Jack Nicklaus collects his fifth and final TOC title. He birdies the third hole of a sudden death playoff to defeat Bruce Lietzke.[15]
- 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.[16]
- 1979: 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.[17]
- 1981: Lee Trevino earns his first PGA Tour victory in California. He beats Raymond Floyd by two shots.[18]
- 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 three-way tie for second along with Andy Bean, David Graham, and Craig Stadler and costs him over $14,000 in prize money.[19]
- 1985: Tom Kite shoots a first round 64 on his way to a six shot triumph over Mark McCumber.[20]
- 1986: Calvin Peete shoots a new tournament 72 hole scoring record, 267. He finishes six shots ahead of Mark O'Meara.[21]
- 1991: Tom Kite wins the TOC for a second time when Lanny Wadkins three putts the 71st hole from just eighteen feet.[22]
- 1995: Steve Elkington birdies the second hole of a sudden death playoff to defeat Bruce Lietzke.[23] During the tournament's final round, third round leader John Huston putted a ball into a lake.[24]
- 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.[25]
- 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.[26]
- 2000: Tiger Woods wins his fifth consecutive PGA Tour event. He sinks a forty-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a sudden death playoff to beat Ernie Els.[27]
- 2003: Ernie Els shoots a tournament record 261 on his way to a eight shot victory over Rocco Mediate and K. J. Choi.[28]
- 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.[29]
- 2010: Geoff Ogilvy successfully defends his tournament title. He finishes one shot ahead of Rory Sabbatini.[30]
References
- ^ a b "SBS to sponsor season-opening event through 2019". PGA Tour. May 7, 2009. http://www.pgatour.com/2009/tournaments/r016/05/07/sbs/index.html. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
- ^ Hyundai taking over sponsorship at Kapalua
- ^ Besselink Captures Tournament of Champions by Stroke
- ^ Gene Littler easy tourney champ
- ^ Littler Captures Third Tourney Of Champions
- ^ Souchak Beats Wall By 2 Strokes
- ^ Jerry Barber tops champions
- ^ Arnold Palmer Does It Again
- ^ Jack Loafs to Victory at 'Vegas'
- ^ Palmer Wins In A Breeze
- ^ Frank Beard Wins Tourney On Final Hole
- ^ Gary Nabs Champions
- ^ Mitchell Snatches Tournament Of Champions Purse From Jack
- ^ Jack Wins Title
- ^ Nicklaus Wins Playoff With Birdie on 3rd Hole
- ^ Player Does It Again, Charges To T Of C Victory
- ^ Watson penalized 2 shots, but wins by 3
- ^ Trevino edges Floyd for 2-stroke victory
- ^ Golfer Streck pulls a no-no
- ^ Kite Front-Running Victor In Tournament Of Champions
- ^ Peete Takes 6-Stroke Victory In Tournament of Champions
- ^ Kite, With a Final 69, Outlasts Wadkins
- ^ Elkington wins Mercedes event
- ^ Putt into lake costs Huston crown
- ^ Woods wins Mercedes playoff
- ^ Duval cruises to Mercedes victory
- ^ With 40-Foot Putt in Playoff, Woods Matches Hogan's Streak
- ^ Tour Scoring Record Starts Els's Season Right
- ^ Appleby claims third straight Mercedes Championship
- ^ Ogilvy bests Sabbatini by one stroke
External links
- Coverage on the PGA Tour's official site
- Mercedes-Benz Championship results since 1970 - Winners, Finishers, Scores and Earnings
Categories:- PGA Tour events
- Golf in Hawaii
- Sports in Maui
- 5 wins
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