The Hyundai Tournament of Champions is the latest incarnation of the PGA Tour’s traditional season opening event with a field composed exclusively of winners from the previous season. Since the wraparound season was implemented, however, the Tournament of Champions now find itself positioned nearly a quarter of the way through the season.
I was surprised, when researching this piece, just how far back the Tournament of Champions extends. The first winner was Al Besselink in 1953 at the Desert Inn Country Club in Las Vegas Nevada. It remained there until the 1967 and 1968 tournaments, when it was played at Las Vegas’ Stardust Country Club. The following year, it moved to the La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California. In 1999, the event moved to the The Plantation Course at Kapalua, Hawaii, where it remains to this day.
Jack Nicklaus (who else) holds the record for most tournaments won, in 1963, 1964, 1971, 1973 and 1977. Four others—Stuart Appleby, Gene Littler, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson have three victories each. Interestingly, Appleby (2004, 2005 and 2006) and Littler (1955, 1956 and 1957) won theirs in consecutive years.
Hyundai’s took over the role of title sponsor from Seoul Broadcasting System, which just the previous year had signed a ten year agreement with the Tour. SBS remains as a sponsor, though.
The 2014 edition is in a bit of an odd position. The Tournament of Champions’ field consists of the previous year’s winners, but with the new wraparound season, it no longer is in the kickoff position. Nor is it at the tail end of the previous season—a place it might logically occupy. It is instead the tenth event of the PGA Tour season.
To avoid conflict with the NFL, the tournament is held on a Friday-to-Monday schedule. Because the Tournament is in Hawaii, much of it will be shown after working hours for the continental US.
A list of Hyundai Tournament of Champions winners follows:
| Year | Player | Country | Score | To par | 1st Prize ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Tournament of Champions | |||||
| 2015 | Patrick Reed | United States | 271 | -21 | 1,140,000 |
| 2014 | Zach Johnson | United States | 273 | -19 | 1,140,000 |
| 2013 | Dustin Johnson | United States | 203* | -16 | 1,140,000 |
| 2012 | Steve Stricker | United States | 269 | -23 | 1,120,000 |
| 2011 | Jonathan Byrd | United States | 268 (PO) | -24 | 1,120,000 |
| SBS Championship | |||||
| 2010 | Geoff Ogilvy | Australia | 270 | -22 | 1,120,000 |
| Mercedes-Benz Championship | |||||
| 2009 | Geoff Ogilvy | Australia | 268 | -24 | 1,120,000 |
| 2008 | Daniel Chopra | Sweden | 274 | -18 | 1,100,000 |
| 2007 | Vijay Singh | Fiji | 278 | -14 | 1,100,000 |
| Mercedes Championships | |||||
| 2006 | Stuart Appleby | Australia | 284 | -8 | 1,080,000 |
| 2005 | Stuart Appleby | Australia | 271 | -21 | 1,060,000 |
| 2004 | Stuart Appleby | Australia | 270 | -22 | 1,060,000 |
| 2003 | Ernie Els | South Africa | 261 | -31 | 1,000,000 |
| 2002 | Sergio García | Spain | 274 | -18 | 720,000 |
| 2001 | Jim Furyk | United States | 274 | -18 | 630,000 |
| 2000 | Tiger Woods | United States | 276 | -16 | 522,000 |
| 1999 | David Duval | United States | 266 | -26 | 468,000 |
| 1998 | Phil Mickelson | United States | 271 | -17 | 306,000 |
| 1997 | Tiger Woods | United States | 202 | -14 | 216,000 |
| 1996 | Mark O’Meara | United States | 271 | -17 | 180,000 |
| 1995 | Steve Elkington | Australia | 278 | -10 | 180,000 |
| 1994 | Phil Mickelson | United States | 276 | -12 | 180,000 |
| Infiniti Tournament of Champions | |||||
| 1993 | Davis Love III | United States | 272 | -16 | 144,000 |
| 1992 | Steve Elkington | Australia | 279 | -9 | 144,000 |
| 1991 | Tom Kite | United States | 272 | -16 | 144,000 |
| Mutual of New York Tournament of Champions | |||||
| 1990 | Paul Azinger | United States | 272 | -16 | 135,000 |
| 1989 | Steve Jones | United States | 279 | -9 | 135,000 |
| 1988 | Steve Pate | United States | 202 | -14 | 90,000 |
| 1987 | Mac O’Grady | United States | 278 | -10 | 90,000 |
| 1986 | Calvin Peete | United States | 267 | -21 | 90,000 |
| 1985 | Tom Kite | United States | 275 | -13 | 72,000 |
| 1984 | Tom Watson | United States | 274 | -14 | 72,000 |
| 1983 | Lanny Wadkins | United States | 280 | -8 | 72,000 |
| 1982 | Lanny Wadkins | United States | 280 | -8 | 63,000 |
| 1981 | Lee Trevino | United States | 273 | -15 | 54,000 |
| 1980 | Tom Watson | United States | 276 | -12 | 54,000 |
| 1979 | Tom Watson | United States | 275 | -13 | 54,000 |
| 1978 | Gary Player | South Africa | 281 | -7 | 45,000 |
| 1977 | Jack Nicklaus | United States | 281 | -7 | 45,000 |
| 1976 | Don January | United States | 277 | -11 | 45,000 |
| 1975 | Al Geiberger | United States | 277 | -11 | 40,000 |
| Tournament of Champions | |||||
| 1974 | Johnny Miller | United States | 280 | -8 | 40,000 |
| 1973 | Jack Nicklaus | United States | 276 | -12 | 40,000 |
| 1972 | Bobby Mitchell | United States | 280 | -8 | 33,000 |
| 1971 | Jack Nicklaus | United States | 279 | -9 | 33,000 |
| 1970 | Frank Beard | United States | 273 | -15 | 30,000 |
| 1969 | Gary Player | South Africa | 284 | -4 | 30,000 |
| 1968 | Don January | United States | 276 | -8 | 30,000 |
| 1967 | Frank Beard | United States | 278 | -6 | 20,000 |
| 1966 | Arnold Palmer | United States | 283 | -5 | 20,000 |
| 1965 | Arnold Palmer | United States | 277 | -11 | 14,000 |
| 1964 | Jack Nicklaus | United States | 279 | -9 | 12,000 |
| 1963 | Jack Nicklaus | United States | 273 | -15 | 13,000 |
| 1962 | Arnold Palmer | United States | 276 | -12 | 11,000 |
| 1961 | Sam Snead | United States | 273 | -15 | 10,000 |
| 1960 | Jerry Barber | United States | 268 | -20 | 10,000 |
| 1959 | Mike Souchak | United States | 281 | -7 | 10,000 |
| 1958 | Stan Leonard | Canada | 275 | -13 | 10,000 |
| 1957 | Gene Littler | United States | 285 | -3 | 10,000 |
| 1956 | Gene Littler | United States | 281 | -7 | 10,000 |
| 1955 | Gene Littler | United States | 280 | -8 | 10,000 |
| 1954 | Art Wall, Jr. | United States | 278 | -10 | 10,000 |
| 1953 | Al Besselink | United States | 280 | -8 | 10,000 |
*Tournament Shortened Due To Weather
Discover more from GolfBlogger Golf Blog
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I had no idea the tournament went this far back! Thanks for sharing.
Looking at the winning scores the last several years it obvious takes a very low 4 round total to get the job done.
It makes me wonder what happened in 2006 when Stuart Appleby won with such a low score of 8 under.
I’m guessing the Hawaii winds must have picked up during the tournament!
HI..
Rea;y addmire your writing. You wrote with all the details, It will be help full. Thanx for sharing with us.
Thanx