The Tournament of Champions (known as The Sentry from 2024 to 2025) was a golf tournament played on the PGA Tour from 1953 to 2025. The tournament was played in Hawaii on the island of Maui. From 1986 through 2013 and again from 2024 to 2025, it was the opening event of each tour season. For most of its history, the tournament field was restricted to golfers who won a tournament on the tour during the previous calendar year, but players who qualified for the preceding Tour Championship were later invited as well. In 2025, Hideki Matsuyama shot the lowest 72-hole to-par score in the history of the PGA Tour (−35) to win the final edition of the tournament.
History The tournament 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. Unlike most PGA Tour events, it is a par 73 course.
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; it moved from May in 1985 to January in 1986, and relocated to Maui in 1999.
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. Hyundai took over title sponsorship in 2011 with SBS remaining a sponsor. In 2017, SBS became title sponsor again after Hyundai took over title sponsorship of the PGA Tour event at Riviera Country Club. Sentry Insurance signed on as the event's title sponsor with a five-year agreement starting in 2018, later extended through 2030.
From 2012 to 2015, the tournament used a Friday–Monday format, joining the Deutsche Bank Championship as the only two PGA Tour events with this format. The format allowed the tournament to have its own day to finish, and not compete against the second day of the NFL Wild Card Playoff round.
For the 2021 tournament, the PGA Tour announced that the field would be expanded to include the 30 players qualifying for the 2020 Tour Championship in addition to tournament winners during the 2020 calendar year. The change was made following the cancellation of ten tournaments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 edition reverted to the usual winners-only field, but the addition of Tour Championship qualifiers was made permanent in 2023. The tournament had a name change for 2024 as a result, dropping the traditional Tournament of Champions name again. For the 2025 tournament, The Sentry will be an official Signature Event. By rule, the 50 players who qualified for the 2024 BMW Championship, in addition to all winner of the previous year, are eligible. In addition, if a player who qualified for the BMW Championship is deemed not in good standing and ineligible to participate on the PGA Tour, the 51st place player in FedEx Cup standings will be elevated, and so forth.
In September 2025, the PGA Tour announced that the tournament would not be played at its traditional venue, the Plantation Course at Kapalua in Maui, for the 2026 season. The decision was made citing ongoing drought conditions, water conservation mandates, compromised agronomic conditions, and logistical challenges. In October, the tour announced the cancellation of the 2026 event, and that all winners during the 2025 season would instead be invited to the RBC Heritage in April.
On April 20, 2026, the PGA Tour announced that the tournament, along with the Sony Open in Hawaii, would no longer be part of the season schedule moving forward, officially ending the tournament after 73 editions.
Television While being played at LaCosta, the weekend rounds were traditionally televised by ABC Sports. However, after moving to Hawaii in 1999, the time difference was not conducive to network television. The event moved to ABC's cable partner ESPN for four-round coverage. In 2007, the event moved to four-round coverage on the Golf Channel. In 2012, NBC Sports began showing weekend play, while also producing the new Monday final round for sister network Golf Channel. Starting in 2018, Thursday–Sunday coverage split between Golf Channel and NBC, with the latter picking up weekend coverage when not in conflict with the network's broadcasts of NFL playoff games.
Winners YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-upWinner'sshare ($)The Sentry 2026 Canceled 2025 Hideki Matsuyama257 −35 3 strokes Collin Morikawa3,600,000 2024 Chris Kirk 263 −29 1 stroke Sahith Theegala 3,600,000Sentry Tournament of Champions 2023 Jon Rahm 265 −27 2 strokes Collin Morikawa 2,700,000 2022 Cameron Smith 258 −34 1 stroke Jon Rahm 1,476,000 2021 Harris English 267 −25 Playoff Joaquín Niemann 1,340,000 2020 Justin Thomas (2) 278 −14 Playoff Patrick Reed Xander Schauffele 1,340,000 2019 Xander Schauffele269 −23 1 stroke Gary Woodland 1,300,000 2018 Dustin Johnson (2) 268 −24 8 strokes Jon Rahm 1,260,000SBS Tournament of Champions 2017 Justin Thomas 270 −22 3 strokes Hideki Matsuyama 1,220,000Hyundai Tournament of Champions 2016 Jordan Spieth 262 −30 8 strokes Patrick Reed 1,180,000 2015 Patrick Reed 271 −21 Playoff Jimmy Walker 1,140,000 2014 Zach Johnson 273 −19 1 stroke Jordan Spieth 1,140,000 2013 Dustin Johnson 203 −16 4 strokes Steve Stricker 1,140,000 2012 Steve Stricker 269 −23 3 strokes Martin Laird 1,120,000 2011 Jonathan Byrd 268 −24 Playoff Robert Garrigus 1,120,000SBS Championship 2010 Geoff Ogilvy (2) 270 −22 1 stroke Rory Sabbatini 1,120,000Mercedes-Benz Championship 2009 Geoff Ogilvy 268 −24 6 strokes Anthony Kim Davis Love III 1,120,000 2008 Daniel Chopra 274 −18 Playoff Steve Stricker 1,100,000 2007 Vijay Singh 278 −14 2 strokes Adam Scott 1,100,000Mercedes Championships 2006 Stuart Appleby (3) 284 −8 Playoff Vijay Singh 1,080,000 2005 Stuart Appleby (2) 271 −21 1 stroke Jonathan Kaye 1,060,000 2004 Stuart Appleby 270 −22 1 stroke Vijay Singh 1,060,000 2003 Ernie Els 261 −31 8 strokes K. J. Choi Rocco Mediate 1,000,000 2002 Sergio García 274 −18 Playoff David Toms 720,000 2001 Jim Furyk 274 −18 1 stroke Rory Sabbatini 630,000 2000 Tiger Woods (2) 276 −16 Playoff Ernie Els 522,000 1999 David Duval 266 −26 9 strokes Mark O'Meara Billy Mayfair 468,000 1998 Phil Mickelson (2) 271 −17 1 stroke Mark O'Meara Tiger Woods 306,000 1997 Tiger Woods 202 −14 Playoff Tom Lehman 216,000 1996 Mark O'Meara 271 −17 3 strokes Nick Faldo Scott Hoch 180,000 1995 Steve Elkington (2) 278 −10 Playoff Bruce Lietzke 180,000 1994 Phil Mickelson 276 −12 Playoff Fred Couples 180,000Infiniti Tournament of Champions 1993 Davis Love III 272 −16 1 stroke Tom Kite 144,000 1992 Steve Elkington 279 −9 Playoff Brad Faxon 144,000 1991 Tom Kite (2) 272 −16 1 stroke Lanny Wadkins 144,000MONY Tournament of Champions 1990 Paul Azinger 272 −16 1 stroke Ian Baker-Finch 135,000 1989 Steve Jones 279 −9 3 strokes David Frost Jay Haas 135,000 1988 Steve Pate 202 −14 1 stroke Larry Nelson 90,000 1987 Mac O'Grady 278 −10 1 stroke Rick Fehr 90,000 1986 Calvin Peete 267 −21 6 strokes Mark O'Meara 90,000 1985 Tom Kite 275 −13 6 strokes Mark McCumber 72,000 1984 Tom Watson (3) 274 −14 5 strokes Bruce Lietzke 72,000 1983 Lanny Wadkins (2) 280 −8 1 stroke Raymond Floyd 72,000 1982 Lanny Wadkins 280 −8 3 strokes Andy Bean David Graham Craig Stadler Ron Streck 63,000 1981 Lee Trevino 273 −15 2 strokes Raymond Floyd 54,000 1980 Tom Watson (2) 276 −12 3 strokes Jim Colbert 54,000 1979 Tom Watson 275 −13 6 strokes Bruce Lietzke Jerry Pate 54,000 1978 Gary Player (2) 281 −7 2 strokes Andy North Lee Trevino 45,000 1977 Jack Nicklaus (5) 281 −7 Playoff Bruce Lietzke 45,000 1976 Don January (2) 277 −11 5 strokes Hubert Green 45,000 1975 Al Geiberger 277 −11 Playoff Gary Player 40,000Tournament of Champions 1974 Johnny Miller 280 −8 1 stroke Buddy Allin John Mahaffey 40,000 1973 Jack Nicklaus (4) 276 −12 1 stroke Lee Trevino 40,000 1972 Bobby Mitchell 280 −8 Playoff Jack Nicklaus 33,000 1971 Jack Nicklaus (3) 279 −9 8 strokes Bruce Devlin Gary Player Dave Stockton 33,000 1970 Frank Beard (2) 273 −15 7 strokes Billy Casper Tony Jacklin Gary Player 30,000 1969 Gary Player 284 −4 2 strokes Lee Trevino 30,000 1968 Don January 276 −8 1 stroke Julius Boros 30,000 1967 Frank Beard 278 −6 1 stroke Arnold Palmer 20,000 1966 Arnold Palmer (3) 283 −5 Playoff Gay Brewer 20,000 1965 Arnold Palmer (2) 277 −11 2 strokes Chi-Chi Rodríguez 14,000 1964 Jack Nicklaus (2) 279 −9 2 strokes Al Geiberger Doug Sanders 12,000 1963 Jack Nicklaus 273 −15 5 strokes Tony Lema Arnold Palmer 13,000 1962 Arnold Palmer 276 −12 1 stroke Billy Casper 11,000 1961 Sam Snead 273 −15 7 strokes Tommy Bolt 10,000 1960 Jerry Barber 268 −20 4 strokes Jay Hebert 10,000 1959 Mike Souchak 281 −7 2 strokes Art Wall Jr. 10,000 1958 Stan Leonard 275 −13 1 stroke Billy Casper 10,000 1957 Gene Littler (3) 285 −3 3 strokes Billy Casper Jimmy Demaret Dow Finsterwald Billy Maxwell 10,000 1956 Gene Littler (2) 281 −7 4 strokes Cary Middlecoff 10,000 1955 Gene Littler 280 −8 13 strokes Jerry Barber Pete Cooper Bob Toski 10,000 1954 Art Wall Jr. 278 −10 6 strokes Al Besselink Lloyd Mangrum 10,000 1953 Al Besselink 280 −8 1 stroke Chandler Harper 10,000 Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Tournament highlights 1953: Al Besselink wins the inaugural Tournament of Champions (TOC) by one shot over Chandler Harper. 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. 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. 1959: Mike Souchak wins by two shots over Art Wall Jr. in spite of his shooting a final round 77. 1960: Jerry Barber shoots 268, a TOC tournament mark for its time in Las Vegas, four shots ahead of Jay Hebert. 1962: Arnold Palmer earns his first TOC title. He birdies the 72nd hole to finish one shot ahead of Billy Casper. 1963: Jack Nicklaus wins the TOC for the first time. He finishes five shots ahead of Tony Lema and Arnold Palmer. 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. 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. 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. 1972: Bobby Mitchell wins the TOC with a birdie putt on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff with Jack Nicklaus. 1973: Jack Nicklaus wins the TOC for a fourth time, one stroke ahead of Lee Trevino. 1977: Jack Nicklaus collects his fifth and final TOC title with a birdie at the third hole of a sudden-death playoff to defeat Bruce Lietzke. 1978: Just like the week previous at Masters, Gary Player comes back from seven shots behind to win, two shots ahead of Andy North and Lee Trevino. 1980: 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. 1981: Lee Trevino earns his first PGA Tour victory in California, two strokes ahead of Raymond Floyd.