"It's a perfect start" – When Tiger Woods became a PGA Tour millionaire with 1997 Sentry playoff win

The Sentry 2025 is about to start in a week, and Tiger Woods is set to skip the tournament for yet another season. He hasn't played in the event since 2005, but he has had some memorable years here. In his eight appearances, he won twice, and both victories came in playoffs.

Woods' first win at the Sentry came in 1997 when it was known as the Mercedes Championship. He was his first full-fledged season since turning pro the previous year and he was debuting at the event. However, he had already recorded two wins in his rookie season and claimed the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award.

In the first event of 1997, Tiger Woods fired rounds of 70, 67, and 65 to finish at 14-under after 54 holes. After three rounds, he shared the lead with Tom Lehman, who had won Player of the Year the previous season. The final round couldn't take place due to incessant rain at La Costa in Carlsbad, California, which resulted in both players heading for a sudden-death playoff.

In the extra hole, Woods nearly aced the par-3 seventh hole with his 6-iron. The ball traveled 186 yards and stopped just a few inches from the pin, which he then putted for birdie. Lehman, on the other hand, found the water on his tee shot, sealing the fate of the tournament for both him and Tiger.

With his Sentry 1997 win, Woods became the third-youngest player to win three titles, at the age of 21 years and 13 days. His three wins had come in just nine starts.

"It's a perfect start," Woods said as per Washington Post. "The only thing I set out to do is to win every tournament."

The Sentry win also helped Tiger Woods become the 200th millionaire on the PGA Tour. He also became the quickest at the time to reach $1 million in earnings.

The win at La Costa started an incredible season for Woods, as three months later he won the Masters Tournament, his first of fifteen majors. In addition, he also claimed the GTE Byron Nelson Classic and the Motorola Western Open that year.

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How has Tiger Woods performed at the Sentry over the years?

Tiger Woods has an incredible record at the Sentry, never finishing outside of the top ten. In addition to his two wins, he also finished joint runner-up in 1998 and tied for third in 2005.

Here's a look at Woods' performance at the Sentry over the years:

• 1997: P1, -14 (70, 67, 65)
• 1998: T2, -16 (72, 67, 69, 64)
• 1999: T5, -15 (69, 69, 67, 72)
• 2000: P1, -16 (71, 66, 71, 68)
• 2001: T8, -12 (70, 73, 68, 69)
• 2002: T10, -11 (68, 74, 74, 65)
• 2004: T4, -15 (71, 70, 65, 71)
• 2005: T3, -19 (68, 68, 69, 68)