For a very long time, the only winner-only event on the PGA Tour schedule was the Sentry Tournament of Champions. Since the last Tournament of Champions, the only way to secure a position in the field is to win an official event sanctioned by the PGA Tour; however, players who qualified for the prior Tour Championship are also invited.
The idea behind the Tournament of Champions (now The Sentry) was initially introduced in 1953. The event was originally intended to serve as a showcase for the champions. But in order to highlight the Tournament of Champions as the first event of the season, the PGA Tour shifted it to the beginning of the calendar in 1986.
As part of the Hawaii Swing with the Sony Open in Hawaii, the first full-field event of the year, the Sentry Tournament of Champions has maintained its calendar position as the year's first tournament. It fluctuated only once in 2013 when Sentry Insurance signed on as the tournament's title sponsor, committing to a five-year agreement that started in 2018 and was later extended through 2030.
The Kapalua Resort (The Plantation Course), Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii, hosted the 2024 Sentry Tournament of Champions from January 3 to January 7. Chris Kirk won the $3,600,000 winner's share of the $20,000,000 purse for the tournament.
Who won PGA The Sentry 2023?
Jon Rahm won the 2023 Sentry (Tournament of Champions) at Kapalua Resort's Plantation Course in Maui, Hawaii. Rahm received the $2,700,000 winner's share of the $15,000,000 purse.
Rahm won by a considerable margin on 27-under 265 in this 38-player event, turning around a seven-shot lead against Collin Morikawa with a final-round score of 10-under 63. Having led by six shots going into the last round, Morikawa shot even-par 73, losing the lead and then failing to recapture it after making three consecutive bogeys from holes 14–16. Tom Hoge and Max Homa tied for third place with a 23-under total.
Who won PGA The Sentry 2024?
Chris Kirk won at The 2024 Sentry in Maui, Hawaii, to record his first victory of the 2024 PGA Tour season. On January 7, 2024, the 38-year-old American finished the final round eight under par after birdieing the 15th and 17th holes. He received the $3.6 million winner's share of the $20 million purse.
Kirk had the lead into the final round and had made six birdies in his first 11 holes. On the back nine, he held off a late charge from Sahith Theegala.
It was Kirk's first victory since the 2023 Honda Classic and his sixth PGA career victory overall. He had not won on the PGA Tour in eight years until that victory in February 2023. He had taken a leave of absence in 2019 to deal with concerns related to his mental health and addiction.
At the 17th hole, Kirk and Theegala were tied for the lead. Kirk then set up a birdie and finished the week at 29 under 263. Byeong-Hun of South Korea came in fourth, and Jordan Spieth shot an eight under 65 to finish third at 27 under.
PGA The Sentry Winners List Year-by-Year
| Year | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory | Winner'sshare ($) |
| 2024 | Chris Kirk | 263 | -29 | 1 stroke | 3,600,000 |
| 2023 | Jon Rahm | 265 | −27 | 2 strokes | 2,700,000 |
| 2022 | Cameron Smith | 258 | −34 | 1 stroke | 1,476,000 |
| 2021 | Harris English | 267 | −25 | Playoff | 1,340,000 |
| 2020 | Justin Thomas (2) | 278 | −14 | Playoff | 1,340,000 |
| 2019 | Xander Schauffele | 269 | −23 | 1 stroke | 1,300,000 |
| 2018 | Dustin Johnson (2) | 268 | −24 | 8 strokes | 1,260,000 |
| 2017 | Justin Thomas | 270 | −22 | 3 strokes | 1,220,000 |
| 2016 | Jordan Spieth | 262 | −30 | 8 strokes | 1,180,000 |
| 2015 | Patrick Reed | 271 | −21 | Playoff | 1,140,000 |
| 2014 | Zach Johnson | 273 | −19 | 1 stroke | 1,140,000 |
| 2013 | Dustin Johnson | 203 | −16 | 4 strokes | 1,140,000 |
| 2012 | Steve Stricker | 269 | −23 | 3 strokes | 1,120,000 |
| 2011 | Jonathan Byrd | 268 | −24 | Playoff | 1,120,000 |
| 2010 | Geoff Ogilvy (2) | 270 | −22 | 1 stroke | 1,120,000 |
| 2009 | Geoff Ogilvy | 268 | −24 | 6 strokes | 1,120,000 |
| 2008 | Daniel Chopra | 274 | −18 | Playoff | 1,100,000 |
| 2007 | Vijay Singh | 278 | −14 | 2 strokes | 1,100,000 |
| 2006 | Stuart Appleby (3) | 284 | −8 | Playoff | 1,080,000 |
| 2005 | Stuart Appleby (2) | 271 | −21 | 1 stroke | 1,060,000 |
| 2004 | Stuart Appleby | 270 | −22 | 1 stroke | 1,060,000 |
| 2003 | Ernie Els | 261 | −31 | 8 strokes | 1,000,000 |
| 2002 | Sergio García | 274 | −18 | Playoff | 720,000 |
| 2001 | Jim Furyk | 274 | −18 | 1 stroke | 630,000 |
| 2000 | Tiger Woods (2) | 276 | −16 | Playoff | 522,000 |
| 1999 | David Duval | 266 | −26 | 9 strokes | 468,000 |
| 1998 | Phil Mickelson (2) | 271 | −17 | 1 stroke | 306,000 |
| 1997 | Tiger Woods | 202 | −14 | Playoff | 216,000 |
| 1996 | Mark O'Meara | 271 | −17 | 3 strokes | 180,000 |
| 1995 | Steve Elkington (2) | 278 | −10 | Playoff | 180,000 |
| 1994 | Phil Mickelson | 276 | −12 | Playoff | 180,000 |
| 1993 | Davis Love III | 272 | −16 | 1 stroke | 144,000 |
| 1992 | Steve Elkington | 279 | −9 | Playoff | 144,000 |
| 1991 | Tom Kite (2) | 272 | −16 | 1 stroke | 144,000 |
| 1990 | Paul Azinger | 272 | −16 | 1 stroke | 135,000 |
| 1989 | Steve Jones | 279 | −9 | 3 strokes | 135,000 |
| 1988 | Steve Pate | 202 | −14 | 1 stroke | 90,000 |
| 1987 | Mac O'Grady | 278 | −10 | 1 stroke | 90,000 |
| 1986 | Calvin Peete | 267 | −21 | 6 strokes | 90,000 |
| 1985 | Tom Kite | 275 | −13 | 6 strokes | 72,000 |
| 1984 | Tom Watson (3) | 274 | −14 | 5 strokes | 72,000 |
| 1983 | Lanny Wadkins (2) | 280 | −8 | 1 stroke | 72,000 |
| 1982 | Lanny Wadkins | 280 | −8 | 3 strokes | 63,000 |
| 1981 | Lee Trevino | 273 | −15 | 2 strokes | 54,000 |
| 1980 | Tom Watson (2) | 276 | −12 | 3 strokes | 54,000 |
| 1979 | Tom Watson | 275 | −13 | 6 strokes | 54,000 |
| 1978 | Gary Player (2) | 281 | −7 | 2 strokes | 45,000 |
| 1977 | Jack Nicklaus (5) | 281 | −7 | Playoff | 45,000 |
| 1976 | Don January (2) | 277 | −11 | 5 strokes | 45,000 |
| 1975 | Al Geiberger | 277 | −11 | Playoff | 40,000 |
| 1974 | Johnny Miller | 280 | −8 | 1 stroke | 40,000 |
| 1973 | Jack Nicklaus (4) | 276 | −12 | 1 stroke | 40,000 |
| 1972 | Bobby Mitchell | 280 | −8 | Playoff | 33,000 |
| 1971 | Jack Nicklaus (3) | 279 | −9 | 8 strokes | 33,000 |
| 1970 | Frank Beard (2) | 273 | −15 | 7 strokes | 30,000 |
| 1969 | Gary Player | 284 | −4 | 2 strokes | 30,000 |
| 1968 | Don January | 276 | −8 | 1 stroke | 30,000 |
| 1967 | Frank Beard | 278 | −6 | 1 stroke | 20,000 |
| 1966 | Arnold Palmer (3) | 283 | −5 | Playoff | 20,000 |
| 1965 | Arnold Palmer (2) | 277 | −11 | 2 strokes | 14,000 |
| 1964 | Jack Nicklaus (2) | 279 | −9 | 2 strokes | 12,000 |
| 1963 | Jack Nicklaus | 273 | −15 | 5 strokes | 13,000 |
| 1962 | Arnold Palmer | 276 | −12 | 1 stroke | 11,000 |
| 1961 | Sam Snead | 273 | −15 | 7 strokes | 10,000 |
| 1960 | Jerry Barber | 268 | −20 | 4 strokes | 10,000 |
| 1959 | Mike Souchak | 281 | −7 | 2 strokes | 10,000 |
| 1958 | Stan Leonard | 275 | −13 | 1 stroke | 10,000 |
| 1957 | Gene Littler (3) | 285 | −3 | 3 strokes | 10,000 |
| 1956 | Gene Littler (2) | 281 | −7 | 4 strokes | 10,000 |
| 1955 | Gene Littler | 280 | −8 | 13 strokes | 10,000 |
| 1954 | Art Wall Jr. | 278 | −10 | 6 strokes | 10,000 |
| 1953 | Al Besselink | 280 | −8 | 1 stroke | 10,000 |
Multiple PGA The Sentry Champions
Jack Nicklaus has won the tournament the most times, with five victories in his career, the most recent in 1977. With three victories, Tom Watson and Arnold Palmer are tied for the second-highest total in the event with Stuart Appleby (three straight from 2004 to 2006) and Gene Littler (three consecutive from 1955 to 1957). Don January, Gary Player, Frank Beard, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Steve Elkington, Geoff Ogilvy, Tom Kite, and Tiger Woods are among the other winners of the tournament.
| No. of Wins | Name | Country | Years |
| 5 | Jack Niklaus | United States | 1963, 1964, 1971, 1973, 1977 |
| 3 | Gene Littler | United States | 1955, 1956, 1957 |
| 3 | Arnold Palmer | United States | 1962, 1965, 1966 |
| 3 | Tom Watson | United States | 1979, 1980, 1984 |
| 3 | Stuart Appleby | Australia | 2004, 2005, 2006 |
| 2 | Frank Beard | United States | 1967, 1970 |
| 2 | Don January | United States | 1968, 1976 |
| 2 | Gary Player | South Africa | 1969, 1978 |
| 2 | Lanny Wadkins | United States | 1982, 1983 |
| 2 | Tom Kite | United States | 1982, 1991 |
| 2 | Steve Elkington | Australia | 1992, 1995 |
| 2 | Phil Mickelson | United States | 1994, 1998 |
| 2 | Tiger Woods | United States | 1997, 2000 |
| 2 | Geoff Ogilvy | Australia | 2009, 2010 |
| 2 | Dustin Johnson | United States | 2013, 2018 |
| 2 | Justin Thomas | United States | 2017, 2020 |
FAQs
A: The Tournament of Champions was introduced in 1953 as a showcase for golf champions.
A: Chris Kirk won the 2024 Sentry (Tournament of Champions) at Kapalua Resort's Plantation Course in Hawaii.
A: The 2024 Sentry Tournament of Champions had a purse of $20,000,000.
A: Jack Nicklaus has won the Tournament of Champions five times in his career, with the last victory in 1977.
A: Qualification is achieved by winning an official PGA Tour event or being a prior Tour Championship qualifier.
