Matt Fitzpatrick in the final round of the 2022 US Open, Brookline
Matt Fitzpatrick in the final round of the 2022 US Open, Brookline | (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

Golf | Sentry Tournament of Champions | Fitzpatrick kicks off the new season in Hawaii

By Ros Satar

  • PGA Season opener boasts 17 of the World’s Top 20
  • Matt Fitzpatrick and Seamus Power represent home nation interest
  • Rory McIlroy elects to skip the PGA season opener

 

KAPALUA, HAWAII, USA – The golf season makes its return this week with the PGA Sentry Tournament of Champions.

 

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Sentry Tournament of Champions 4-8 January

Location Kapalua, Hawaii
Course(s) Kapalua Resort Plantation Course
Par 73
Length 7,596 yards (6,946m)
Tour(s) PGA Tour
Format Stroke Play
Prize Fund $15m

The season opener for the PGA Tour is held in the first week of January and has been held at the Kapalua Resort Plantation Course on the island of Maui, in Hawaii since 1999. Sentry Insurance is the latest in a line of sponsors for the tournament, with a five-year agreement that started in 2018, which has now been extended to 2030.

This year’s event boasts an excellent field to kick off the new season, with no less that 17 of the world’s top 20 due to be in action. Players who won a tournament on the tour during the previous calendar year, and those who qualified for the preceding Tour Championship are invited as well.

 

Home Nations interest

PGA Tour golfers can choose to skip one elevated event – and perhaps to the surprise of some, Rory McIlroy has opted to give the Tournament of champions a swerve and will start his season at the DP World Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic instead.

 

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Seamus Power (IRE) gains his place in the field after winning the Butterfield Bermuda Championship in October 2022, defeating Thomas Detry by one stroke. Power starts at 9:35am (7:35pm GMT) with Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes.

 

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Matt Fitzpatrick (ENG) won his first major championship and PGA Tour title at the US Open, with a one-stroke victory, beating Scottie Scheffler and Will Zalatoris. He will play with Spain’s Jon Rahm, teeing off at 12:35pm (10:35pm GMT).

 

When does it start?

Round 1 starts on Thursday 5 January at 9:30am (7:30pm GMT) with coverage on Sky Sports starting at 7:15pm GMT following featured groups.

You can also listen to PGA Tour Radio on the Sentry Tournament of Champions website

 

 

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