The 2025 PGA Tour season gets underway in beautiful Hawaii for the second year running and it’s a solid start with a strong field assembled for The Sentry.
First played in 1953 and formerly known as the Sentry Tournament of Champions, it’s now a Signature Event on the PGA Tour and alongside winners from the 2024 PGA Tour, including the Fall Series, the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings also qualify.
Defending champion Chris Kirk was a surprise winner last year as previously a huge name had taken home the trophy in recent times, with even 2021 winner Harris English going on to play in that year’s Ryder Cup.
Jon Rahm won in 2023 before winning The Masters and 2022 champion Cameron Smith went on to win The Open that year – even two-time champion Justin Thomas‘ first success in 2017 led to his first PGA Championship victory.
So it can be a springboard for glory and that’s what a host of big names will again be looking for – despite some absentees as Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood are not playing and World No.1 Scottie Scheffler can’t play after injuring his hand over Christmas.
So Xander Schauffele, also a previous winner here, heads the betting market fresh off his double Major season, with fellow Americans Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Patrick Cantlay all in behind him.
With a lot of the top stars having had an extended break though, ring rust could be a factor so could we get another surprise winner? Some of the Golf Monthly team have made their picks…
The Sentry Course Guide: Kapalua
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The Plantation Course at Kapalua on the stunning island of Maui is one of the more recognizable on ther PGA Tour, with beautiful scenary, huge elevation changes and plenty of birdies.
Opened in 1991 and designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, unusually it’s a par 73, the only one on the PGA Tour schedule, and measures in at 7596 yards with the standard four par-5s but only three par-3s.
The Pacific Ocean winds plays a big part in things but it’s usually an ultra low-scoring affair well into the mid-20s under par and then some.
Twice in the last decade the winning score has been 30 under par or better, with just once being worse than 20 under, so players need to have a hot putter and sink every birdie chance they get.
The Sentry Previous Winners
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