SENTRY TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS RESULTS SUNDAY JANUARY 8, 2023

For the 2023 season this will be the first of 17 designated events where the top golfers, with a few exceptions, will be competing at every tournament.  Of the top 20 golfers only 

Rory McIlroy#1, Cameron Smith #3 & Shane Lowry #20 are missing.  The Kapalua coarse opened in 1975 and was originally designed by Arnold Palmer and Francis Duane and updated in 2019 by Ben Crenshaw & Bill Core.  It is located on the slopes of the West Maui Mountains giving ocean views on virtually every hole.  In 1953 Al Besselink from Conshohocken, PA won $10,000 Silver Dollars in the first tournament played in Las Vegas and donated 1/2 his winnings to cancer research when he discovered that Babe Zaharias was battling the disease.  He had competed with she and Babe Ruth in a 1948 golf benefit for Ruth’s Cancer Fund.

Maui temperature 76 degree, Stevens Point WI 24 with snow.

ROUND 1 Sixteen players are within 3 shots of the lead.  

Biggest long shot is Scott Stallings 100/1.

#1 Jon Rahm-9 He is using a brand new driver which may be more accurate. 

#1 Colin Morikawa-9 His 64 is the lowest opening round he has ever shot 

#1 J J Spaun-9

#4 Tom Kim-8

#5 (6)-7 M Hughes, T Hoge, A Wise, S J Im, S Scheffler, M Fitzpatrick

#11 (6)-6 S Stallings, T Finau, H Matsuyama, S Theegala, V Hovland, J Spieth

ROUND 2 Xander Schauffele withdraw due to back issues which started at the 

Tour Championship BMW.  He is #6 in the world, and won this tournament in 2019. 

This years winner should come from top 6.

#1 C Morikawa-16 Shoots 64 & 66 bogie free.

#2 S Scheffler-14 66 & 66.  2 bogies, 9 birdies including last 4 holes.  

#2 J J Spaun-14  64 & 68 May have a problem staying with the big guys.

#4 J Spieth-13 67 & 66. Eagled #5 after a bogie on 4 & 15.

#5 T Kim-12 65 & 69.  He birdied the 677 yard 18th hitting the green in 2.

#6 J Rahm-11 64 & 71 Bogied 1st 2 holes, putted well but missed many fairways.

#6 M Fitzpatrick-11 66 & 69 Had 2 bogies, 4 birdies and 1 eagle on #15.

ROUND 3 Jordan Spieth had 5 birdies but 3 bogies for a 71 tied for 9th-15.

#1 C. Morikawa-24 (65) His best 54 hole total in his career.  No bogies.

#2 S Scheffler-18 (69) If he wins or finishes 3rd he will replace McIlroy as world #1.

#3 J J Spaun-18 (69) Hanging with the big guys.  Needs 1 more round.

#2 M Fitzpatrick-18 (66) Climbing the ladder, third best round of the day. 

#5 J Rahm-17 (67) & T Kim-17 (68) 

#7 Homa-16 (63) 10 birdies & Im (65) 2 lowest rounds of day.

FINAL ROUND   Morikawa blows a 6 stroke lead and looses to Rahm.  He completely collapses with his first bogie of the tournament on 14, then 15 and 16  causing him to loose the lead, and the tournament.  It is only the 8th time in PGA history for someone to loose a 6 stroke lead on the final round.  He has to be devastated, and only time will tell the lasting effects.

Rahm bogies the first hole, then has 9 birdies and an eagle on 15 to pull off a stunning victory.  He takes a 2 stroke lead with an 8’ putt on 17 to go 9 under, and birdies 18 to win by 2.  

He was 80/1 to win after 6 holes.

#1 Jon Rahm-27(63) 265 $2,700,000 Shot-10 final round

#2 Colin Morikawa-25 (72) 267 $1,500,000 Shot-1   final round

#3 Tom Hoge-23(64) 269 $840,000 Shot-9   final round

#3 Max Homa-23(66) 269 $840,000 Shot-7   final round

#5 Tom Kim-22(68) 270 $555,000 Shot-5   final round

#5 J J Spaun-22(69) 270 $555,000 Shot-4   final round

#38 Chad Ramey-2(71) 290 $150,000 Shot-2   final round

Fitzpatrick, Scheffler & Spieth faded in final found.