The PGA Tour 2023 calendar year teed off in Kapalua, Hawaii earlier this month with the Sentry Tournament of Champions, sponsored by Sentry Insurance.
The tournament marked the first of 13 new elevated PGA Tour events this year with increased prize money. Players competed for a $15 million purse this year, up from $8.2 million a year ago.
The event, which ran Jan. 5-8 at the Plantation Course in Maui, featured a wild Sunday comeback by Jon Rahm, who started the day seven holes down. Rahm made three straight birdies and an eagle to catch up to Collin Morikawa, who made a trio of late bogeys to squander a big lead. Rahm finished the final round with a 10-under par to win the tournament by two strokes.
The tournament carried a considerable buzz as an elevated event. 39 golfers competed, including 17 of the top 20 in the Official World Golf Rankings.
Stevens Point, Wisconsin-based Sentry has served as the Tournament of Champions title sponsor since 2018. Beginning next year, the tournament will begin the PGA Tour FedEx Cup season, bringing even more attention to the event.
“We’ve embraced our role as title sponsor, and we take great pride in doing what we can to support the Maui community, which we consider our second home,” said Sentry CEO Pete McPartland. “The energy and excitement of the players, fans, community members, and our Sentry associates is palpable. As one of the PGA TOUR’s top events, and officially kicking off the PGA TOUR season in 2024, we are thrilled to be a part of its growth and evolution, and look forward to its bright future.”
2023 is poised to be a big year for Sentry’s involvement in golf. The insurance company will host the U.S. Senior Open from June 29 – July 2 at SentryWorld in Stevens Point. Past U.S. Senior Open champions include Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Steve Stricker.
SentryWorld, developed in 1982, is a 7,320-yard championship golf course located on Sentry’s main campus.
The event is expected to have more than a $20 million local economic impact.
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