January 2025: the Must-See Competitions on the PGA Tour (🏆*post updated with the Winners)
- clairebambino
- Dec 30, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: Feb 3
🗓🏌🏽♂️JANUARY 2025 ⛳️
🇺🇸 🏌🏽♂️ The Sentry – Jan 2-5, 2025 – Plantation Course at Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii • USA
The Sentry, formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, is traditionally the PGA Tour's calendar-year opening event.⏳ It boasts a rich history dating back to 1953:
between 1958 and 1968, the tournament was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Desert Inn Country Club and later the Stardust Country Club.
between 1969 and 1998, it moved to La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California, where it became a popular fixture on the PGA Tour calendar.
as from 1999, the tournament relocated to the stunning Kapalua Plantation Course on the island of Maui, Hawaii, where it has remained ever since.
Historically, the tournament was exclusively for players who won a PGA Tour event during the previous calendar year. In recent years, the field has expanded to include the top 50 players from the previous year's FedEx Cup standings.
📐 The tournament is played on the challenging par-73 Kapalua Plantation Course, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, which is known for its dramatic elevation changes, wide fairways, and stunning ocean views.
🧐 Throughout its history, the Sentry Tournament of Champions has attracted some of the greatest golfers of all time. With 5 victories, Jack Nicklaus holds the record for the most wins in the tournament's history. Other notable champions include Tiger Woods, Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and many more.
🌊 The trophy for the Sentry Tournament of Champions is a unique and visually striking piece. It features a breaking wave, symbolizing the energy and power of the ocean, and is made of glass. The trophy was designed by Maui-based Makai Glass to reflect the unique character of the tournament and its stunning Hawaiian setting.
💰 Purse: $20,000,000
💯 Fedexcup: 700 pts
Previous winner (2024): 🇺🇸 Chris Kirk ($3,600,000). His victory was a remarkable comeback story marked by his resilience and exceptional play. After a period of struggles and a significant career setback, Kirk's win at Kapalua signified a resurgence in his career. The tournament was a thrilling contest, with Kirk and Sahith Theegala battling it out for the title. Kirk's clutch performance on the 17th hole, where he hit a stunning 5-iron to within 3 feet of the pin, proved to be the decisive moment. This shot, in particular, showcased his skill and composure under pressure. Ultimately, Kirk's consistent play throughout the tournament, coupled with his clutch performance on the 17th, secured him a one-shot victory over Theegala.
🏆 Winner 2025: 🇯🇵 Hideki Matsuyama ($3,600,000) - Age: 32 - Turned Pro in 2013.
By finishing 35 shots under par at the end of the 4th round, Hideki Matsuyama,🥉the bronze medallist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, secured a resounding victory. His aggregate score over the 72 holes is a new record on the PGA Tour, surpassing the record set in 2022 by 🇦🇺 Cameron Smith (-34). This exceptional performance enabled the Japanese player to finish 3 shots ahead of 🇺🇸 Collin Morikawa. Third place went to 🇰🇷 Sungjae Im, 6 shots behind the winner. 🇺🇸 Scottie Scheffler, the world number one, was forced to watch the competition from afar; a hand injury sustained in a domestic accident prevented him from taking part in this first tournament of the season.
🇺🇸 🏌🏽♂️ Sony Open in Hawaii – Jan 9-12, 2025 – Waialae Country Club, Honolulu, Hawaï • USA
The Sony Open in Hawaii, originally known as the Hawaiian Open, has been held annually at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Hawaii, since its inception in 1965.
The tournament was initially a mid-autumn event, but it moved to its current winter slot in early February 1971.
📐 The course was originally designed by Thomas H. Parker in 1927, with Seth Raynor's influence being felt in the subsequent renovations and alterations. Raynor, a prominent figure in early American golf course architecture, was a protégé of Charles Blair Macdonald. He was known for his innovative designs and his ability to blend the natural landscape with challenging golf holes.🔎 Charles Blair Macdonald is often hailed as the "Father of American Golf Architecture." Born in Canada in 1855, he spent his formative years in Chicago before attending the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. It was there that he fell deeply in love with the game of golf and began to study the great courses of the British Isles.
The event holds a special place in Tour history, with notable champions including Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, and Justin Thomas, who shot a remarkable 59 in the opening round of his 2017 victory.
💰 Purse: $8,700,000
💯 Fedexcup: 500 pts
Previous winner: 🇺🇸 Grayson Murray ($1,494,000) - Grayson Murray emerged victorious at the 2024 Sony Open in Hawaii, securing his second PGA Tour title in dramatic fashion. The tournament culminated in a thrilling three-way playoff with 🇺🇸 Keegan Bradley and 🇰🇷 Byeong Hun An.
🏆 Winner 2025: 🇨🇦 Nick Taylor ($1,566,000) - Age: 36 - Turned Pro in 2010.
He is the 1st Canadian to win the Sony Open. This is the Canadian's 5th victory on the PGA Tour. Nick Taylor moves up to 29th in the world rankings and 2nd in the FedEx Cup behind Japan's Hideki Matsuyama. Taylor needed 2 more holes to beat 🇨🇴 Nico Echavarria, both finishing at -16.
🇩🇪 Stephan Jaeger and 🇺🇸 J.J. Spaun shared third place (-15).
This remarkable result enables Nick Taylor to take part in the next 7 major events of the season, competitions in which he was unable to take part in 2024 after a difficult end to the season which prevented him from taking part in the Presidents Cup, held on his Canadian soil.
🇺🇸 🏌🏽♂️ The American Express – Jan 16-19, 2025 – Pete Dye Stadium Course, La Quinta, California • USA
The American Express, formerly known as the Bob Hope Desert Classic, is a prestigious PGA Tour event held annually in La Quinta, California.
The tournament's roots trace back to 1960 when it was first held as the Palm Springs Golf Classic. Over the years, it gained popularity and was eventually associated with legendary comedian Bob Hope. Hope's involvement elevated the event, drawing in celebrities and transforming it into a star-studded affair.
In 2012, the tournament rebranded as the Humana Challenge and in 2020 as the Desert Classic. More recently, im 2022, it has been named The American Express. This rebranding has brought a fresh perspective to the event, while still honoring its rich history and tradition.
One of the tournament's distinctive features is its unique format. For many years, it was played over five rounds, with a pro-am format involving celebrities and amateur golfers. However, in recent years, the tournament has shifted to a more traditional four-round format, played across three different courses: the Stadium Course, the Nicklaus Tournament Course, and La Quinta Country Club. This format provides a diverse and challenging test for the golfers.
The tournament is known for its typically low scoring due to perfect desert conditions and immaculately maintained courses, making it a favorite among both players and spectators.
💰 Purse: $8,800,000
💯 Fedexcup: 500 pts
Previous winner: 🇺🇸 Nick Dunlap - 🏆The 2024 tournament saw Nick Dunlap, then 20-year-old from the University of Alabama, make history by becoming the first amateur since 🇺🇸 Phil Mickelson in 1991 to win a PGA Tour event. Dunlap's exceptional performance throughout the tournament was highlighted by a stunning 60 in the third round, matching the lowest round ever shot by an amateur on the PGA Tour. His clutch play and calm demeanor under pressure allowed him to maintain his lead and secure the victory.
🏆 Winner 2025: 🇦🇹 Sepp Straka ($1,584,000) - Age: 31 - Turned Pro in 2016.
Austrian Sepp Straka won his 3rd PGA Tour title. He finished the tournament with a score of -25 (263). His last victory dated back 18 months to the Honda Classic (July 2023). He won by two shots over 🇺🇸 Justin Thomas and three shots over 🇺🇸 Justin Lower (69) and 🇦🇺 Jason Day (69).
🇺🇸 🏌🏽♂️ Farmers Insurance Open – Jan 22-25, 2025 – Torrey Pines Golf Course, San Diego, California • USA
The Farmers Insurance Open has a rich history dating back to 1952. Initially known as the San Diego Open, the tournament has evolved over the years, attracting top-tier golfers and captivating golf enthusiasts worldwide.
The tournament found its permanent home at Torrey Pines Golf Course in 1968.
The tournament is unique in that it utilizes both the North and South courses at Torrey Pines for the first two rounds, with the weekend play contested exclusively on the demanding South Course - the same layout that hosted the U.S. Open in 2008 and 2021.
📐 The primary architects of Torrey Pines Golf Course are William P. Bell and his son, William F. Bell. While Rees Jones has made significant renovations to the South Course, particularly in preparation for the 2008 and 2021 U.S. Open Championships, the original design and layout are credited to the Bells.
The event is known for its challenging conditions, with thick rough, Pacific Ocean breezes, and poa annua greens testing the world's best players.
The tournament's rich history includes multiple victories by local hero Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, who has won the event an impressive 7 times, making it one of his most successful venues.
💰 Purse: $9,300,000
💯 Fedexcup: 500 pts
Previous winner: 🇫🇷 Matthieu Pavon ($1,620,000) - 🐓🇫🇷 Matthieu Pavon made history in the 2024 edition by becoming the first Frenchman to win on the PGA Tour in 117 years, closing with a dramatic birdie on the 72nd hole to secure a one-shot victory over Nicolai Højgaard.
🏆 Winner 2025: 🇺🇸 Harris English ($1,674,000) - Age: 35 - Turned Pro in 2011.
The victory marked Harris English's 5th PGA Tour title in difficult weather conditions with intense gusts of wind. He shot a final round 73 to secure victory with a total score of 280 (-8).
This was his 340th appearance on the PGA Tour. After 1309 days without a win, Harris English looks in good shape to return to the world's top 50. He is currently 4th in the FedEx Cup rankings.
🇺🇸 🏌🏽♂️ A&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am – Jan 30-Feb 2, 2025 – Pebble Beach Golf Links, California • USA
The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am has a rich history dating back to the 1930s. Originally known as the Crosby Clambake, the tournament was founded by legendary singer Bing Crosby. 🎤 Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. was an iconic American singer, actor, and television personality. Born on May 3, 1903, in Tacoma, Washington, Crosby rose to prominence in the 1930s and 1940s, becoming one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century. He was one of the first multimedia stars, excelling in radio, film, and music. Some of his most famous songs include "White Christmas," "Silent Night," and "Sweet Leilani."
The event's unique format, which pairs professional golfers with amateur celebrities, has contributed to its enduring popularity. Over the years, the tournament has attracted some of the biggest names in golf, including Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods, and Phil Mickelson. It's also known for its strong tradition of celebrity participation, with Hollywood stars, athletes, and musicians often competing alongside professional golfers.⭐️ Here are some of the notable celebrities who have participated in recent years:
🎬 Actors: Bill Murray, Josh Duhamel, Michael Peña, Alfonso Ribeiro, Will Arnett.
🎶 Musicians: Justin Timberlake, Josh Allen, Eric Church, Darius Rucker, Macklemore.
The tournament is renowned for its stunning coastal setting, featuring three iconic courses: Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and Monterey Peninsula Country Club's Shore Course.
⛳️ Pebble Beach Golf Links was primarily designed by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant. These two amateur golfers, with no formal training in golf course architecture, created a masterpiece that has captivated golfers for over a century.
💰 Purse: $20,000,000
💯 Fedexcup: 700 pts
Previous winner: 🇺🇸 Wyndham Clark ($3,600,000) - Wyndham Clark won the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. His victory was particularly impressive as he shot a historic 60 in the third round, tying the course record at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Due to inclement weather, the final round was canceled, and Clark was declared the winner. His victory marked a significant milestone in his career and solidified his position as one of the rising stars on the PGA Tour.
🏆 Winner 2025: NIR Rory Mcllroy ($3,600,000) - Age: 35 - Turned Pro in 2007.
It was the 27th career victory for the Northern Irishman on the PGA Tour, who won the tournament with a score of -21.
