PGA Tour
Hyundai Tournament of Champions
Dates: Jan. 9-12
Kapalua Resort (Plantation Course)
Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii
The first PGA Tour week of 2015 has come to a close on a rare Monday finish, and not because the tournament ended in a playoff. The tournament simply ends on Monday, having started on the previous Friday. Mind you, this is not the first week of the 2015 season with the advent of the wrap-around schedule. This is officially the “2014-2015” season. For most though, the Hyundai Tournament of Champions marks the beginning of the PGA Tour season, as it has done for many years.
The tournament featured a solid field with notables like Masters champion Bubba Watson, Jason Day, and Zach Johnson. Big names missing from the event, as per their usual winter breaks, include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Rory McIlory.
When the tournament came down to the wire two players finished tied at -21, Patrick Reed and Jimmy Walker. Patrick Reed, dressed in a Tiger Woods Sunday style black pant and red shirt, eagled the 16th to give himself a shot at the win, settling for the playoff. Reed birdied the fun 18th finishing hole the second time in 20 minutes on the first playoff hole to take home the victory.
Reed was criticized by the media and golf fans months ago for telling the world he was a top five player. Apparently he knew something the rest of the world did not. He’s well on his way to moving to the top five in the world rankings.
Next Week
Next week the PGA Tour stays in the paradise of Hawaii, moving to the Sony Open. The venue moves to the island of Oahu and Waialae Country Club. The field next week will be a full field, unlike the winners-only field at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
