Tournament Of Champions Trends

The New Year heralds the re-start of the PGA Tour season and the action gets underway in Hawaii on Thursday. The winners-only competition has been held on the Plantation Course at the Kapalua Resort since 1999 and although the line-up is constantly evolving, the course has remained relatively unchanged.

With four par-5s and only three par-3s, Kapalua is the only par-73 event on the tour’s schedule, but it doesn’t favour the long hitter. Even modest hitters can get good yardage off the tee, in 2012 Kapalua had the easiest greens to hit on tour. Putting has therefore proved key, as we examine the trends of the last ten winners.

Top-60 on tour for putting average
In the last ten years statistically the ‘worst’ putter to win the Tournament of Champions was 2013 winner Dustin Johnson but his numbers were exacerbated by a poor second half to 2013 when his putting fell apart. Generally, the best putters come to the fore, Steve Stricker the 2012 champion being a prime example. 12 of the last 14 winners ranked in the top-60 on tour for putting average.

Top-60 on tour for 3-putt avoidance
GIRs might be easy to find at Kapalua, but with greens measuring 8,000-square feet, getting close to the pin can be difficult. In 2012 the tournament had the highest average number of putts per round on tour. GIRs can turn into bogeys with sloppy putting. 9 of the last 10 winners ranked inside the top-60 on tour for 3-putt avoidance.

Top-60 on tour for birdie or better conversions
Jordan Spieth scorched the course winning on 30-under in 2016 but usually the winning score is around the 20-under mark. Defending champion Justin Thomas was third on tour in birdie or better conversion. 

Top-60 on tour for par-5 scoring
The par-5s represent the best scoring opportunities and the last 10 winners ranked inside the top-60 on tour for par-5 scoring.

Players that fit all four trends:
Billy Horschel
Bryson DeChambeau
Jon Rahm
Justin Thomas
Patrick Reed
Sungjae Im
Tony Finau
Viktor Hovland
Webb Simpson