Jon Rahm works on his sand game Tuesday at the Kapalua Plantation Course’s practice area ahead of the Sentry Tournament of Champions. The pro-am is today, followed by the first round Thursday. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos
KAPALUA — From veterans to newcomers, the Kapalua Plantation Course is the center of the professional golf universe this week as the new era of the PGA Tour starts with the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
Jon Rahm was one of three golfers to break the PGA Tour scoring record here last year when he fired 33-under-par 259 — and finished second to Cameron Smith. Matt Jones was one shot behind Rahm, also breaking Ernie Els’ tour record of 31 under set here in 2003.
Smith and Jones are gone to the rival, Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit, but Rahm has been a steadfast supporter of the PGA Tour.
“Well, it’s always great to be back,” Rahm, ranked fifth in the world, said at his pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday. “I’ve had some success here in the past highlighted by the battle I had with Cam last year in the final round. I mean, those scores were pretty incredible.
“The three lowest scores ever on a PGA Tour event were out here. So, hoping to have another good showing this year and start the year off on a positive note.”
Tony Finau blasts out of a Kapalua Plantation Course practice bunker Tuesday.
The Sentry is the first of the “designated” events, announced by commissioner Jay Monahan in August, where the purses have been boosted, more FedEx Cup points are on the line and the top players have agreed to play against each other.
Of the 41 players eligible to be here, 39 are. The purse is $15 million, up from $8.2 million last year, and the winner takes home $2.7 million.
“Well, it’s a massive bonus to be able to come to a field of, what is it, 39 players this week? … Compete for the same amount of FedEx Cup points we compete in the other week and a massive purse compared to the others, right?” Rahm said. “I mean, it’s a very, very, very extensive bonus to be able to — exactly, only have to beat 38 players compared to any other event, right? And it’s earned by having an amazing year.”
The field includes 10 players who did not win in 2022, but made it to the Tour Championship as a top-30 finisher on the FedEx Cup points list. That is an added way to qualify for this event, in addition to being a 2022 winner on tour.
Rahm won the Mexican Open in April, his seventh PGA Tour win.
Seamus Power reacts after missing a putt on the 18th green during Tuesday’s practice round.
“I think it’s great that they’re allowing the people that make it to the Tour Championship to be here as well,” he said. “Maybe change the name of the tournament since they haven’t won a tournament, but I don’t think the name matters too much. I think it’s right to have the best players of the year here, and making it to East Lake should be an accomplishment.
“I think a player like (2022 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year) Cam Young has earned it. So it’s only going to make this tournament better. Like I said, it’s a massive bonus. … It’s an All-Star field that, you know, you can take advantage and start the year on a good note.”
Patrick Cantlay finished fourth here last year, eight strokes behind the winner.
“Yeah, I’m excited to be back,” said Cantlay, who is ranked fourth in the world. “Golf course looks like it’s in great shape. A little firmer in the fairways this year than last. Yeah, last year was a shoot-out. I think I was 25 or 26 under, 26 under and lost by eight, which never feels good.
“But I played well, so it’s a golf course that I think I figured out more recently compared to my first couple starts here, and so it’s definitely a place I look forward to coming back every year.”
Tom Kim speaks during his press conference Tuesday morning.
When asked if he feels things are a bit different here this year with the new incentives in place, if players are taking things more seriously, Cantlay said he always shows up ready to play.
“I don’t have that problem. I take most events I show up to pretty darn serious,” Cantlay said. “But, yeah, I think the guys are pretty excited about all playing the same events this year for the most part and knowing that there’s going to be 10 or 11 events where they all show up. I think that should make for a real exciting year.”
Tom Kim, a 20-year-old South Korean, won the Wyndham Championship in August and the Shriners Children’s Open in October to make it to Kapalua for the first time.
“I mean, it’s a great place to start, obviously, in Maui,” Kim said. “It’s my first time in Hawaii. The course looks in great shape. You’ve got amazing sights here. So to be in a field where not many people can get in, it’s awesome to be here and I can’t wait to have this week started.”
Kim was also a solid member of the International team in the Presidents Cup in September, compiling a 2-3-0 record and becoming an overnight golf sensation with his fist-pumping bursts of emotion when things were going well.
“Yeah, it’s been a crazy 2022, and things happened so fast where I think this past off-season I was able to kind of reflect on what it was like, and it’s amazing,” Kim said. “I’ve had two wins and it’s really got me to feel a little bit more like I got to work harder and hopefully 2023 will be a better year than 2022.”
Kim felt a bit guilty that he did not bring his parents with him on his first trip to Maui.
“So I don’t have my parents with me. I don’t have much family here. So it’s kind of, I kind of feel bad that I’m kind of seeing this alone,” he said. “So I’m going to wait until my next trip and I can bring some family and friends. So I told myself my first trip I want to kind of focus on my golf and maybe next time kind of enjoy a little bit more with family and friends.
“But I’ve been going out and having some great food and like I still, like the sunsets and sunrise are just, it’s great, it’s beautiful. So I’ve just been enjoying that, but just been trying to stay focused on my golf.”
Will Zalatoris, the 2021 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, won the FedEx St. Jude Championship — the FedEx Cup playoffs opener — to vault to the No. 1 spot in the standings before having to shut things down due to a back injury.
“Yeah, it’s been an interesting four months, to say the least, since Memphis. But, yeah, beautiful place,” Zalatoris said of his first trip to Kapalua. “This is probably the tournament that I watched the most growing up, just given the fact that you’re watching it at night back home. So pretty cool seeing some of the holes for the first time after all the years of watching it on TV.
“So a lot of fun and obviously pretty happy to be here, given the win and then the last three months of being off.”
Zalatoris married wife Caitlyn in December, so this is a bit of a honeymoon for the couple. He endured three second-place finishes in 2022, including the U.S. Open and PGA Championship, which makes being here even more special.
“Yeah, it’s such a cool spot. I think I’ve just been so close so many times, so I think, if anything, after having the time off, it’s kind of hard to remind myself of all the second places,” he said. “But, yeah, it’s pretty cool to be with all the champions from this past year and then obviously the guys who made it to East Lake as well. So this is the best of the best.”
* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.
*****
Sentry Tournament of Champions
TEE TIMES
Thursday’s First Round
At Kapalua Plantation Course
9:30 a.m.–Adam Svensson.
9:35 a.m.–Seamus Power, Mackenzie Hughes.
9:45 a.m.–Scott Stallings, Chez Reavie.
9:55 a.m.–Tony Finau, Collin Morikawa.
10:05 a.m.–Patrick Cantlay, Hideki Matsuyama.
10:15 a.m.–Cameron Young, Sam Burns.
10:25 a.m.–Adam Scott, Sahith Theegala.
10:35 a.m.–Tom Hoge, Ryan Brehm.
10:50 a.m.–Trey Mullinax, J.J. Spaun.
11:00 a.m.–K.H. Lee, Chad Ramey.
11:10 a.m.–Aaron Wise, Russell Henley.
11:20 a.m.–J.T. Poston, Corey Conners.
11:30 a.m.–Brian Harman, Luke List.
11:40 a.m.–Sepp Straka, Billy Horschel.
11:55 a.m.–Viktor Hovland, Keegan Bradley.
12:05 p.m.–Sungjae Im, Max Homa.
12:15 p.m.–Scottie Scheffler, Will Zalatoris.
12:25 p.m.–Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim.
12:35 p.m.–Matt Fitzpatrick, Jon Rahm.
12:45 p.m.–Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas
Jon Rahm works on his sand game Tuesday at the Kapalua Plantation Course’s practice area ahead of the Sentry Tournament of Champions. The pro-am is today, followed by the first round Thursday. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos 
Seamus Power reacts after missing a putt on the 18th green during Tuesday’s practice round. 
Tom Kim speaks during his press conference Tuesday morning.
Tony Finau blasts out of a Kapalua Plantation Course practice bunker Tuesday.Today's breaking news and more in your inbox
Today • HHSAA swimming and diving 8:30 a.m.—State championships, dive finals, at Kihei Aquatic Center. 1 ...
BOWLING ALOHA FRIDAY LEAGUE Feb. 2 Results At Wailuku Lanes Standings—Anela’s 61, Jonathan’s 59.5, ...
Lola Donez scored 19 points in her final game with the Lahainaluna High School girls basketball team as the Lunas ...
Top-seeded Iolani School got a golden goal off the post in the 89th minute on Friday night for a 1-0 overtime win ...
Today • HHSAA swimming and diving 10 a.m.—State championships, dive prelims, at Kihei Aquatic ...
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7rq3UoqWer6NjsLC5jqynqKqkqHytu8Kao2aroKS%2Ftb%2BOa2dra19lfnC8y5qwnqqjYrK5r8itnJ1lpKR6rLXCpGSonpZivaitjK2mrqqjYrumw4yeqZplkal6rK3PmqOumV8%3D