Pro Golf Now
Fansided

Sentry Tournament of Champions: Top 10 power rankings at Kapalua

By Mike Randleman

LAHAINA, HI - JANUARY 06: A detail of the trophy following the final round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions at the Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Club on January 6, 2019 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI - JANUARY 06: A detail of the trophy following the final round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions at the Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Club on January 6, 2019 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 11
Next
LAHAINA, HI – JANUARY 04: Gary Woodland of the United States acknowledges the crowd on the 18th green during the second round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions at the Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Club on January 4, 2019 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI – JANUARY 04: Gary Woodland of the United States acknowledges the crowd on the 18th green during the second round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions at the Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Club on January 4, 2019 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

Gary Woodland went to bed Saturday night at the 2019 Tournament of Champions with a three-shot lead and the sounds of the Pacific Ocean in his ears.

He woke up and shot 68 the next day. That should mean he cake walked to the title, right?

Wrong. A stunning Sunday 62 by Xander Schauffele nipped Woodland by one. Woodland was four clear of Justin Thomas and seven ahead of a trio in fourth.

To post 67-67-68-68 while also learning Friday night that his grandmother passed away was nothing to be ashamed of.

Woodland’s improved each time around Kapalua. He was 24th in 2012 and T-13th in 2014.

The wind is one of Kapalua’s chief defenses. The former Kansas Jayhawk said in 2019 he welcomes it.

"“The wind blows, I grew up, the wind blows 25 miles an hour a day. I’m just used to the wind,” Woodland said. “It’s just something in college you are out there hitting balls, it’s blowing all over the place, a lot of people probably aren’t practicing in that weather, we had to. So I’m very comfortable in the wind I enjoy the wind and I think that’s one, it’s more of an attitude than anything.”"

Woodland notably earned his way into this week’s field with his U.S. Open win. He held off Brooks Koepka and Justin Rose at Pebble Beach for his fourth career win and first major.

He was unable to continue that momentum the rest of the summer but has surged in the fall. The 35-year-old finished T-3 at the CJ Cup, fifth at the Zozo and T-7 at the Hero World Challenge.

Woodland went 1-2-1 for the USA at the Presidents Cup, but it was easy to see Royal Melbourne was far from the ideal setup for his game.

Kapalua is, and that’s why I like his chances to make up for 2019’s near-miss.

Home/Golf Power Rankings