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2021 Sentry Tournament of Champions: Top 10 power rankings at Kapalua

By Mike Randleman

Jan 6, 2019; Maui, HI, USA; The Kapalua butterfly logo in the landscape located near the first hole during the final round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament at Kapalua Resort - The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 6, 2019; Maui, HI, USA; The Kapalua butterfly logo in the landscape located near the first hole during the final round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament at Kapalua Resort - The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 5, 2017; Maui, HI, USA; PGA golfer Patrick Reed waits to tee off on the first hole during the first round at Kapalua Resort – The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 5, 2017; Maui, HI, USA; PGA golfer Patrick Reed waits to tee off on the first hole during the first round at Kapalua Resort – The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Patrick Reed came oh so close to his second Tournament of Champions title in 2020. The tournament appeared to be in Justin Thomas’ hands before JT bogeyed two of the last three to open the door for a playoff between the two and defending champ Xander Schauffele.It appeared a Saturday 74 shot Reed out of the tournament, but he closed in 66 for one of the better scores on Sunday.

That was Reed’s sixth trip to Kapalua. He won in 2015 (67-69-68-67) in a playoff over Jimmy Walker, finished second in 2016 (65-69-67-69) by eight to Jordan Spieth despite shooting one shot lower than his win, and was T-5th in 2017 (70-65-72-70). The only year he missed since 2014 was in 2018.

The 30 year old played great golf before the pandemic and continued it after golf resumed. The Texan won in February at the WGC-Mexico Championship as part of three top-10s in Q1.

Reed has accumulated seven more since June, although he hasn’t been able to find the winner’s circle. His highest finishes in that span are T-3rd finishes on the European Tour, including his last outing four weeks ago at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Reed’s top result on the PGA Tour was  also had three top-13s.

We all know Reed is an owner of a green jacket. Good Augusta players tend to translate well to Kapalua. A solid iron player like him can deftly handle all the sidehill lies on approach shots and slopes to deal with around the greens.

The Coore/Crenshaw redesign gave the course more bite despite soft fairways. Reed seemed to love the challenge.

“I think the golf course now, it’s more of a golf course that you have to put a premium not only on ball-striking but where you want to land the ball, how you want to play the holes because it’s completely different, and I like the change,” ASAP Sports transcribed Reed in 2020. “I think it’s great. I think it’s a tough test, and it’s one of these things that to start the year it’s just not go out and ease your way into the game of golf, you’ve got to go out and start playing well.”

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