2022 Sentry Tournament of Champions: Top 10 power rankings at Kapalua

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January 10, 2021; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Xander Schauffele (right) and caddie Austin Kaiser (left) on the second hole during the final round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament at Kapalua Resort – The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

This is by no means an original take, but it’s still true to repeat that Xander Schauffele seems to play his best golf in limited field events.

Whether it’s a coincidence or a product of less pressure due to fewer competitors and no 36-hole cut, these tournaments scratch the X Man where it itches.

Here at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, Schauffele won in his second appearance in 2019. He matched the Plantation course record 11-under 62 on Sunday to storm back to win.

It was an impressive bookend to his opening 72, followed by 67-68.

The former San Diego State Aztec nearly repeated in 2020. Scores of 69-68-71 had him in the lead by one through 54 holes, but a closing 70 opened the door for Justin Thomas and Patrick Reed to catch Schauffele at the end of regulation. JT defeated both in a playoff.

Schauffele recorded three rounds in the 60s last year but had to settle for T-5th and four shots off Harris English’s winning pace. Schauffele was quarantining with COVID right before leaving before the event, so that was an impressive result given those circumstances.

“I don’t know what it is, it just kind of fits my eye,” Schauffele said of Kapalua in 2020, as transcribed by ASAP Sports. “Usually it’s a little more windy, you got to sort of do all things in your game correctly and it’s just like, to me, it’s just a lot of fun to play, because you’re on these massive hills and a ton of wind and kind of weird breaking putts, so it’s just kind of fun.”

The 2019 Tournament of Champions remains the last of Schauffele’s four PGA Tour wins. It’s still hard to quantify 2021 as a disappointment, however, given his Olympic gold medal, a contributing role on the victorious American Ryder Cup team, contending for the FedEx Cup title and eight top-10s worldwide.

The 28-year-old ranked above PGA Tour average in all main strokes gained categories in 2020-21, and was 41st or better in all but around the green.

Being able to hit off uneven lies to the right portion of Kapalua’s sloping greens is instrumental. Schauffele was 14th in SG approach (.65).

It’s also a rare opportunity to tackle five par-5s. X was third last season in par-5 scoring (4.46).

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