PGA Tour Mercedes-Benz Championship

The Mercedes-Benz Championship, debuted as the Tournament of Champions, is the opening event of golf's PGA Tour season, and dates back to 1953. The title sponsor in 1994 was Mercedes-Benz and later became the Mercedes-Benz Championship in 2007. Its current location is in Kapalua, Hawaii, but the event was first played in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1953 until 1968, at the Desert Inn Country Club through 1966, at Stardust Country Club from 1967 to 1968, and then stayed at La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California in the next 30 years.

The Mercedes-Benz Championship is usually limited to 35 or so players, and without replacement if one player decides to drop out. It is open only to golfers who won a tour event during the previous season.

PGA Tour Mercedes-Benz Championship Winners:

Mercedes-Benz Championship
2009 Geoff Ogilvy Australia 268
2008 Daniel Chopra Sweden 274
2007 Vijay Singh Fiji 278

Mercedes Championships
2006 Stuart Appleby Australia 284
2005 Stuart Appleby Australia 271
2004 Stuart Appleby Australia 270
2003 Ernie Els South Africa 261
2002 Sergio García Spain 274
2001 Jim Furyk United States 274
2000 Tiger Woods United States 276
1999 David Duval United States 266
1998 Phil Mickelson United States 271
1997 Tiger Woods United States 202
1996 Mark O'Meara United States 271
1995 Steve Elkington Australia 278
1994 Phil Mickelson United States 276

Infiniti Tournament of Champions
1993 Davis Love III United States 272
1992 Steve Elkington Australia 279
1991 Tom Kite United States 272

MONY Tournament of Champions
1990 Paul Azinger United States 272
1989 Steve Jones United States 279
1988 Steve Pate United States 202
1987 Mac O'Grady United States 278
1986 Calvin Peete United States 267
1985 Tom Kite United States 275
1984 Tom Watson United States 274
1983 Lanny Wadkins United States 280
1982 Lanny Wadkins United States 280
1981 Lee Trevino United States 273
1980 Tom Watson United States 276
1979 Tom Watson United States 275
1978 Gary Player South Africa 281
1977 Jack Nicklaus United States 281
1976 Don January United States 277
1975 Al Geiberger United States 277

Tournament of Champions
1974 Johnny Miller United States 280
1973 Jack Nicklaus United States 276
1972 Bobby Mitchell United States 280
1971 Jack Nicklaus United States 279
1970 Frank Beard United States 273
1969 Gary Player South Africa 284
1968 Don January United States 276
1967 Frank Beard United States 278
1966 Arnold Palmer United States 283
1965 Arnold Palmer United States 277
1964 Jack Nicklaus United States 279
1963 Jack Nicklaus United States 273
1962 Arnold Palmer United States 276
1961 Sam Snead United States 273
1960 Jerry Barber United States 268
1959 Mike Souchak United States 281
1958 Stan Leonard Canada 275
1957 Gene Littler United States 285
1956 Gene Littler United States 281
1955 Gene Littler United States 280
1954 Art Wall, Jr. United States 278
1953 Al Besselink United States 280