TOURNAMENT OF (SOME) CHAMPIONS

By Torleif Sorenson on 1/2/14

The PGA Tour's Tournament of Champions in Hawaii is a limited-field event. As has been the case in recent years, some of the big names have chosen to skip the event for a variety of reasons.

This year, the notable absentees include Tiger Woods (again), Phil Mickelson (again), reigning U.S. Open champion Justin Rose, and FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai double-winner Henrik Stenson. Some fans have criticized them for skipping out on a lucrative, no-cut pay-day, but no PGA Tour rule compels them to play the event. And since those three are also exempt on tour for a good long while, there's no need to worry about the lack of potential income or place on the money list.

In other words, "tough toenails," fans.

Also different this year is the fact that it is no longer the "season-opening" event; the 2014 PGA Tour schedule began in October when Jimmy Walker scored a dy-no-miiiite victory at the Frys.com open. Walker is here, along with slightly-less-than-illustrious names who qualified for the TOsC. These include D.A. Points, John Merrick, Ryan Moore, Russell Henley, and Mr. Octopus Pants himself, Billy Horschel.

In fact, of the top ten-ranked golfers, only 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott and No. 7 Matt Kuchar are in this week's field.

To this point, the only interesting element of the TO(s)C was the poorly-publicized contest that allowed fans to choose the players for a marquee pairing. Fans chose defending TO(s)C champion Dustin Johnson and the aforementioned Adam Scott for the final pairing when the tournament starts tomorrow afternoon.

TELEVISION
Television partners Golf Channel and NBC Sports will televise the festivities from Kapalua.

WEATHER
Last year, it was "Hurricane Kapalua." This year, the first round could be interrupted by an 80% chance of rain and winds gusting to 28 m.p.h. On Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, the National Weather Service says that the chance of rain is diminished, with winds of around 15-20 m.p.h., with gusts in the 30s.


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