Countdown to Kapalua: European Edition

Sentry Tournament of Champions HOT SHEET

1. Maui(an) Here He Comes...

for his third trip to The Plantation Course at Kapalua. Ian Poulter captured his third PGA TOUR victory in exciting fashion at the Houston Open in April, punching his ticket to Maui as he looks to improve his career-best finish of T6 in 2011.

How did Poulter do it? In typical dramatic fashion, of course! The Englishman carded four birdies in his first eight holes to start the final round but lost the lead to Beau Hossler on the back nine. However, he saved the best for last…literally. Poulter drained a 20-foot birdie putt (complete with chest-pounding excitement) to match Hossler’s round of 67 and force a playoff.

On the first hole of sudden-death, Hossler triple-bogeyed while Poulter secured the ‘W’ with a birdie putt, collecting his first TOUR victory since 2012. He went on to collect three additional top-10s and advanced to the FedExCup Playoffs for the 11th time in 12 season and finished No. 50 in the FedExCup standings.

2. The GolfFather Is Back...

at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. Francesco Molinari qualified for his second trip to paradise courtesy of collecting his first PGA TOUR title and his first major championship in the span of four weeks #HolyCannoli

Molinari became the first Italian to win on TOUR in 71 years when he shot a final-round 62 (which btw tied the tournament course record) for an eight-stroke victory over Ryan Armour.

Fast forward four weeks to The Open Championship at Carnoustie, where the Italian couldn’t be stopped. During the final round, Molinari made 16 pars and two birdies en route to his first major championship victory… did we mention he was paired with Tiger Woods? #goat

Molinari’s return to Maui will mark his first trip back to the Sentry Tournament of Champions since 2011, where he finished T15.

3. Rahmbo Returns

Jon Rahm collected his second PGA TOUR victory in dramatic fashion at the Desert Classic in January.

The 24-year-old Spaniard shot 5-under 67 in regulation, when Andrew Landry forced a playoff with an 11-foot birdie putt on the final hole for both players to finish at 22-under 266. On the fourth hole of the back-and-forth playoff, Rahm sank a 12-foot putt to seal the victory and qualify for a return trip to the Sentry Tournament of Champions. The win was his fourth worldwide victory in a year. #WoahRahmbo

Rahm is excited to get back to paradise and looks to improve on his runner-up finish in 2018.

4. Pack Your Suitcase(y)...
Because you’re headed to Maui! Paul Casey qualified for his second trip back to Maui courtesy of a win at the Valspar Championship in March.

Casey started the final round five shots from the lead, then ran off three straight birdies early on the back nine to take the lead and closed with four par saves to post a 6-under 65.

The Englishman’s fate was in the hands of several groups still out on the course, with his biggest threats coming from Patrick Reed and Tiger Woods. Woods came up one putt short of forcing a playoff, and with that, Casey captured his first TOUR title since 2009. #IBeatTiger

Casey’s return to The Plantation Course at Kapalua will mark his first trip back to Maui since 2010, where he finished T10.