It is The Sentry which once again kicks off the 2025 PGA Tour season – 25 years after the same event marked the start of arguably the greatest season of all-time, courtesy of Tiger Woods.
After some time off, the PGA Tour returns this week. And it is the Plantation Course at Kapalua and The Sentry which provides the stage for the curtain-raiser.
The name of the tournament has changed over the years, but the event has plenty of history, with perhaps the most iconic finish coming in 2000 when Tiger Woods and Ernie Els faced off in a play-off in Maui.
The pair finished the tournament – then known as the Mercedes Championships – tied at 16 under par, with Woods and Els both holing lengthy putts on the 72nd hole to send the event into overtime. Woods would then hole a ridiculous putt on the second play-off hole to win.
Ernie Els’ eerie prediction about Tiger Woods at the start of the 2000 season
And speaking after the play-off, Els made quite the ominous claim about what the world could expect from Woods in the 2000 season.
“I think he’s a legend in the making, if he’s not already. I think you guys have helped him a lot, too, when he was growing up. But he backed it up with his golf game, you know, especially this last year or so. He’s had it all his way so far, let’s put it that way,” he said.
“The great players got it their way most of their lives. I mean, if you look at Nicklaus, I don’t think he had too many bad years. Look at Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, those kind of guys, they pretty much had it made from the start. I think Tiger is in the same group, you know.
“He’s going to be awfully tough to beat in the majors this year. Again, you know, the majors is where they rate you as a player. These tournaments are good and all, but when you win a majors, that’s when you really put your mark down. He’s 24. He’s probably going to be bigger than Elvis when he gets into his 40s.”
How Woods would perform in 2000 after securing victory in Kapalua
Of course, Els probably made the comment about being tough to beat in the majors simply expecting Woods to be continually in contention. But he proved to be a lot more accurate than anyone could have ever imagined.
Woods’ worst performance in the majors that year would come at Augusta National, as he finished fifth. He was never really in contention that week as he posted a 75 during his opening round.
But that was then followed by Woods winning the US Open by a record margin of 15 shots, as well as The Open Championship and the PGA Championship. Remarkably, Els was a runner-up at the first three majors of the year.
And Woods would complete the Tiger Slam at the start of 2001 as he clinched the Masters title.
Of course, Woods would end the 2000 season with nine victories in total – and it all began with that enthralling duel with Els in Maui.
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