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Record 42 starters set for US PGA Tournament of Champions
MIAMI, Jan 3, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Top-ranked Dustin Johnson, third-ranked
defending champion Justin Thomas and US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau will
lead a record 42 starters when the US PGA Tournament of Champions tees off
Thursday.
The traditional first tour event of a calendar year at Kapalua, Hawaii,
opened its field to players who reached last season’s Tour Championship as
well as event winners after a season disrupted by a two-month Covid-19
layoff.
PGA Player of the Year Johnson captured his second major title in November
at the Masters after winning the Tour Championship in September. The 36-year-
old American also won the Hawaii champions event in 2013 and 2018.
Thomas won the WGC St. Jude Invitational as well as the Tournament of
Champions last year while fifth-ranked US compatriot DeChambeau won in
Detroit last July before taking his first major crown at Winged Foot.
Fourth-ranked Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Britain’s 10th-ranked
Tyrrell Hatton are skipping the Hawaii event after qualifying, while American
Jim Herman, ranked 96th, announced he will not play after contracting Covid-
19.
“Some lousy news to end the year – I’ve had CV19 for the last couple of
days and therefore will not be playing Kapalua,” Herman tweeted.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0955 hrs