Five things to know: Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai

PGA TOUR Champions opens its 2024 season this week at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai in Ka’upulehu-Kona, Hawaii. Hualalai Golf Course will play host to the 54-hole event, which runs Thursday to Saturday.

Here are five things to know about this week’s event:

1. Stricker continues where he left off

Defending champion and reigning Charles Schwab Cup winner Steve Stricker looks to continue where he left off in 2023 after completing one of the best individual seasons in PGA TOUR Champions history.

Stricker, 56, was named PGA TOUR Champions’ 2023 Player of the Year on Tuesday. He also received the Arnold Palmer Award as the Tour’s season money leader and the Byron Nelson Award for having the season’s lowest scoring average. He set single-season records for both money won ($3,986,063) and scoring average (67.54).

The Mitsubishi Electric was the first of six wins for Stricker in 2023. He also had five runners-up and finished outside the top 10 just once in 16 starts.

2. Past champions return

The list of past champions includes a pair of three-time winners at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship: Bernhard Langer (2009, 2014, 2017) and Miguel Ángel Jiménez (2015, 2020, 2022). Langer is one of six World Golf Hall of Fame members in the 42-player field at Hualalai. In addition, Hualalai will welcome four first-timers to the event, including 2009 Open Championship winner Stewart Cink.

3. A strong field

The Mitsubishi Electric Championship features six members of the World Golf Hall of Fame in the field: Fred Couples, Ernie Els, Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie, Mark O’Meara and Vijay Singh. There are 15 major winners in the field and 32 PGA TOUR winners (who have combined for 246 victories)

4. Expect low scores

Stricker shot a course-record 60 at Hualalai in the second round en route to shooting 23-under 193. He was two shots off the tournament scoring record of 191 set by Loren Roberts in 2006. The highest winning score since 2000 is 14-under par.

5. The caddie competition begins

This week is the debut of the new Caddie Appreciation Program, which rewards participating PGA TOUR Champions caddies who wear official James Hardie logoed headwear throughout the 2024 PGA TOUR Champions season.

Participating caddies will receive one point for every competition round and one point for every pro-am (regardless of whether the caddie’s pro plays in one or two pro-ams). For every five events that a participating caddie wears James Hardie headwear this season, they will earn an additional 10 points.

Following the conclusion of the 2024 PGA TOUR Champions season, the total points accumulated by all eligible caddies will be divided and earnings split among the group.

Tournament facts:

• Course: Hualalai Golf Course, par 72, 7,107 yards
• Field: 42 players (54 holes)
• Defending champion: Steve Stricker
• Purse: $2,000,000 (winner: $340,000)
• Scoring records:
  • Low 18-hole score: 60, Steve Stricker (2023, second round)
  • Low 36-hole score: 127 two times; last: Russ Cochran (2011)
  • Low 54-hole score: 191, Loren Roberts (2006)

How to watch:

• Thursday: 7-10 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
• Friday: 7-10 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
• Saturday: 7-10 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)