The WGC Championship
A Chronicle of Golf's Elite Tournaments: Exploring the history, format, and champions of a premier professional golf event.
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Tournament Overview
Elite Competition
The WGC Championship was a prestigious professional golf tournament held annually between 1999 and 2021. It stood as one of the four annual World Golf Championships (WGC) events, designed to bring together the world's top-ranked players in a globally recognized competition.
Global Sanction
Organized by the International Federation of PGA Tours, the tournament was sanctioned by major professional golf tours, including the PGA Tour and the European Tour. This ensured its significance and official status within the global professional golf landscape.
Notable Achievements
The event was renowned for its high stakes and challenging fields. Notably, Tiger Woods holds the record for the most victories with seven wins. The champion was awarded the Gene Sarazen Cup, a testament to the tournament's esteemed lineage.
Tournament Evolution
WGC-American Express (1999โ2006)
Established in 1999, the tournament initially featured venues across Europe and the United States, including Spain, Ireland, and various locations in the U.S. This era was largely dominated by Tiger Woods, who secured five of the first seven titles.
Doral Era (2007โ2016)
The event found a permanent home at the Doral Golf Resort in Florida, rebranding under sponsors like CA and Cadillac. This period saw the tournament moved to March, aligning with the PGA Tour's "Florida Swing," though its U.S.-centric scheduling drew some criticism.
Mexico Championship (2017โ2020)
Relocating to Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City, the tournament embraced a new identity. The high altitude presented unique challenges for players. The event's popularity surged, notably with Tiger Woods' return to Mexico in 2019, leading to sold-out attendance.
WGC-Workday Championship (2021)
The final iteration, the WGC-Workday Championship, was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to its relocation to The Concession Golf Club in Florida. Collin Morikawa claimed victory in this final WGC Championship event.
Championship Venues
North American Sites
The tournament traversed North America, featuring iconic courses such as:
- Valderrama Golf Club, Spain (early years)
- Harding Park Golf Course, California, USA
- Trump National Doral, Florida, USA (multiple iterations)
- Club de Golf Chapultepec, Mexico City, Mexico
- The Concession Golf Club, Florida, USA (final event)
European Hostings
Early editions also took place on European soil, including notable venues like:
- Valderrama Golf Club, Spain
- Mount Juliet Golf & Spa Hotel, Ireland
- The Grove, Watford, England
These diverse locations underscored the championship's international appeal.
Tournament Structure
Field Composition
The WGC Championship typically featured a select field of 72 players. Qualification was based on stringent criteria, primarily drawing from the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and the leading players on the PGA Tour and European Tour money lists, ensuring a concentration of the world's best talent.
Stroke Play Format
The tournament adhered to a 72-hole stroke play format, a standard for major golf championships. A key characteristic was the absence of a cut, allowing all participants to complete the full four rounds. Ties were resolved through sudden-death playoffs.
Championship Winners
Historical Victors
The WGC Championship saw numerous celebrated golfers lift the Gene Sarazen Cup. Below is a comprehensive list of the tournament's champions:
| Year | Toursa | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up | Purse ($) |
Winner's share ($) |
Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WGC-Workday Championship | |||||||||
| 2021 | EUR, PGAT |  Collin Morikawa |
270 | −18 | 3 strokes | Billy Horschel Viktor Hovland Brooks Koepka |
10,500,000 | 1,820,000 | Concession, Florida |
| WGC-Mexico Championship | |||||||||
| 2020 | EUR, PGAT | Patrick Reed (2) |
266 | −18 | 1 stroke | Bryson DeChambeau | 10,500,000 | 1,820,000 | Chapultepec, Mexico |
| 2019 | EUR, PGAT | Dustin Johnson (3) |
263 | −21 | 5 strokes | Rory McIlroy | 10,250,000 | 1,745,000 | Chapultepec, Mexico |
| 2018 | EUR, PGAT | Phil Mickelson (2) |
268 | −16 | Playoff | Justin Thomas | 10,000,000 | 1,700,000 | Chapultepec, Mexico |
| 2017 | EUR, PGAT | Dustin Johnson (2) |
270 | −14 | 1 stroke | Tommy Fleetwood | 9,750,000 | 1,660,000 | Chapultepec, Mexico |
| WGC-Cadillac Championship | |||||||||
| 2016 | EUR, PGAT |  Adam Scott |
276 | −12 | 1 stroke | Bubba Watson | 9,500,000 | 1,620,000 | Doral, Florida |
| 2015 | EUR, PGAT | Dustin Johnson |
279 | −9 | 1 stroke | J. B. Holmes | 9,250,000 | 1,572,500 | Doral, Florida |
| 2014 | EUR, PGAT | Patrick Reed |
284 | −4 | 1 stroke | Jamie Donaldson Bubba Watson |
9,000,000 | 1,530,000 | Doral, Florida |
| 2013 | EUR, PGAT | Tiger Woods (7) |
269 | −19 | 2 strokes | Steve Stricker | 8,750,000 | 1,500,000 | Doral, Florida |
| 2012 | EUR, PGAT |  Justin Rose |
272 | −16 | 1 stroke | Bubba Watson | 8,500,000 | 1,400,000 | Doral, Florida |
| 2011 | EUR, PGAT | Nick Watney |
272 | −16 | 2 strokes | Dustin Johnson | 8,500,000 | 1,400,000 | Doral, Florida |
| WGC-CA Championship | |||||||||
| 2010 | EUR, PGAT |  Ernie Els (2) |
270 | −18 | 4 strokes | Charl Schwartzel | 8,500,000 | 1,400,000 | Doral, Florida |
| 2009 | EUR, PGAT | Phil Mickelson |
269 | −19 | 1 stroke | Nick Watney | 8,500,000 | 1,400,000 | Doral, Florida |
| 2008 | EUR, PGAT | Geoff Ogilvy |
271 | −17 | 1 stroke | Jim Furyk Retief Goosen Vijay Singh |
8,000,000 | 1,350,000 | Doral, Florida |
| 2007 | EUR, PGAT | Tiger Woods (6) |
278 | −10 | 2 strokes | Brett Wetterich | 8,000,000 | 1,350,000 | Doral, Florida |
| WGC-American Express Championship | |||||||||
| 2006 | EUR, PGAT | Tiger Woods (5) |
261 | −23 | 8 strokes | Ian Poulter Adam Scott |
7,500,000 | 1,300,000 | The Grove, England |
| 2005 | EUR, PGAT | Tiger Woods (4) |
270 | −10 | Playoff | John Daly | 7,500,000 | 1,300,000 | Harding Park, California |
| 2004 | EUR, PGAT | Ernie Els |
270 | −18 | 1 stroke | Thomas Bjรธrn | 7,000,000 | 1,200,000 | Mount Juliet, Ireland |
| 2003 | EUR, PGAT | Tiger Woods (3) |
274 | −6 | 2 strokes | Stuart Appleby Tim Herron Vijay Singh |
6,000,000 | 1,050,000 | Capital City, Georgia |
| 2002 | EUR, PGAT | Tiger Woods (2) |
263 | −25 | 1 stroke | Retief Goosen | 5,500,000 | 1,000,000 | Mount Juliet, Ireland |
| 2001 | EUR, PGAT | Canceled due to September 11 attacks21 | Bellerive, Missouri | ||||||
| 2000 | EUR, PGAT |  Mike Weir |
277 | −7 | 2 strokes | Lee Westwood | 5,000,000 | 1,000,000 | Valderrama, Spain |
| 1999 | EUR, PGAT | Tiger Woods |
278 | −6 | Playoff | Miguel รngel Jimรฉnez | 5,000,000 | 1,000,000 | Valderrama, Spain |
Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Enduring Legacy
Premier Event Status
As one of the World Golf Championships, the WGC Championship consistently featured the highest caliber of professional golfers, offering significant prize money and world ranking points. Its status cemented its place as a key event on the global golf calendar.
Transition and Discontinuation
Following the 2021 season, the PGA Tour announced changes to its WGC structure. The WGC Championship and the WGC Invitational were removed from the schedule, marking the end of an era for these elite tournaments. This transition reflects the evolving landscape of professional golf.
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References
References
- EUR รขยย European Tour; PGAT รขยย PGA Tour.
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