First event of 2021 set for record field size after expanded criteria

The Sentry Tournament of Champions will have a record field size of 42 players, the PGA Tour announced on Friday.

The first event of the calendar year is traditionally a winners-only field from the previous calendar year, but the eligibility criteria was altered for the 2021 edition of the event to include any player who qualified for the 2020 Tour Championship as well. Sixteen additional players were added to the field as a result of the amended criteria.

With the addition of the 16 extra players, the field swells to a tournament-record 42 players. Of the 42 players who converge on The Plantation Course at Kapalua next weekend, eight are in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings and 28 finished in the top 30 of the 2019-20 FedEx Cup Standings.

Players who are in the field as a result of the expanded criteria include Abraham Ancer, Cameron Champ, Harris English, Tony Finau, Lanto Griffin, Billy Horschel, Mackenzie Hughes, Kevin Kisner, Hidekia Matsuyama, Sebastian Munoz, Kevin Na, Joaquin Niemann, Ryan Palmer, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler and Brendon Todd.

Despite the altered criteria, World No. 4 Rory McIlroy has elected not to participate in the event. Other eligible players who are not playing include Tyrrell Hatton and Jim Herman, who withdrew due to Covid-19. The entire field list can be seen below.