March 14 – 20, 2011
Transitions Championship
at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, Tampa Bay, Fla.
The Transitions Championship Tournament has only been on the PGA circuit for a few years, yet, it has already been drawn attention from a considerable ammount of players and golf fans. Each year this event is attracting many new players that are making their way on the PGA tour list as well as some of the biggest professional golf players. |
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Transitions Championship was established ten years ago, when it was known as the Tampa Bay Classic and played in the fall. This PGA TOUR event was originally an alternate golf event played the same week as the Presidents Cup in 2000, and the same week as the World Golf Championship's American Express. It takes place in March of each year at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Tampa Bay, Florida. This Copperhead Course at the golf club is rated highly by the PGA tour professionals. And the Copperheads are honored to work with the PGA TOUR in hosting this tournament at Innisbrook Resort and its greatest possible contribution to area charities.
This Golf championship gets its name from the Transitions lenses that are used to promote healthy vision. Since 2007, the Tampa Bay event has been played in March, and for a time the tournament was without a title sponsor, leading to speculation on its fate after that year. Then, on January 24, 2007, tournament principles and the PGA Tour announced a six-year sponsorship agreement with the PODS
Group of Clearwater, Florida. However, PODS chose to exercise an option to withdraw as title sponsor after the 2008 event, which left tournament officials searching to find yet another replacement. On June 4, 2008, Transitions Optical, Inc. was announced as the new title sponsor. Transitions Optical continues its ongoing commitment as sponsor of the event, while helping consumers protect and maintain healthy sight, at play and more.
The Copperhead course, regarded by PGA TOUR players as one of the favorites, features some of the most difficult finishing holes on TOUR. The 16th, 17th and 18th holes rank among the fourth hardest set of finishing holes on any PGA TOUR course. These three holes, today, have officially been named “The Snake Pit” and as such, a permanent structure has been created to remind players and spectators alike of the Copperhead’s challenging finish.
2010 Transitions Championship Tournament Winner
Jim Furyk ended his longest drought since he joined the PGA Tour, Furyk closed with a two-under 69 on Sunday for a one-shot victory in the Transitions Championship at Palm Harbor, Fla. It was his first victory since the 2007 Canadian Open, a span of 58 tournaments.
Furyk moves to No. 6 in the world.
Transitions Championship Past Winners
| Date |
Winner |
Country |
Score |
1st Prize ($) |
Purse ($) |
| Transitions Championship |
| Mar 22, 2010 |
Jim Furyk |
United States |
271 |
972,000 |
5,400,000 |
| Mar 22, 2009 |
Retief Goosen |
South Africa |
276 (-8) |
972,000 |
5,400,000 |
PODS Championship |
| Mar 9, 2008 |
Sean O'Hair |
United States |
280 (-4) |
954,000 |
5,300,000 |
| Chrysler Championship |
| Oct 29, 2006 |
K. J. Choi |
South Korea |
271 (-13) |
954,000 |
5,300,000 |
| Oct 30, 2005 |
Carl Pettersson |
Sweden |
275 (-9) |
954,000 |
5,300,000 |
| Oct 31, 2004 |
Vijay Singh |
Fiji |
266 (-18) |
900,000 |
5,000,000 |
| Nov 2, 2003 |
Retief Goosen |
South Africa |
272 (-12) |
864,000 |
4,800,000 |
| Tampa Bay Classic presented by Buick |
| Sep 22, 2002 |
K. J. Choi |
South Korea |
267 (-17) |
468,000 |
2,600,000 |
| Tampa Bay Classic |
| Sep 16, 2001 |
Cancelled due to the terrorist attacks on September 11 |
| Oct 22, 2000 |
John Huston |
United States |
271 (-13) |
432,000 |
2,400,000 |
Transitions Championship Tournament information
| Location |
Palm Harbor, Florida |
| Established |
2000 |
| Course |
Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club |
| Par |
71 |
| Yardage |
7,340 |
| Tour(s) |
PGA Tour |
| Format |
Stroke play |
| Purse |
$5,400,000 |
| Month played |
March |
Tournament record score
| Aggregate |
266 Fiji Vijay Singh (2004) |
| To-par |
-18 Fiji Vijay Singh (2004) |
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