Reflection on 2011 PGA TOUR Hawaii Swing

~ Aloha! - Mark Wilson Celebrates After Claiming His Third PGA TOUR Title at the 2011 Sony Open ~

Yet again, a new year has dawned for all members of the PGA TOUR, providing hundreds of golfing professionals with an opportunity to either seek redemption after a dissapointing 2010 season, to continue to build off of past successes, or to claim their status as a worthy contender and promising talent.

Many TOUR members have already created long-lasting memories on the course through the attainment of tournament titles, FedEx Cup points, and prize money, while others are still preparing for the upcoming season and setting their sights on the West Coast Swing, which will begin at the Bob Hope Classic on January 19th.

In reflection of the first two events of the 2011 PGA TOUR schedule - the Hawaii Swing - it is important to recognize the individuals, Jonathan Byrd and Mark Wilson, who have already claimed tournament victories. Their performances have stimulated the interests of the golfing public, most of whom are currently unable to play the game due to the winter season, and have led many people to once again become interested in the PGA TOUR and in the great game of golf itself.

2011 Hyundai Tournament of Champions

Each year, the Plantation Course at Kapalua provides awe-inspiring views of the natural landscape of Hawaii and the picturesque, clear blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. Yet, the course's splendor should not distract golfing competitors from the ever-present challenges that await them on each and every hole.

The course is quite long, measuring 7,411 yards, and, at times, is very narrow - even for some of the most accurate drivers in the world. Undoubtedly, the course is among the most undulating of all courses featured on the PGA TOUR schedule. The undulations constantly lead competitors to maximize their shot making skill sets in order to execute to the best of their abilities. In addition, the course's sloping, firm greens continuously challenge even the most talented putters.

This past month, Jonathan Byrd was seemingly undaunted by the Plantation Course's omnipresent challenges. While recording four consecutive under-par rounds (69, 63, 69, and 67), Byrd finished the tournament tied with Robert Garrigus at 24-under-par.

With a par on the second hole of the sudden death playoff, Byrd defeated Garrigus and claimed his second-consecutive title, as he had won the 2010 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open after making a hole-in-one during another sudden-death playoff.

The 2011 Hyundai Tournament of Champions was Byrd's fifth TOUR title and, arguably, the most impressive achievement of his career thus far, considering the fact that the tournament's field is restricted to golfers who won on the PGA TOUR in 2010.

By defeating such a highly talented field on a long, formidable course, Byrd has shown his fellow peers that he is well-prepared for future TOUR success and will likely be a contender in some of the world's most prestigious golfing tournaments, well into the future.

2011 Sony Open in Hawaii

Waialae Country Club, located in Honolulu, is the regular host of the TOUR's Sony Open, which is annually the second tournament contested on the PGA TOUR's schedule. Much like the Plantation Course at Kapalua, Waialae has become popular throughout the world for its majestic views of the ocean and superb wildlife, as orchids and palm trees surround the pristine course.

Measuring 7,068 yards, Waialae is not nearly as long as the Plantation Course, but it sill offers golfers a fair share of challenges. Due to the course's probable high winds and recent PGA TOUR-designated enhancements, PGA TOUR members do not typically score as well at Waialae as they do at the Plantation Course.

On Sunday, January 16th, journeyman Mark Wilson endured a 36-hole marathon to defeat Tim Clark and Steve Marino by two strokes. The victory was the third of his PGA TOUR career and the first since the 2009 Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun.

Due to a washout that occurred during the first round of the championship, all golfers, who had made the 36-hole cut, were forced to play 36 more holes in a single day. But, that did not prevent many golfers, especially Wilson, from playing extraordinarily well.

Wilson's 16-under-par total was highlighted by the fact that he did not make a single bogey throughout his last 40 holes of play. Such consistency did not only help him claim his third TOUR title, but it has also led many golfing fans and broadcasters to view Wilson in an entirely different light - at 36-years-old, he may very well be prepared to play the best golf of his career during the next few seasons.

Few have doubted Wilson's talent, but have always wondered whether or not he would prove his abilities on a regular basis. Now, with yet another victory under his belt, Mark Wilson will be ready to show his peers that his play at the Sony Open was simply not a fluke, but the beginning of a successful run on the TOUR, which may last for years to come.