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Bermuda Championship
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The Butterfield Bermuda Championship is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour that debuted in October/November 2019 as part of the 2020 season. The tournament is played at the Port Royal Golf Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones, in Southampton Parish, Bermuda. Originally designated as an alternate event, opposite the WGC-HSBC Champions, the prize fund in 2019 was US$3,000,000.[1]
Key Information
In 2020, 2021 and 2022, as a result of successive cancellations of the WGC-HSBC Champions due to COVID-19 pandemic considerations, the tournament was elevated to full FedEx Cup point event status, with the winner earning a Masters Tournament invitation.[2] As a full-field tournament, the prize fund was US$4 million in the 2020, and US$6.5 million in 2021 as Butterfield Bank joined the Bermuda Tourism Board as co-title sponsors.[3]
Winners
[edit]| Year | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up | Purse ($) |
Winner's share ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butterfield Bermuda Championship | |||||||
| 2025 |  Adam Schenk |
272 | −12 | 1 stroke | Chandler Phillips |
6,000,000 | 1,080,000 |
| 2024 |  Rafael Campos |
265 | −19 | 3 strokes | Andrew Novak |
6,900,000 | 1,242,000 |
| 2023 |  Camilo Villegas |
260 | −24 | 2 strokes |  Alex Norén |
6,500,000 | 1,170,000 |
| 2022 |  Séamus Power |
265 | −19 | 1 stroke |  Thomas Detry |
6,500,000 | 1,170,000 |
| 2021 |  Lucas Herbert |
269 | −15 | 1 stroke |  Danny Lee Patrick Reed |
6,500,000 | 1,170,000 |
| Bermuda Championship | |||||||
| 2020 | Brian Gay |
269 | −15 | Playoff | Wyndham Clark |
4,000,000 | 720,000 |
| 2019 | Brendon Todd |
260 | −24 | 4 strokes | Harry Higgs |
3,000,000 | 540,000 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Bermuda Championship set to debut on PGA Tour next season". PGA Tour. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ Boone, Kyle (2 September 2020). "PGA Tour releases 2020-21 schedule with 50 total events, most in a season since 1975". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ^ "Butterfield to partner with the PGA Tour for the Butterfield Bermuda Championship" (PDF). Bermuda Championship. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
External links
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32°15′40″N 64°52′23″W / 32.261°N 64.873°W
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Bermuda Championship
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History
Inception and debut
The PGA Tour announced the creation of the Bermuda Championship on June 4, 2019, introducing it as a new tournament set to debut in late October or early November 2019 as part of the 2020 season schedule.[8] This marked the first official annual PGA Tour event to be held in Bermuda, with an anticipated field of 120 professionals competing for 300 FedExCup points awarded to the champion.[9] Initially designated as an alternate event opposite the WGC-HSBC Champions in China, it fell outside the main FedEx Cup schedule, allowing non-qualifiers and lower-ranked players an opportunity to earn points.[10] The tournament's inception stemmed from a partnership between the PGA Tour, the Bermuda Tourism Authority—which served as the title sponsor through a five-year agreement—and the Government of Bermuda, aimed at promoting the island as a premier tourism destination and boosting the local economy through global exposure.[8][11] Officials highlighted the event's potential to showcase Bermuda's hospitality and natural beauty to an international audience via Golf Channel broadcasts reaching 226 countries and territories.[12] The inaugural purse was set at $3 million, underscoring the commitment to establishing a high-profile professional golf presence on the island.[13] The first Bermuda Championship took place from October 31 to November 3, 2019, at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton Parish.[14] American golfer Brendon Todd claimed victory, finishing at 24-under par (260) after a final-round 9-under 62, securing his second PGA Tour title by four strokes over Harry Higgs.[15][14]Status elevation and sponsorship changes
The Bermuda Championship, originally introduced as an alternate event in 2019, underwent a significant status elevation in 2020 when the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The PGA Tour designated the Bermuda Championship as a full FedEx Cup points event for that year, awarding 500 points to the winner and expanding the field to 132 players with a $4 million purse.[16] This change also included an invitation for the winner to the following year's Masters Tournament, a perk that began in 2020 and continued annually through 2024.[17] The elevated status persisted through 2022 due to ongoing cancellations of the WGC-HSBC Champions amid the pandemic. In 2021 and 2022, the tournament maintained full FedEx Cup points allocation, with the purse increasing to $6.5 million each year to reflect its standalone importance.[18][19][20] Beginning in 2023, following the PGA Tour's schedule restructuring, the event transitioned into the FedEx Cup Fall series as a standard stroke-play tournament, serving as the sixth of seven events in the series and focusing on players ranked 51-125 in the FedEx Cup standings.[5] The $6.5 million purse remained in place for 2023, underscoring its established role in the fall calendar.[20] Sponsorship evolved alongside these changes, with the Bermuda Tourism Authority serving as the initial title sponsor from the tournament's 2019 debut. In 2021, Butterfield Bank, a Bermuda-headquartered financial institution, joined as co-title sponsor in a three-year agreement, renaming the event the Butterfield Bermuda Championship to highlight the partnership.[21][22] This collaboration extended through multi-year renewals, including a 2023 agreement that continued the co-sponsorship structure and supported charitable initiatives in Bermuda.[2] In October 2025, the Bermuda Tourism Authority announced a multi-year extension of its title sponsorship.[3]Tournament details
Format and schedule
The Butterfield Bermuda Championship is contested in a standard 72-hole stroke-play format over four days, typically Thursday through Sunday.[23] The event is held annually in November as part of the PGA Tour's FedExCup Fall series, where it serves as the sixth of seven tournaments since the series' inception in 2023.[5][24] The 2025 edition was held November 13–16 at Port Royal Golf Course.[1] The field comprises approximately 120 players, divided into threesomes for the first two rounds with split tees from the 1st and 10th holes.[25][23] After 36 holes, the field advances to the low 65 scores and ties.[23] The final two rounds are played in threesomes from the 1st tee.[23] Ties after 72 holes are resolved via sudden-death playoff over the 18th hole (repeated if needed after the first), then alternating between the 17th and 18th until a winner emerges, in line with standard PGA Tour procedures.[23][26]Eligibility and purse
The field for the Bermuda Championship is primarily determined by the PGA Tour's priority ranking system, which allocates spots based on players' positions in the FedExCup Fall standings, prior season performance, and other exemption categories such as past tournament winners and medical extensions.[27] Sponsor exemptions, limited to up to four invitations, are granted to select professionals from tours like the DP World Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, or Q-School graduates, as well as unrestricted spots for notable amateurs or international players.[27] Additionally, three spots are awarded through a Monday qualifier event, typically an 18-hole competition held in advance for non-exempt players seeking entry.[28] Since its elevation to full status in 2020—initially due to the cancellation of the WGC-HSBC Champions—the tournament has awarded complete FedExCup points, with the winner receiving 500 points to aid in securing priority ranking for the following season.[5] The event operates solely as an individual stroke-play competition over 72 holes, with no team or alternate formats employed.[1] The purse for the 2024 edition stood at $6.9 million, with the winner's share at approximately 18% or $1.242 million.[29] The 2025 edition had a purse of $6 million, with the winner's share at 18% or $1.08 million, distributed among the top finishers according to standard PGA Tour percentages.[29] Beyond the prize money, the victor earns a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, granting entry into subsequent seasons' events based on priority ranking, along with an invitation to the Masters Tournament if not otherwise exempt.[29]Venue
Port Royal Golf Course overview
Port Royal Golf Course is situated in Southampton Parish on the western tip of Bermuda and operates as a public facility owned by the Bermuda Government.[30][31] Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and opened in 1970, the course presents a par-71 layout spanning 6,828 yards during tournament configurations.[30][1][32] The layout benefits from a dramatic oceanfront position, providing panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean that enhance its scenic allure and strategic play.[30] These vistas are especially prominent along the coastline, contributing to the course's reputation as a visually striking venue.[33] In 2019, Port Royal was chosen as the host site for the debut Butterfield Bermuda Championship on the PGA Tour, a decision aimed at promoting Bermuda's status as a premier golf and tourism destination.[9][34] This event represented the course's inaugural hosting of a major professional golf tournament.[30] The facility supports sizable spectator attendance during competitions and facilitates pro-am formats, such as the annual Bermuda Goodwill Golf pro-am established in 1972.[30] Its proximity to the shoreline exposes the course to environmental pressures, including coastal erosion exacerbated by natural forces and weather events.[35]Course characteristics and renovations
Port Royal Golf Course measures 6,828 yards from the championship tees and plays to a par of 71, presenting a compact layout that rewards accuracy over distance due to its strategic design and environmental challenges.[30] The course's signature holes highlight its dramatic coastal setting, particularly the par-3 16th, which spans 235 yards and demands a precise carry over the Atlantic Ocean to a green teetering on a cliff edge, often buffeted by crosswinds.[30] The par-4 17th follows as a rigorous uphill test, featuring fairway bunkers along the right side and a narrow green protected by bunkers on both flanks, requiring careful positioning off the tee.[36] Exposed along Bermuda's southwestern shore, the course experiences significant wind influence, with gusts reaching 30 miles per hour that can alter ball flight by up to 50 yards, amplifying the need for shot-making adaptability.[30] Its greens, surfaced with TifEagle Bermuda grass, maintain a firm and fast character typical of the variety, promoting true rolling putts while challenging players to control speed and line amid variable coastal conditions.[37][38] Major renovations occurred in 2008–2009 under Roger Rulewich of the Robert Trent Jones design firm, costing $14.5 million and involving bunker redesigns for better strategic depth, installation of a state-of-the-art irrigation system, and removal of nearly 1,500 trees to restore an open, links-style openness.[39][40] This work extended the course length from 6,531 yards to its current 6,828 yards, enhancing playability while preserving the original strategic intent.[30] In preparation for the 2019 PGA Tour debut, additional tweaks included tee expansions to accommodate professional play and further bunker improvements to align with tournament standards.[41] A proposed 2015–2016 upgrade project, discussed in public accounts hearings, encompassed a reverse osmosis plant for efficient irrigation, rebuilding of tees and greens, and potential lengthening elements, though implementation focused on maintenance enhancements like bunker sand quality and water management.[42] These efforts contributed to sustainability initiatives, including water conservation through the advanced irrigation setup and integration of native vegetation post-tree removal to reduce environmental impact and support local ecology.[42][40] The course's adjustments have facilitated low-scoring tournaments, with Bermuda Championship winners typically finishing 15 to 24 under par, underscoring its birdie-friendly nature when wind subsides.[43]Results
Past winners
The Butterfield Bermuda Championship, held annually at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, Bermuda, has crowned seven different winners since its debut in 2019 as a PGA Tour event. Each victory has featured low scoring on the par-71 layout, with champions posting totals ranging from 15 to 24 under par. No player has won the tournament more than once to date, though several victors entered the week with prior PGA Tour success.| Year | Winner | Total Score | To Par | Margin of Victory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Brendon Todd (2nd PGA Tour win) | 260 | -24 | 4 strokes (over Harry Higgs)[14] |
| 2020 | Brian Gay (5th PGA Tour win) | 269 | -15 | Playoff (over Wyndham Clark on par-4 18th)[44] |
| 2021 | Lucas Herbert (1st PGA Tour win) | 269 | -15 | 1 stroke (over Patrick Reed and Danny Lee)[45] |
| 2022 | Séamus Power (2nd PGA Tour win) | 265 | -19 | 1 stroke (over Thomas Detry)[46] |
| 2023 | Camilo Villegas (5th PGA Tour win) | 260 | -24 | 2 strokes (over Alex Norén)[47] |
| 2024 | Rafael Campos (1st PGA Tour win) | 265 | -19 | 3 strokes (over Andrew Novak)[48] |
| 2025 | Adam Schenk (1st PGA Tour win) | 272 | -12 | 1 stroke (over Chandler Phillips)[49] |