Four First-Timers to Tee it Up at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai

KA’UPULEHU-KONA, Hawaii – The 2025 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai field will feature four first-timers at the event, scheduled for January 16-18 on the Island of Hawaii. Thomas Bjørn, Y.E. Yang, Tim O’Neal and Ricardo Gonzalez will add their names to the illustrious list of players to compete at Hualalai in 2025.

“We are thrilled to welcome Thomas, Y.E., Tim and Ricardo to Hualalai for the first time this year,” said Tournament Manager Kelly Fliear. “The tournament week experience is special for each of our players, but even more so for our first-timers.”

Bjørn, who made 20 starts last year on PGA TOUR Champions, finished 18th in the Charles Schwab Cup standings. The 53-year-old from Denmark notched eight top-10s, highlighted by back-to-back top-3 finishes to open his 2024 campaign. He was runner-up at the Trophy Hassan II before finishing T3 at the Invited Celebrity Classic.

Yang finished No. 6 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings, earning his first win on PGA TOUR Champions at the Stifel Charity Classic in September. The Korean, who will celebrate his 53rd birthday on Wednesday of Hualalai week, edged World Golf Hall of Fame member Bernhard Langer in a playoff to get his maiden Champions Tour win. In addition to his win, Yang earned two runner-up finishes and two third-place finishes in 2024.

O’Neal broke through for his first Champions Tour win at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic in October, which served as the first leg of the 2024 Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs. The 52-year-old finished 16th in the Charles Schwab Cup standings during his second year on PGA TOUR Champions.

Gonzalez found the winner’s circle for the first time at last year’s Trophy Hassan II in February. The 55-year-old from Argentina finished 10th in the Charles Schwab Cup standings after compiling six top-10 finishes in 25 starts. In addition to his win in Morocco, Gonzalez added runner-up finishes at The Galleri Classic at Dominion Energy Charity Classic.

Since 1997, six players have won the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai in their tournament debut: Darren Clarke (2021), Jerry Kelly (2018), Duffy Waldorf (2016), Miguel Ángel Jiménez (2015), Loren Roberts (2006) and John Jacobs (1999).

All three rounds of the 2025 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai will be televised live on GOLF Channel, January 16-18. Fans who are interested in attending the event are encouraged to purchase tickets ahead of time by visiting MECgolf.com.