KAPALUA, Maui >> There was a time when the Sentry Tournament of Champions wasn’t a hot-ticket item for those playing on the PGA Tour.

Tucked too close to the holidays on the schedule and difficult to get to from most home ports on the continent, not to mention for those playing on the European Tour, this winners-only event had a tough time attracting the star players on a regular basis. The tournament went from having winners on par with Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia to Stuart Appleby, Daniel Chopra and Jonathan Byrd.

Not to disparage anyone. That wouldn’t be fair. But the television numbers and those trekking all the way out to the western edges of Maui are more apt to tune in and show up with the likes of Woods, Els and Garcia teeing it up at the picturesque Plantation Course. It’s likely one reason that original sponsor Mercedes packed up its cars and moved elsewhere into the world of sports.

Golf analyst Mark Rolfing, one of the strongest proponents for what he envisioned to be a top-tier tournament, sounded the alarm to anyone who would listen that this event was adrift in the middle of the Pacific; danger Will Robinson. Then along came Steve Stricker with a win in 2012, followed by Dustin Johnson, three-time major winner Zach Johnson, current Masters champ Patrick Reed, three-time major winner Jordan Spieth, rising star Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson once more, this time as defending champion.

This week’s field is a sight to behold with 34 of the 37 eligible golfers taking a ticket to ride to Kapalua. The only three missing from the scene are world No. 2 Justin Rose, Phil Mickelson and Woods once more. There is some irony here, a word used and misused too often. But what put this prestigious tournament, that dates back to 1953, on wobbly legs in the first place was Mickelson’s and Woods’ refusal to play here.

Now, not so much.

Both golfers showed their age, aches and pains down the stretch of last year, prompting Woods to say he will play fewer rounds of golf in the 2018-19 wraparound season. Mickelson may be closer to being a senior than winning another tour event and Woods, who still moves the needle like no other, isn’t really needed here this week due to the depth of the field.

The star power of the present and future is here in full force, including a talented European force led by four-time major champion Rory McIlroy, current British Open winner Francesco Molinari, Ian Poulter, Jon Rahm and Paul Casey. McIlroy is still the man of that contingent and is playing here in Hawaii for the first time. Part of the reason is focusing more on the American tour.

Normally this time of year, McIlroy would have his clubs in the garage. Take Christmas and New Year’s off, then get back at it with two events in the Middle East.

“But I feel like every time I show up to the start of the year on the PGA Tour other guys have played nearly 10 events and I’m sort of playing my first or second one,” McIlroy explained Wednesday. “So, I wanted to try to start a little bit early, get a few more starts under my belt before the bulk of the season kicks in. Any time you’re invited to Kapalua is a good thing. It means you played well the year before and we just wanted to mix things up a little bit this year and here we are.”

And he’s not alone.

World No. 1 Brooks Koepka is in the house, as well as nine of the top 10 players in the world. Koepka is the reigning PGA Tour player of the year and two-time major winner last season. He has played here twice before, finishing tied for third in 2016 and 34th last year.

“Any time you can come here, it’s always a treat and it’s always fun,” Koepka said. “It’s a good place to start off the year and kind of get a feel and see how things are going. Obviously excited to build on the year I had last year and looking forward to it.”

So is Johnson, who won this event last year by a staggering eight strokes and just missed a hole-in-one on a par-4 by 6 inches.

“I like the golf course,” Johnson said. In eight previous appearances dating back to 2009 Johnson has two wins and six top 10s overall. “I feel like I play it pretty well, and yeah, I’m looking forward to this year. Obviously, you’ve done OK if you’re playing here the first week of the year and a place I enjoy coming back to every year.”