After a well deserved break for PGA Tour golfers over the Christmas period, the action returns this week as we head to the Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort for the annual Sentry Tournament of Champions. Check out our preview and betting tips for the event below.
PGA Tour: Sentry Tournament of Champions Betting Tips
Thursday 5th - Sunday 8th January, Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort, Maui
The Field
It’s a special event that resumes proceedings in the PGA Tour this week as the Sentry Tournament of Champions annually pits all of the previous seasons’ winners against eachother in one tournament. That generally means the best of the best is in action for this event and this year is no exception.
The glaring omission this week is the No.1 ranked player in the world, Rory McIlroy, who will take an extra week off. Outside of McIlroy (ranked 1st), Cameron Smith (3rd) and Shane Lowry (20th), all of the top 20 players in the world will be teeing it up this week, which should made for a thrilling event.
The Course
The Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort in Maui, Hawaii will celebrate it’s 25th year of involvement in the PGA Tour this season, and throughout it’s tenure it has remained a favourite amongst PGA Tour players.
At almost 7,600 yards as a Par 73, the course is one of the longest on the PGA Tour, and opened in 1991 as the debut design from iconic duo Bill Core and Bill Crensaw. While it is long, PGA Tour players of the modern age have no issue scoring here, with the winning score being in the 20s under par in seven of the last eight events.
Ball striking has been a premium over the last few years, with elite strikers in the likes of Justin Thomas (2), Dustin Johnson (2) and Xander Schauffele all winning events over the last five years.
Betting Tips
As always, I’ll be providing two of my top picks from the elite group at the top of the betting markets as well as two from a little further down the table that provide some more value.
Jon Rahm ($7.50)
At some stage the big Spaniard has to pull through for a win in Hawaii. The No.5 ranked player in the world has finished in the top 10 on five straight occasions at the Tournament of Champions and also brings some solid form into the event, with a 4th, 1st and 8th in his last three tournaments.
Justin Thomas ($12.00)
Two time winner in Hawaii, Justin Thomas has as much experience as any golfer lining up this weekend. His last six trips to Maui have resulted in a 1st, 22nd, 3rd, 1st, 3rd and 5th. Pretty impressive stuff. Didn’t play a lot of golf in the lead up to the break but is arguably the purest ball striker in the world.
Hideki Matsuyama ($36)
Hard to look too far down the board in a 30-man event but we got about half way here before stumbling upon the Japanese star. Hideki has a solid record in Hawaii, including top 10 finishes in three of his last five trips there.
Seamus Power ($36)
The Irish star doesn't have a lot of experience at Kapalua, competing only once for a 15th place finish. However, he does come into the event with some of the best form in the world, having finished 1st, 3rd and 5th in his last three events. Broke through for his fourth PGA Tour win and his first since 2017 in November at Mayakoba.
Justin Thomas to Win ($12) 1 Unit
PLACE BETS COMING SOON
Jon Rahm to win
$7.50 (1 Unit)
