The Holiday break is over and it’s back to work as the PGA Tour opens the New Year in Hawai’i for the playing of the Sentry Tournament of Champions at the Plantation Course in Kapalua. The invitation-only event had 37 players on the guest list, however, Justin Rose, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson elected to skip the tournament. Anyone who won an official PGA Tour event over the past 12 months was invited and those that accepted will play 72 holes of golf in paradise.
Defending champion Dustin Johnson is the betting favorite at BookMaker.eu with odds of +485. He looks to win here for the third time, something only five players have done in the event’s history. Brooks Koepka enters 2019 as the No. 1 ranked golfer and is the fourth favorite at +958. A trio of former No. 1 ranked players is in the field with Justin Thomas the third favorite at +829 along with Rory McIlroy at +1058, and Jason Day at +1464.
Odds to Win Sentry Tournament of Champions at BookMaker.eu
Dustin Johnson +485
Jon Rahm +675
Justin Thomas +829
Brooks Koepka +958
Rory McIlroy +1058
Bryson DeChambeau +1263
Jason Day +1464
Patrick Reed +1573
Cameron Champ +1950
Webb Simpson +2079
Xander Schauffele +2079
Marc Leishman +2289
Gary Woodland +2599
Bubba Watson +3112
Francesco Molinari +4011
Paul Casey +4375
Aaron Wise +4525
Billy Horschel +5500
Keegan Bradley +6040
Patton Kizzire +6500
Brandt Snedeker +7000
Matt Kuchar +7500
Charles Howell III +9000
Scott Piercy +9000
Kevin Na +10000
Andrew Putnam +11500
Kevin Tway +11500
Ian Poulter +11500
Michael Kim +12500
Brice Garnett +13500
Andrew Landry +13500
Satoshi Kodaira +13500
Troy Merritt +13500
Ted Potter Jr. +15000
Odds Analysis
Dustin Johnson +485
It’s hard not to consider Johnson as a top finisher considering his history at Kapalua. He won the event last year, breaking free from the field for an 8-shot victory by carding a 24-under score. For the most part the scores will be elevated with par up a stroke over a normal layout. Still, 24-under is impressive. And Johnson’s worst score recorded at Kapalua was a 13-under 279. The layout is made for the heavy-hitting of Johnson and he’s shown the ability to navigate the tricky layout. He’s a good bet to be at the podium on Sunday.
Jon Rahm +675
While DJ stumbled at bit toward the end of last season, Rahm picked up his game and enters this event in fine form. He rallied to win the Hero World Challenge in early December, shooting 63-69-65 over the final three rounds for a 4-shot victory. He was 6-shots off the pace after 18 holes only to fire a tournament-low on the second day. Making his first start at Kapalua last year, Rahm took runner-up honors, though he finished eight swings behind Johnson.
Cameron Champ +1950
It’s hard to ignore what Champ has done during his short time on the Tour. He heads to the island with four top-15 finishes in his last five events, including his maiden victory at the Sanderson Farms Championship where he opened with a 65 and carded a third-round 64 to win by four swings. The competition is stiffer and the putter needs to behave for Champ to be in the running, but he’ll put himself in a good spot with his lengthy drives. And with his odds the payout is nice for a guy that has the tools to be successful here.
Gary Woodland +2599
Breaking a lengthy drought and earning his invitation with a victory at the Waste Management Open last February, Woodland used that as a springboard to a fine season. And his solid play has carried over to this season with three top-10s in four official Tour events. Unlike a number of other players Woodland has competed in several events recently with strong showings at the Hero World Challenge and the QBE Shootout. Added confidence in his putting will be a key at Kapalua, but he’s worth a gamble and delivers a hefty payout at +2599.
Course: Plantation Course at Kapalua – 7,518-yards, par-73
The course has hosted this event since 1999 so there shouldn’t be any surprises for the field. It’s a bit unusual in that it plays a par-73, but the layout is known more for its tricky lies. One hole is uphill and the next is downhill. Golfers also have the coastal winds to contend with, which are always a factor on this course. For the most part the fairways are generous and the big sticks will be used a lot over the four days. The greens are known to be slow and tricky, and the players that manage the short grass will have an advantage in the final standings.
TV Coverage: Golf Channel
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