Golf. It’s back.
After a month of hit and giggles and zero action, the PGA Tour returns in a big way on the island of Hawaii this week for the Sentry Tournament of Champions, the Tour’s first elevated event of 2023.
Due to its higher status, the field is jam-packed with the best golfers in the world — other than the No. 1 player in the Official World Golf Ranking. Players are allowed to miss one elevated event per season and Rory McIlroy is cashing his in early and will not tee it up in Kapalua.
Jon Rahm, last year’s runner-up, enters as the betting favorite at +650, followed by Scottie Scheffler at +900.
Cam Smith, the defending champion, is not in the field for obvious reasons.
Golf course
Plantation Course at Kapalua | Par 73 | 7,596 yards | Coore/Crenshaw design
Data Golf Information
Course Fit (compares golf courses based on the degree to which different golfer attributes — such as driving distance — to predict who performs well at each course – DataGolf): 1. Riviera Country Club, 2. Monterey Peninsula Country Club, 3. Augusta National
Trending (the players’ last three starts): 1. Jon Rahm (T-4, 1, T-8), 2. Scottie Scheffler (T-3, T-9, 2), 3. Xander Schauffele (4, T-9, 4)
Percent chance to win (based on course history, fit, trending, etc.): 1. Jon Rahm (11.2 percent), 2. Scottie Scheffler (10.9 percent), 3. Xander Schauffele (8.7 percent)
Golfweek’s weekly podcast
Listen to Riley Hamel and Andy Nesbitt on this week’s episode of Twilight 9! The boys discuss Scott Stallings and his Masters invite, the Sentry TOC, picks for the week, a preview of 2023 and much more!
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Betting preview
Odds
| Player | Odds | Player | Odds |
| Jon Rahm | (+650) | Collin Morikawa | (+2000) |
| Scottie Scheffler | (+900) | Cameron Young | (+2000) |
| Justin Thomas | (+1000) | Max Homa | (+3000) |
| Patrick Cantlay | (+1000) | Will Zalatoris | (+3000) |
| Xander Schauffele | (+1000) | Sam Burns | (+3000) |
| Tony Finau | (+1500) | Tom Kim | (+3000) |
| Jordan Spieth | (+2000) | Adam Scott | (+4000) |
| Matthew Fitzpatrick | (+2000) | Brian Harman | (+4000) |
| Viktor Hovland | (+2000) | Hideki Matsuyama | (+4000) |
| Sungjae Im | (+2000) | Russell Henley | (+4000) |
Justin Thomas
It’s tough to bet against JT when he’s at Kapalua. Since a tie for 22nd in 2018, Thomas has finished third, first, third and T-5.
His last start came at the Hero World Challenge in December where he claimed fifth.
Bets to consider: Outright (+1000), Top 5 (+190)
Cameron Young
I’ve been betting on Cameron Young for a long time and it’s easy to see he’s next in line to break through. Kapalua could be the venue where it all comes together.
Length off the tee is a need at the Plantation Course. Young checks that box. The No. 1 course comparison according to Data Golf is Riviera. Young tied for second there last season.
At the end of last year, Young finished solo third at the Hero World Challenge and tied for seventh at the QBE Shootout.
Bets to consider: Outright (+2000), Top 10 (+125)
Collin Morikawa
Collin Morikawa flashed some nice form at the end of last season tying for 15th at Mayakoba and grabbing solo sixth at the Hero World Challenge.
In three appearances at the Plantation Course, Morikawa’s worst showing is T-7.
Bets to consider: Outright (+2000), Top 10 (+125)
