Hello Hawai’i!! Now, this is where I think the year “officially” begins! The wrap-around events are fun and still give us some good golf. However, my main use for these tournaments is the fact that we get to see how some of the new guys on Tour adapt to PGA’s version of “The Show”.
The TOC is usually very entertaining because the scoring at Kapalua (Plantation Course) is usually lights out. This is a course that is made for resort guests to play – albeit not from the tips like these guys. What’s that mean? It can’t be too punitive or resort guests would be playing 6-hour rounds.
Accuracy will not be at a premium! “Bomb and gauge” is an acceptable approach! This is a no-cut event so feel free to have at the guys at the low end if you want to get two or three guys at the top. That is why the pricing is the way it is.
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New Year – Preview
I’m not trying to tell you how the year will play out. However, what I want to do is point out to you some of the guys that you will probably get tired of hearing me mention in 2022.
- Xander Schauffele – “X” is one of my favorite players. This guy WILL win a major in 2022. I’m calling it now! I know I’m not alone in this prediction, but if I placed individual bets, I’d probably get a ticket on him in each Major.
- Viktor Hovland – Hovland has been someone I will play any time. I was playing him before he blew up and he started getting priced in the 5-digit range.
- Will Zalatoris – Seeing the pattern here? Apparently, I’m a fan of guys whose names (first & last in some cases) begin with letters 20-26 in the alphabet. Again, like the other two, the all-around games are solid.
Since this is a no-cut event and all of these guys have had several weeks off, I’m not going into a lot of “why” I like them. This, quite frankly, is a crap shoot and I try to go with guys that have played well here in the past. If they haven’t played here, then I usually look at some guys who we know will grind at practice while off.
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$10,000 and Above
- Collin Morikawa ($10,800)
- Justin Thomas ($10,600) – 6 attempts with two wins and two 3rd place finishes
- Viktor Hovland ($10,000)
- Bryson DeChambeau ($10,200) – grinder who has historically played well after layoffs (when he’s not head-to-head with Brooks!)
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$9,000 to $9,900
- Xander Schauffele ($9,500)– Top 5 last 3 years here.
There’re only 3 guys in this range so play any of the 3, but X is my favorite.
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$7,500 to $8,900
- Sungjae Im ($8,200)
- Cameron Smith ($8,300)
- Daniel Berger ($8,400) – didn’t think he’d play great after a layoff but he finished T7
- Patrick Reed ($7,900) – never misses an opportunity to come out on top in an elite field
- Talor Gooch ($7,600) – probably the hottest golfer in this bunch right now
- Marc Leishman ($7,500)
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$7,400 and Under
- Phil Mickelson ($6,500)
- Garrick Higgo ($6,400)
- Max Homa ($6,700) – “West Coast Homa”… close enough?
LONGSHOTS: Cameron Davis ($6,200) and Kevin Kisner ($6,000)
No more fades! I’m going with the positive. Here are two potential “Cores” to build with:
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CORE #1:
Xander Schauffele
Talor Gooch
Cameron Smith
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CORE #2:
Justin Thomas
Bryson DeChambeau
Sungjae Im
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TOP 10 using the model I utilize with 50% Current Form/ 25% Key Stats / 25% Course History:
Not really relevant this week!
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GOOD LUCK!!