The Sentry Tournament of Champions
Like it or not, we’re back! As we always do, we are starting off with the Hawai’i portion of the season. Yeah, I know, it technically started back in October but, unofficially, I think this is more the start of the new season.
Kapalua’s Plantation Course is a “resort course”. It appears to be long at over 7,500 yards, but it really doesn’t play that way. By “resort course” they mean that it has to be forgiving enough not to frustrate the guests – players like most of us – to the point that they don’t want to come back. So, we have wide fairways and large greens. In other words, -20 or better is expected. There is a lot of elevation change which makes the course play shorter than the listed yardage as well. It’s also a Par 73 and only has three Par 3s.
Highlights: Plantation Course
Par 73 – 7,500+ yards
Wide Fairways
Large Greens
This is a limited field tournament since it’s made up of the winners from the 2022-23 season. Therefore, everyone will get four rounds unless they withdraw. EXPECT LOW SCORES TO PAR – AND HIGH DFS SCORING!!
Rory McIlroy has already withdrawn!
NOTE: All pricing is based on DraftKings
** are my favorites in each category – could be pricing or the fact I think they play best.
$9,000 and Above
- Collin Morikawa ($9,100)** – 2nd-T5-T7-T7 at Kapalua! Hasn’t played in a month, but he seems to really enjoy this course.
- Xander Schauffele ($10,000) – WD last year but he still has a great history here!
- Matthew Fitzpatrick ($9,500)** – he’s been playing since the Tour Championship. That’s the biggest wild card here…who’s been playing and/or training?
- Patrick Cantlay ($9,000) – He plays well here too, but this is a pure gut play.
- Scottie Scheffler ($11,000) – I think he is a good play but his price will probably keep me away. The upside with weeks like this is that you can offset all three guys at $10K and above with a $6K to $7K guy that’s guaranteed 4 rounds. Feel free to do this with Viktor Hovland ($10,500) also – although he hasn’t been as successful here is 3 attempts.
$8,000 to $9,000
- Tony Finau ($8,400)** – I’m guessing he’s working on his game during the layoff since he didn’t play at all prior to the Hero World Challenge and finished 4th.
- Ludvig Aberg ($8,700)** – I really like this guy! I’m probably going to play him more than any other player in this range (assuming he stays here) this year. He’s already won this season at RSM – which was also the last time he played. Barring some rust, his rolling stats for 16 rounds makes him a MUST PLAY!
- Tom Kim ($8,900) – his game just fits here! Oh, and he’s a damn good player.
- Jordan Spieth ($8,800) – It’s odd not seeing his buddy Justin Thomas here, but he didn’t win. Jordan’s course history here is still good even though not as good as 2014-2018.
$7,000 to $7,900
- Eric Cole ($7,400)** – Having never played here, we have no history and it may not fit his game, but his recent play is T3-T2-T3. His worst stat in SG:Tee-to-Green, Approach and Around-the-Green is 3rd in his last 16 rounds – and that’s SG:T2G.
- Russell Henley ($7,700)** – Haven’t had a whole lot of faith in Henley for a while. I used to like to go to him as that steady player you know will make the cut. He ended last season on a heater at T2-T6-T8-T13 so, hopefully he’s been hitting balls.
- Sahith Theegala ($7,600) – Gut play!
- Cam Davis ($7,100)
Under $7,000
- Adam Svensson ($6,600)**
- Luke List ($6,200)** – for a guy who finished the season (or started this season) with a T25-Win-T18-T45-T20-T19, this price seems like a steal! A T11 here last year surely doesn’t scare me off either.
- Matt Wallace ($6,600)
- Mackenzie Hughes ($6,400)
Longshot(s)
NONE
Ask questions on Discord if you have them. Make sure to tag me so I don’t miss it!
GOOD LUCK!!