Kapalua – Golfing Agency

2023 Tournament of Champions leaderboard: Collin Morikawa separates himself in second round at Kapalua

detlef32 — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 04:10:29 +0000

At the 2023 Tournament of Champions, it is not a victor from the 2021-22 season that occupies the top of the leaderboard, but a prolific winner, nevertheless. Collin Morikawa commands the solo lead at 16 under midway through the action at the Plantation Course at Kapalua as the two-time major champion has looked rejuvenated with the putter in hand.

A top three-iron player on the PGA Tour each of the last three seasons, Morikawa’s putter has often held the keys to victory. If he putts well, he seriously threatens to enter the winner’s circle. If he doesn’t, an appearance on the third or fourth page of the leaderboard usually takes shape.

This week the former is unfolding as the introduction of putting coach Stephen Sweeney and short-game guru Parker McLachlin to his inner circle is already paying dividends. Over the weekend, the short game will need to continue to cash in if he is to enter the winner’s circle for the first time since November 2022 and for the first time in the U.S. since February 2021.

It will be no easy task as he is followed closely behind by Tournament of Champions debutant J.J. Spaun and reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year Scottie Scheffler at 14 under. Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, Jon Rahm and Matt Fitzpatrick all find themselves on the first page of the leaderboard and within five strokes of Morikawa with 36 holes to play.

The leader

1. Collin Morikawa (-16)

Morikawa may not have won in 2022, but statistically, he was the exact same from a strokes-gained perspective as he was in 2021 when he won three times. This week, he leads the field in strokes gained putting, gaining nearly four strokes with the flat stick through two rounds, and combined with his buttery iron play has made for a lethal one-two punch. As someone who typically lags behind the competition on the greens, it is this club which will make or break the world No. 11’s first start of the year.

Other contenders

T2. Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun (-14)

4. Jordan Spieth (-13)

5. Tom Kim (-12)

T6. Matt Fitzpatrick, Jon Rahm (-11)

T8. Luke List, Tony Finau, Corey Conners, Aaron Wise (-10)

What more is there to say about Tom Kim? Every time it appears as if the course is unsuitable for his game or the competition is too stiff, he pops up on the first page of the leaderboard. Paired with former world No. 1 Rahm on Friday, Kim looked at ease despite letting his fair share of birdie opportunities fall by the wayside. Still only four strokes off the pace of Morikawa, if he is to win, not only would it be his third victory in his very young PGA Tour career, but the 20-year-old would also be following in the footsteps of a rather big name (Tiger Woods).

Scheffler looks to regain world No. 1 status

The former world No. 1 is in position to return to the top spot in the world over the weekend should he finish in a two-way tie for third or better. In order for him to do so, Scheffler will need the putter to begin to cooperate as he currently leads the field in strokes gained tee to green.

In the 16 starts following his victory at The Masters, Scheffler has averaged -0.35 strokes gained putting per round. Through two rounds at Kapalua, he has posted -0.69 strokes gained putting per round and ranks 30th in the field. A turnaround with this club could lead to a win and ascending to No. 1 in the world again.

2023 Tournament of Champions updated odds and picks

Odds via Caesars Sportsbook

Collin Morikawa: 2-1
Scottie Scheffler: 13/5
Jordan Spieth: 7-1
Jon Rahm: 17/2
J.J. Spaun: 12-1
Tom Kim: 14-1
Matt Fitzpatrick: 22-1
Tony Finau: 28-1

This is tough. Conventional wisdom suggests Morikawa regresses on the greens, but that is without knowing the staying power of this new-found confidence in his putting stroke. This would also mean Scheffler shows improvement, which I believe to be the more likely scenario, and at just shorter than 3-1 is a worthwhile investment.

Spieth continues to be a human rollercoaster and Rahm is beginning to show similar characteristics making me uneasy about the idea of backing either of them. Unsure if Kim can continue this rapid ascension, if itching for a longer price, my money would be on Finau at 28-1 with the hope of a hot putting performance over the weekend.

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2023 Tournament of Champions: Xander Schauffele withdraws from Kapalua field with back injury

detlef32 — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 22:44:13 +0000

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Xander Schauffele withdrew from the 2023 Tournament of Champions Friday midway through his second round at The Plantation Course at Kapalua. Citing some back discomfort earlier in the week, the pain eventually took over and forced him out of the tournament.

The 2019 champion was visibly uncomfortable throughout the duration of his first round before ultimately signing for a 3-under 70 but was hopeful some overnight work would allow him to see the finish line. Attempting to play through the pain and swinging at only 80%, Schauffele was unable to take anymore. Calling it quits on the ninth hole of his second round, Schauffele will look to heal up his back before a big West Coast swing in the continental United States.

Schauffele is currently committed to play in The American Express the week of January 16th in what would be his first start in Palm Springs since 2017. Not labeled as an elevated event on the PGA Tour’s new playing schedule, The American Express would count as one of the three tournaments Schauffele is required to play in in addition to the 13 elevated events.

The 29-year-old is expected to get an MRI this upcoming week to pinpoint the problem area in his back. Once adequately diagnosed, the world No. 6 should be back on his feet quickly after coming into 2023 having won three times in his last 12 starts on the PGA Tour in 2022.

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2023 Tournament of Champions predictions, expert picks, odds, golf best bets, field rankings at Kapalua

detlef32 — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 14:05:21 +0000

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The PGA Tour schedule is all set to resume as the calendar has now flipped from December to January and from 2022 to 2023. The conclusion of the RSM Classic triggered a month-long break for the golfers, and now it is the 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions which will once again begin the new year. Welcoming 39 of the best players in the world, winners from the 2021-22 season and those who qualified for the Tour Championship will make the trip to Maui, Hawaii, to take on the Plantation Course at Kapalua.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy will be among those forgoing the trip. With the ability to skip one of the newly elevated events in the PGA Tour season, the reigning FedEx Cup champion has decided to start his year a bit later than most while preserving his traditional schedule. Defending champion Cameron Smith will also not be in the field due to his association with LIV Golf, and Shane Lowry was unable to qualify despite a strong campaign in 2022.

In their place, 17 of the top 20 players in the world will compete. 2022 PGA Tour Player of the Year Scottie Scheffler has an opportunity to regain the world No. 1 title from McIlroy with a solo third-place finish or better. Scheffler arrived at this tournament a season ago winless on the PGA Tour but is now securely among the best players in the world 12 months later.

Last season’s runner-up Jon Rahm aims to perform in a similar manner to 2022 when he shot 33 under. Tony Finau hopes his hot summer and fall can drift into the winter, while Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele look to enter the winner’s circle yet again in Kapalua as the only former champions in the field.

Event Information

Event: 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions | Dates: Jan. 5-8
Location: Plantation Course at Kapalua — Maui, Hawaii
Par: 73 | Yardage: 7,596 | Purse: $15,000,000

2023 Tournament of Champions field, odds

Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook

Jon Rahm (13/2): This time last year, Rahm was the No. 1 player in the world after a dominant 2021 campaign. He would have won this tournament if not for a record-setting performance from Smith but should take solace in knowing that he can blitz this golf course with the best of them. A winner in three of his last 14 tournaments to end 2022, the Spaniard found his touch on the greens once the PGA Tour got into the swing of the postseason. Continuing this quality of putting in Europe and winning at the DP World Tour Championship, should he continue on such a trajectory with the flat stick, another PGA Tour win is in his near future.
Scottie Scheffler (17/2)
Xander Schauffele (19/2): Thomas may have won in 2020, but it was Schauffele’s tournament to lose. Needing just two putts on the 72nd hole, Schauffele instead took three and ultimately fell in extra holes. Getting a taste of his own medicine, Schauffele lapped the field on Sunday the year prior with an 11-under 62 to beat Gary Woodland by one. The 29-year-old arrives this time around with seven top-five finishes in his last 13 starts, three of which were in the form of wins.
Patrick Cantlay (10-1)
Justin Thomas (11-1): The 15-time winner on the PGA Tour is a player I have a difficult time judging. Is 15 an impressive number of wins? Yes, but for someone of Thomas’ skill, I know he has even more in the tank. Winning the 2021 Players Championship and the 2022 PGA Championship, he has been without a multiple-win season since 2020. It just so happens he beat Schauffele and Patrick Reed in a playoff that year at this very tournament. His seven Tournament of Champions appearances read: T5, third, WIN, third, T22, WIN, T21.
Tony Finau (14-1)
Sungjae Im (16-1)
Viktor Hovland (18-1): He’s the most recent winner in the field — albeit not in an official PGA Tour event — as Hovland outlasted Scheffler at the Hero World Challenge in the beginning of December. Known as the king of the tropics and resort-style golf courses, the 25-year-old from Norway looks to improve on his Tournament of Champions record. With finishes of T30 and T31 in his two prior strolls, tangible improvements in the short-game department could lead to a much more respectable showing for the ball-striking machine.
Collin Morikawa (18-1)
Cameron Young (20-1)
Tom Kim (20-1)
Jordan Spieth (22-1): There is one player who consistently discusses his desire to play at Kapalua each and every year, and that is Spieth. With finishes of second, WIN, T3 and ninth from 2014-18, Spieth returned last season and experienced some growing pains in the form of a T21 result. While his ball-striking numbers have improved, he continues to be an enigma primarily because of his putter. If it’s hot, he could win. If it’s cold, he could finish outside the top 20. Neither would be all too surprising.
Matt Fitzpatrick (22-1)
Sam Burns (25-1)

2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions expert picks

Who will win the Sentry Tournament of Champions, and which longshots will stun the golfing world? Visit SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard and best bets, all from the model that’s nailed eight golf majors and is up over $9,500 since June 2020.

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2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions picks, predictions, odds: PGA expert says fade Matt Fitzpatrick at Kapalua

detlef32 — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 16:35:24 +0000

The first of the PGA Tour’s elevated events takes place this week, and the 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions in Maui boasts a stacked field. The tournament tees off Thursday on the Plantation Course at Kapalua, and 39 top PGA Tour golfers will be vying for the $2.7 million winner’s share. Previous winners in the field include Justin Thomas (2017, 2020), Xander Schauffele (2019) and Jordan Spieth (2016), and 2022 runner-up Jon Rahm comes in as the favorite. Rahm finished one stroke behind Cameron Smith, who shot a tour-record 34 under par. Smith moved to LIV Golf and is ineligible to defend his title, while world No. 1 Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry are the only other top-20 players who won’t compete.

Caesars Sportsbook lists Rahm as the 13-2 favorite – followed closely by Scheffler (9-1), Xander Schauffele (19-2) and Patrick Cantlay (10-1) – in its latest 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions odds. More than a dozen golfers are listed at 20-1 or shorter in the Sentry Tournament of Champions field. They include Tony Finau (14-1), Sungjae Im (16-1), Viktor Hovland (18-1) and Collin Morikawa (18-1), while Spieth is at 22-1. Before locking in any 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions picks, be sure you check out the PGA Tour predictions and best bets from SportsLine golf insider Patrick McDonald.

After spending time at FanSided and NBC Sports EDGE, McDonald joined CBS Sports as a golf writer in the spring of 2022. Now covering the sport from a broader perspective, McDonald still likes to dip his toes into the betting pools on a weekly basis on the PGA Tour.

McDonald takes a measured approach to his outright selections and is having a profitable 2022-23 season in every category. He nailed the Houston Open, backing Tony Finau to win at 25-1, and is up more than 16 units on his plays overall. That’s a profit of more than $1,600 for $100 bettors. The expert also has been on the money on his matchup plays and cashed in huge on Brendan Steele (80-1) as the first-round leader at the Zozo Championship.

The expert finished the 2021-22 season up 42 units on his outright plays, having hit Cameron Smith (22-1) at the Tournament of Champions, Hudson Swafford (250-1) at The American Express, Joaquin Niemann (70-1) at the Genesis Invitational and Justin Thomas (66-1) live at the PGA Championship. Anyone who follows McDonald’s advice has been cashing in.

Now, McDonald has studied the 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions field and locked in his best bets, top sleepers and favorites to avoid. You can head to SportsLine now to see all his PGA picks and predictions.

Top 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions expert picks

In a surprise move, McDonald is fading U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick (22-1), who is one of the best at grinding out victories. Unfortunately, that won’t be required this week on a Kapalua course that won’t put up much fight. The Englishman didn’t shoot better than 64 all of last season, and his best score among his eight worldwide victories is 17 under. The average winning score over the past decade in Maui is 23 under. This is also the 28-year-old’s tournament debut, and it typically takes a couple of rounds to get used to the rolling terrain on this course.

Meanwhile, McDonald knows Rahm will be out to finish the job he couldn’t close out last year. The Spaniard was one of three players to shoot a course-record 61 and shared the lead with Smith entering Sunday. Rahm shot 66, but the Australian did him one better. Given the roll he is on, with two victories and five straight top-10 finishes in Europe, Rahm should go low again. The 28-year-old is excellent off the tee (first in total driving in 2021-22) and to the green (third in GIR), so Kapalua should remain an easy stroll for him. He was 17th in par breakers last season. You can see who else to back at Kapalua here.

How to make 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions golf picks

McDonald has locked in his best bets for the 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions. His outright plays include a golfer who has excelled on similar courses but just doesn’t have the victories to show for it. If he pulls off the victory at Kapalua, anyone who backs him would cash in at more than 20-1. You can find out who it is, and see the rest of McDonald’s Sentry Tournament of Champions picks, predictions, and best bets at SportsLine.

So which 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions picks should you target? Which talented golfer could pull off a surprise victory in this loaded Tournament of Champions field for a payoff of more than 20-1? Check out the odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Patrick McDonald’s top prop picks for Sentry Tournament of Champions 2023, all from the expert who is up more than $1,600 on his PGA Tour picks this season, and find out.

2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions odds, field, top contenders

See full Sentry Tournament of Champions 2023 picks, best bets, and predictions here.

Jon Rahm +800
Scottie Scheffler +1000
Xander Schauffele +1000
Justin Thomas +1000
Patrick Cantlay +1200
Viktor Hovland +1800
Tony Finau +1800
Joo-hyung (Tom) Kim +1800
Matthew Fitzpatrick +1800
Sungjae Im +1800
Collin Morikawa +1800
Jordan Spieth +2000
Cam Young +2000
Max Homa +2800
Sam Burns +2800
Will Zalatoris +2800
Hideki Matsuyama +2800
Sahith Theegala +3300
Billy Horschel +4000
Seamus Power +4500
Aaron Wise +4500
Corey Conners +4500
K.H. Lee +5000
Keegan Bradley +5000
Russell Henley +5000
Sepp Straka +5500
Tom Hoge +6000
Adam Scott +6000
Brian Harman +6000
Mackenzie Hughes +7000
Luke List +7500
Trey Mullinax +8000
J.T. Poston +8500
Adam Svensson +8500
J J Spaun +9000
Scott Stallings +10000
Chez Reavie +12500
Chad Ramey +12500
Ryan Brehm +20000

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2023 Tournament of Champions predictions, expert picks, odds, field rankings, golf best bets at Kapalua

detlef32 — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 19:02:47 +0000

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With the flip of the calendar comes the resumption of the 2022-23 PGA Tour season. Taking roughly a month-long break following the RSM Classic, it is the 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions which will once again begin the new year. Welcoming 39 of the best players in the world, winners from the 2021-22 season and those who qualified for the Tour Championship will make the trip to Maui, Hawaii, to take on the Plantation Course at Kapalua.

Event Information

Event: 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions | Dates: Jan. 5-8
Location: Plantation Course at Kapalua — Maui, Hawaii
Par: 73 | Yardage: 7,596 | Purse: $15,000,000

2023 Tournament of Champions field, odds

Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook

Jon Rahm (13/2): This time last year, Rahm was the No. 1 player in the world after a dominant 2021 campaign. He would have won this tournament if not for a record-setting performance from Smith but should take solace in knowing that he can blitz this golf course with the best of them. A winner in three of his last 14 tournaments to end 2022, the Spaniard found his touch on the greens once the PGA Tour got into the swing of the postseason. Continuing this quality of putting in Europe and winning at the DP World Tour Championship, should he continue on such a trajectory with the flat stick, another PGA Tour win is in his near future.
Scottie Scheffler (17/2)
Xander Schauffele (19/2): Thomas may have won in 2020, but it was Schauffele’s tournament to lose. Needing just two putts on the 72nd hole, Schauffele instead took three and ultimately fell in extra holes. Getting a taste of his own medicine, Schauffele lapped the field on Sunday the year prior with an 11-under 62 to beat Gary Woodland by one. The 29-year-old arrives this time around with seven top-five finishes in his last 13 starts, three of which were in the form of wins.
Patrick Cantlay (10-1)
Justin Thomas (11-1): The 15-time winner on the PGA Tour is a player I have a difficult time judging. Is 15 an impressive number of wins? Yes, but for someone of Thomas’ skill, I know he has even more in the tank. Winning the 2021 Players Championship and the 2022 PGA Championship, he has been without a multiple-win season since 2020. It just so happens he beat Schauffele and Patrick Reed in a playoff that year at this very tournament. His seven Tournament of Champions appearances read: T5, third, WIN, third, T22, WIN, T21.
Tony Finau (14-1)
Sungjae Im (16-1)
Viktor Hovland (18-1): He’s the most recent winner in the field — albeit not in an official PGA Tour event — as Hovland outlasted Scheffler at the Hero World Challenge in the beginning of December. Known as the king of the tropics and resort-style golf courses, the 25-year-old from Norway looks to improve on his Tournament of Champions record. With finishes of T30 and T31 in his two prior strolls, tangible improvements in the short-game department could lead to a much more respectable showing for the ball-striking machine.
Collin Morikawa (18-1)
Cameron Young (20-1)
Tom Kim (20-1)
Jordan Spieth (22-1): There is one player who consistently discusses his desire to play at Kapalua each and every year, and that is Spieth. With finishes of second, WIN, T3 and ninth from 2014-18, Spieth returned last season and experienced some growing pains in the form of a T21 result. While his ball-striking numbers have improved, he continues to be an enigma primarily because of his putter. If it’s hot, he could win. If it’s cold, he could finish outside the top 20. Neither would be all too surprising.
Matt Fitzpatrick (22-1)
Sam Burns (25-1)

2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions expert picks

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2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions picks, predictions, bets, odds: PGA expert says back Jon Rahm at Kapalua

detlef32 — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 21:00:12 +0000

The top PGA Tour golfers will ring in the new year in Hawaii as they tee off Thursday at the 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions on the Plantation Course at Kapalua. The Sentry Tournament of Champions field is led by world No. 2 Scottie Scheffler, 2022 Sentry runner-up Jon Rahm and two-time tournament winner Justin Thomas. World No. 1 Rory McIlroy will use his only opt-out from the PGA Tour’s elevated events to compete in Europe for a few more weeks. Cameron Smith, the 2022 Sentry TOC champion, also will be absent after moving to LIV Golf. A 39-player Tournament of Champions field that also features Patrick Cantlay, Collin Morikawa and Jordan Spieth will take on a forgiving Plantation Course that yields low scores. Smith shot 34 under in Maui last year to edge Rahm by one stroke.

The latest 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions odds from Caesars Sportsbook list Rahm as the 8-1 favorite, followed closely by Scheffler, Thomas and Xander Schauffele at 10-1. Cantlay is 12-1, while half a dozen golfers are priced at 18-1, including Morikawa and Tony Finau. Spieth and reigning Rookie of the Year Cameron Young are priced at 20-1 in the Tournament of Champions 2023 field. Before locking in any 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions picks, be sure you check out the PGA Tour predictions and best bets from SportsLine golf insider Patrick McDonald.

Top 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions expert picks

Shockingly, McDonald is fading U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick (18-1) for this week at Kapalua. The Englishman is a grinder and thrives in tough conditions, but this week in Maui will be for the low scorers. Fitzpatrick has tied for 13th in both outings this season and has two top-10’s in seven PGA Tour since his win at Brookline. He finished third on tour in scoring average last season but ranked 109th in par breakers and didn’t shoot lower than 64 all season. He has not finished higher than 14th at Augusta, a comparable course to Kapalua, since 2016.

On the other hand, the expert knows Rahm will be out to match his 2022 performance – and come away with a victory. The Spaniard shot 66 or lower in all four rounds last year and comes in on fire. He ended 2022 with five consecutive top-10 finishes worldwide, four of those in the top five. That includes victories at the Spanish Open and DP World Tour Championship. The former world No. 1 has 16 career victories worldwide, but his only tour triumph last year came at the Mexico Open. He ranked first in total driving and third in greens in regulation in 2021-22. You can see who else to back at Kapalua here.

How to make 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions golf picks

2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions odds, field, top contenders

See full Sentry Tournament of Champions 2023 picks, best bets, and predictions here.

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