This Week’s PGA Tour Predictions!
The first tournament of 2015 comes our way from the beautiful Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii this week – a 7,452 yards par 73 track. Stunning views, unpredictable weather and a rather unforgiving layout await a group of last year’s PGA victors.
Bet On The 2015 Hyundai Tournament of Champions
Location: Kapalua, Hawaii, United States
Course: The Plantation Course
Date: Jan 9-12, 2015
Total Purse: US $ 5,700,000
Winner’s Share: US $ 1,140,000 (20% of total purse)
Defending Champion: Zach Johnson ($1,140,000)
PGA Stats Main Page
***2015 BONUSES***
[dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
The winner this week will likely be in the -20 range as they have been the last half dozen years. A hot putter seems to be the one aspect that is absolutely essential for victory – big hitters don’t really have an advantage and accuracy isn’t as crucial on the wide, forgiving fairways.
[dfads params=’groups=526&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
There are 11 par 4s at the Plantation Course making par 4 scoring average another stat to closely consider when picking your winner – there are also three par 5s for those that like to go for the green in 2!
So who should we look out for this week? Let’s take a look.
2015 Hyundai Tournament of Champions Favorites:
Bubba Watson 13/2
The Plantation Course seems like a tremendous fit for Bubba – it is long and forgiving with three par 5s. He finished T4 here in 2013 and enters this year full of confidence after three wins last year. Bubba is a tough to figure out but in a slightly watered down field on a long track he absolutely has to be in the conversation.
Jason Day 15/2
Has just one start here which resulted in a T9 in 2011. He should be healthy finally after a rash of injuries in 2014. He was most recently fifth in the World Challenge and was T4 in the Tour Championship. A healthy Day and his superb putter should contend here.
Matt Kuchar 8/1
The most consistent guy on TOUR last year has played very well at Kapalua – four top 9 finishes in the last four years! He was T6 in this event last year which included a third round 75. Kuch was last seen finishing T8 at the Hero World Challenge – just one of his 11 top 10s in 2014. Kuchar is as money as they come and has been especially impressive on this track.
2015 Hyundai Tournament of Champions Contenders:
Hideki Matsuyama 14/1
Will play this event for the first time. He started the wrap-around season with a pair of top 10s – he is already in midseason form. He was sixth on TOUR last season in strokes gained which should help him here – his current form should also be a boon. Matsuyama is poised to become the next big breakout star on TOUR and it could all start here.
Zach Johnson 14/1
Defending champion in this event beat Jordan Spieth last year – his only top 15 finish in six appearances. Not know for his length, Johnson will have to hope his short game and his putter heats up at the right time again.
Jimmy Walker 16/1
Earned a trip here on the heels of two wins in 2014. He definitely has the game to contend here – he can bomb it off the tee and his putter has the capability of heating up at any time. Walker finished T4 in Vegas to start the wrap around schedule and had seven top 10s and seven more top 25s on TOUR last year. Walker always seems to contend and should by far eclipse his T21 here last year.
Geoff Ogilvy 40/1
Two time winner of this event will tee it up here for the first time since 2010 – he absolutely loves this track! There is nobody in the field with a better track record at this event – he will be licking his chops to get another crack at the Plantation Course.
2015 Hyundai Tournament of Champions Sleepers (50/1 or higher):
Robert Streb 50/1
The FedExCup points leader plays this event for the first time. Early on in this season he is the TOUR leader in all-around and scoring. He won at Seaside and posted another two top 10s – in Vegas and Mississippi. There’s no hotter player on TOUR early on which makes Streb an intriguing 50/1.
Scott Stallings 80/1
Most recently finished fifth in the Australian PGA and has looked very good lately – three top 25s in his last four start. Stallings seems to thrive in the wind – something that will be ever-present at Kapalua.
2015 Hyundai Tournament of Champions Pick:
The pick this week is Matt Kuchar at 8/1 odds. He has been terrific in this tournament and knows that in order to take the next step he has to win events, not simply finish top 10.
My sleeper is Scott Stallings at 80/1. Call it a hunch but I think he parlays his good result in the Aussie PGA into something special this week.
[dfads params=’groups=63706&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
