This Week’s PGA Tour Predictions!
The first full field PGA event of 2015 comes our way from beautiful Waialae Country Club on Honolulu, Hawaii this week. Jimmy Walker returns to defend this week off a very disappointing playoff loss at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions last week.
Bet On The 2015 Sony Open in Hawaii
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Course: Waialae Country Club
Date: Jan 15-18, 2015
Total Purse: US $ 5,600,000
Winner’s Share: US $ 1,008,000 (18% of total purse)
Defending Champion: Jimmy Walker ($1,008,000)
***2015 BONUSES***
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As in most early-season events, this one appears to be wide open.
The TOUR pros will be welcomed on a par 70 layout that will play a relatively short 7,044 yards. Unlike last week there will be just two par 5s for the bombers to feast on. The course doesn’t seem to favor long or short hitters – the tight fairways make accuracy and par 4 scoring good stats to ponder in you research.
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As always, a strong putter and an ability to conquer the wind will also be essential.
So who should we keep our eye on this week – let’s take a look.
2015 Sony Open Favorites:
Jason Day 12/1
Finished T3 at the Hyundai last week – his third straight top 3 in his last three US events. He ended the week Hot – tying the course record – 62. As the top ranked golfer in the field Day has to be in the conversation despite a T20 last time he played this event in 2011.
Jimmy Walker 16/1
It will be interesting to see if Walker can recover from the meltdown last week at Kapalua – a tournament that was absolutely his for the taking! He is the defending champ here and has nine straight rounds on this track in the 60’s but I can’t help but think Walker is still smarting after letting one slip away!
Chris Kirk 18/1
Has top 5s in his last two appearances here – a runner-up finish last year followed a T5 in 2013. He was OK at the Hyundai last week but closed with a terrific 62 on Monday to finish T14. In 16 rounds on this track he’s never posted an above par round! There is a good chance his momentum carries forward this week onto his favorite track.
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Matt Kuchar 18/1
Was very disappointing last week – a T17 at the Hyundai which included a third round 74. However he’s gone T-5, T-5, T-8 here in his last three starts dating back to 2011 and is due for a huge bounce back this week.
2015 Sony Open Contenders
:
Zach Johnson 25/1
Won this event in 2009 and was T8 last year. His game suits this track perfectly – Waialae is relatively short and relies heavily on accuracy with the irons. Add in the fact that Johnson led the field in strokes gained and conversion pct. inside 10 feet at Kapalua en route to a seventh place finish – it seems that there is a recipe for success this week.
Russell Henley 28/1
Won this event in 2013 in tournament record fashion and is coming off a T3 finish on Maui where he tore up the back nine on Monday. He has now recorded top 5s in three of his six tournaments this season and as one of the best putters on TOUR seems prime for another top 5 this week.
Tim Clark 33/1
Has finished second on two separate occasions in this tournament. He finished an uninspiring 25th at the Hyundai last week but his game better suits this track for sure. Clark has a recent runner-up finish at the HSBC Championship and a T7 at the Nedbank Golf Challenge so we know his form is decent to say the least at the moment.
Marc Leishman 33/1
Lesser known guy has been good as of late – a ninth place finish and a T11 in his last two starts overall. He also loves this track – he has a T9 and a 5th place finish in his last two starts here. Course history and present form should have Leishman on everyone’s radar this week.
2015 Sony Open Sleepers (50/1 or higher):
Jerry Kelly 66/1
Has quietly been very good the last six months with 13 straight cuts made. He won here way back in 2002 and finished solo third last year – he knows and loves this track. His last start on TOUR resulted in a T5 at Mayakoba so his present for ain’t bad either.
Matt Every 100/1
I hit on Every last year at 66/1 – I thought I’d go to the well once more. He’s made the cut in all three events played this season with a T7 at the McGladrey Classic and had a T6 in this event back in 2012. Every is a gunslinger and maybe worth a shot in a slightly watered-down field.
2015 Sony Open Pick:
The pick this week is Zach Johnson at an intriguing 25/1. He is accurate off the tee, is terrific with his irons and his putter seems to be coming around.
The Sleeper this week is Jerry Kelly at 66/1. Track history and current form make him perhaps the best value on the board.
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