The world’s top golfers will head this week to the famed Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii for the 2017 staging of the SBS Tournament of Champions. A cool $6.1 million is at stake for the elite 32-man field with the champion grabbing not only 500 FedExCup points but also the $1.22 million top prize. Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of the year’s first PGA Tour event and while you’re at it, you can check out the experts’ picks for this prestigious golf tournament.
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Favorites – Hideki Matsuyama (+450) and Dustin Johnson (+500)
Hideki Matsuyama and Dustin Johnson will enter this week’s event as the prohibitive favorites after recording spectacular campaigns last year. Johnson was simply exceptional last season, grabbing three tournament wins, including a maiden major victory at the US Open. He will be making his seventh appearance in this event which is the highest among the field this week. Johnson won this tournament back in 2013.
Matsuyama, on the other hand, arrives at this event as the world’s hottest golfer. All the Japanese has done since the golfing calendar turned to October is rack up four victories, including wins over strong fields at the WGC-HSBC Champions and the Hero World Challenge tournaments. The 24-year-old has played in the Tournament of Champions only one other time, nabbing a third-place finish back in 2015.
High-Value Sleepers – Patrick Reed (+1,000) and Bubba Watson (+1,600)
One golfer who has had some success here in the past is American Patrick Reed. The 26-year-old has finished in the top-2 in each of his last two starts in this event, including a stunning playoff victory over Jimmy Walker back in 2015. Reed has averaged 67.63 over his last eight rounds here in Kapalua. The Ryder Cup star, however, hit a rough patch towards the end of 2016, missing out on the top 40 in three of his last four starts.
Another golfer who’s primed for a good showing this week is Bubba Watson. What makes Watson such a great pick this week is his booming drive. He was fourth in the PGA Tour in driving distance last year, averaging 310.6 yards per drive last season. That will come in handy for Watson when tackling the long 7,452-yard, par 73 Plantation Course in Kapalua. He finished with a 15-under 277 in the last two editions of this event.
One long shot who can definitely make a run at the title this week is James Hahn. He has finished in the top-15 in each of his last two starts, including a T9 at the CIMB Classic last October. Hahn booked a spot in this exclusive tournament with a stunning victory at the Wells Fargo Championship last May. What makes Hahn such a threat in every golf tournament that he competes on is his excellent play from tee to green. He is 26th in the PGA Tour in that particular department with a solid 1.324 average. That will be a key weapon for Hahn when navigating the vast Kapalua course.
Writer’s Prediction
Dustin Johnson (+500) captures his second Tournament of Champions crown.
