Sentry Tournament of Champions 2019 Odds and Preview – Golf Betting January 3-6

Tiger Woods isn’t playing in this week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions, along with Justin Rose and Phil Mickelson, but that trio are just about the only big names on the US PGA Tour choosing to swerve the 2019 season-opener on the Plantation Course at Kapalua on the Hawaiian island of Maui.

First played in 1953, the field for the Tournament of Champions is restricted to golfers who won a tournament on the tour during the previous calendar year. It’s a tournament that has been won five times by the great Jack Nicklaus and there are several previous winners in this year’s field including three of the last four winners – Patrick Reed, Justin Thomas and defending champion Dustin Johnson.

Tournament of Champions Winners Since 2007

Kapalua Resort near Lahaina on the island of Maui, Hawaii has been the venue for the Sentry Tournament of Champions since 1999.

It is an unusual par-73 measuring 7,452 yards. There are four par-fives and a trio of par-threes on the Plantation Course located on the picturesque slopes of the West Maui Mountains. There are stunning ocean views from almost every hole and dramatic elevation changes mean plenty of downhill tee shots. With wide, rolling fairways and generously-sized greens, the course is generally considered a big hitter’s paradise.

As well as winning in 2015, Patrick Reed was also runner-up to Jordan Spieth in 2016 and is a best 18/1 with sportingbet to grab a second victory in the event. The Texan has been a tad inconsistent in recent tournaments but has won six times on the US PGA Tour.

Dustin Johnson bids to become only the third man to win three Tournament of Champions but is only a best 11/2 with sportingbet. He did, however, win four times on the US PGA Tour last year and has 19 victories in total to his name and, alongside Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka (8/1 and 9/1 respectively with Unibet) was one of four players to hold the world number one spot at some stage in 2018 – England’s Justin Rose was the other.

Rory McIlroy will make his debut at the tournament this week at the start of a year in which he will focus more on the US PGA Tour. The 29-year-old Ulsterman has qualified the event on six previous occasions but has never taken part – he’s been installed at a general 10/1 and should enjoy the course and conditions.

Paul Casey will make his first appearance in the tournament since 2010 and is a general 33/1 with a couple of bookmakers offering each-way betting down to fifth place in the invitational event which has a smaller field than normal PGA tournaments. European Golfer of the Year Francesco Molinari will also take part and is a general 20/1.

MARC LEISHMAN is 28/1 with Betbright and that may be a bit of value. The Australian is occasionally let down by his accuracy from the tee that won’t matter too much at Kapalua. He ranks highly in both his birdie and overall scoring average and has always modelled his game on Ernie Els. The Big Easy won the Tournament of Champions in 2009 and Leishman would love to emulate his hero. CHARLES HOWELL II has started the new season in fine form and could also be overpriced at a general 66/1 in Hawaii.

Sentry Tournament of Champions 2019 Current Best Odds

Dustin Johnson 11/2
Jon Rahm 8/1
Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka 9/1
Rory McIlroy 10/1
Jason Day 12/1
Bryson Dechambeau 14/1
Patrick Reed 18/1
Cameron Champ 22/1
Webb Simpson, Xander Schauffele, Gary Woodland and Francesco Molinari 25/1
Marc Leishman 28/1
Paul Casey 33/1
Aaron Wise and Bubba Watson 40/1
Billy Horschel, Keegan Bradley, Matt Kuchar and Brandt Snedeker 50/1
Charles Howell III 66/1
Ian Poulter and Scott Piercy 80/1
Kevin Na 100/1
Andrew Putnam, Patton Kizzire and Kevin Tway 150/1
Troy Merritt, Andrew Landry and Brice Garnett 250/1
Ted Potter Jr, Satoshi Kodaira and Michael Kim 300/1
(Odds correct at 4.15pm December 31)