Month: January 2024
Farmers Insurance Open 2024
Farmers Insurance Open
Torrey Pines Golf Club
South Course (Host)
North Course
San Diego, CA
THE TOURNAMENT STARTS TOMORROW – READ THE PREVIEW MATERIAL HERE
Chalk (via Bet365.com)
My thoughts on the top players for betting purposes:
Xander Schauffele (+900): If Torrey equates to a U.S. Open “lite” not many play the U.S. Open better than the native San Diegan.
Patrick Cantlay (+1000): The 76 on Sunday last week should have put him back in the lab quickly on Monday morning. Weird that he’s playing this week considering his lack of reps here.
Collin Morikawa (+1100): Couldn’t hit it any better than last year (No. 1 Fairways and No. 2 GIR). It’s always the putter to get him over the hump. I’d be shocked if he wasn’t in the top 20.
Max Homa (+1100): A champion who has defended before at Fortinet, he’s the only favorite to do the business here. Super player. Every week. Any week.
Ludvig Aberg (+1800): If you pick him every week, you will be right again eventually. Too many trends working against him. You do you.
Sungjae Im (+2200): Doesn’t miss here (5-5) and the last two are in the top six. One of his two winds was a grinder at PGA National so he won’t mind tough conditions. Again.
Min Woo Lee (+2500): Like Aberg, there’s a learning curve here. The list of recent winners here, sans Rahm, needed five or more reps. Wonderful talent.
Tony Finau (+2500): I’d make a joke here about putting, but he should know every inch of these greens by now.
Jason Day (+2500): Yep. Let’s go. All of the shots, all of the experience, and all of the confidence. Day-Finau exacta.
Keegan Bradley (+2800): Loves the West Coast as well. Cashing six straight, half have paid in the top five, including solo second last year. Tough lay down.
NOW PLAYING:
| Host Course | South Course |
| Yards (per official scorecard): | 7,765 |
| Par: | 72 (36-36). |
| Greens: | Poa annua; 5,000 square feet on average. |
| Stimpmeter: | 13 feet. |
| Rough: | Overseeded Rye on Kikuyu at four inches. |
| Bunkers/Water Hazards/In-Play | 82/1/1 |
| Architect(s): | William P. Bell & William F. Bell (1957). |
| Defending Champion (event): | Max Homa (-15). |
| Multiple Champion(s) Entered: | Jason Day (2018, 2015) and Brandt Snedeker (2016, 2012). |
| Course Record (last): | 62; South Course – Tiger Woods (1999). 61; North Course – Brandt Snedeker (2007). |
| 72 Hole Tournament Record (last) | 266 (-22); Tiger Woods (1999). |
| Fact of the Week: | Since 1990, three players have made FIO their first win on TOUR. |
| Fact of the Week II: | Since 1990, two players have won on debut. |
| North Course | |
| Yards (per official scorecard): | 7,258 |
| Par: | 72 (36-36). |
| Greens: | Tyee 007 Bentgrass; 6,000 square feet on average. |
| Stimpmeter: | 12 feet. |
| Rough: | Overseeded Rye on Kikuyu at four inches. |
| Bunkers/Water Hazards/In-Play | 42/0/1 |
| Architect(s): | William P. Bell & William F. Bell (1957). Tom Weiskopf (2017). |
| Course Record (last): | 61; North Course – Brandt Snedeker (2007). |
| 72 Hole Tournament Record (last) | 266 (-22); Tiger Woods (1999). |
| Fact of the Week: | Only Woods and Mickelson have won this event more than twice. Neither are entered this week. |
| Fact of the Week II: | Four of the last five winners started on the NORTH Course. |
Notes:
- Field of 156.
- 18 holes on each course and then cut to the top 65 and ties.
- South Course hosts Rounds 3 and 4.
- The OWGR is represented by 20 of the top 50.
- Top 65 and ties will make the cut and play the weekend after 54 holes (play each course once).
- $9 million – $1.62 million – 500 FedExCup points – Sentry and Masters ticket punched.
- Last chance to get into the Aon Swing 5 for Pebble Beach next week.
Current Aon Swing 5 (*entered this week)
Grayson Murray
Christiaan Bezuidenhout*
Justin Thomas
Kevin Yu*
Carl Yuan*
Next 5
Michael Kim*
Matthieu Pavon*
Keith Mitchell*
Ryo Hisatsune*
Taylor Pendrith*
Season Winners
2023 Season Winners
| Event | Winner |
| Sentry Tournament of Champions | Jon Rahm |
| Sony Open in Hawaii | Si Woo Kim |
| The AMERICAN EXPRESS | Jon Rahm (2) |
| Farmers Insurance Open | Max Homa (2) |
| AT&T Pebble Beach | Justin Rose |
| WM Phoenix Open | Scottie Scheffler |
| The Genesis Invitational | Jon Rahm (3) |
| The Honda Classic | Chris Kirk |
| Arnold Palmer Invitational | Kurt Kitayama (first TOUR win) |
| THE PLAYERS Championship | Scottie Scheffler (2) |
| Valspar Championship | Taylor Moore (first TOUR win) |
| Corales Puntacana | Matt Wallace (first TOUR win) |
| WGC – Dell Technologies MP | Sam Burns |
| Valero Texas Open | Corey Conners |
| Masters | Jon Rahm (4) |
| RBC Heritage | Matt Fitzpatrick |
| Zurich Classic of New Orleans | Davis Riley & Nick Hardy (first TOUR win for each) |
| Mexico Open at Vidanta | Tony Finau (2) |
| Wells Fargo Championship | Wyndham Clark (first TOUR win) |
| AT&T Byron Nelson | Jason Day |
| PGA Championship | Brooks Koepka |
| Charles Schwab Challenge | Emiliano Grillo |
| Memorial | Viktor Hovland |
| RBC Canadian Open | Nick Taylor |
| U.S. Open | Wyndham Clark (2) |
| Travelers Championship | Keegan Bradley (2) |
| Rocket Mortgage Classic | Rickie Fowler |
| John Deere Classic | Sepp Straka |
| Genesis Scottish Open | Rory McIlroy (2) |
| The Open Championship | Brian Harman |
| 3M Open | Lee Hodges (first TOUR win) |
| Wyndham Championship | Lucas Glover |
| FedEx St. Jude Championship | Lucas Glover (2) |
| BMW Championship | Viktor Hovland (2) |
| TOUR Championship | Viktor Hovland (3) |
| Fortinet Championship | Sahith Theegala |
| Sanderson Farms Championship | Luke List |
| Shriners Children’s Open | Tom Kim |
| ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP | Collin Morikawa |
| World Wide Technology | Erik van Rooyen |
| Butterfield Bermuda | Camilo Villegas |
| The RSM Classic | Ludvig Aberg |
2024 Season Winners
| Event | Winner |
| The Sentry | Chris Kirk |
| Sony Open in Hawaii | Grayson Murray |
| The American Express | Nick Dunlap (a) |
| Farmers Insurance Open | |
| AT&T Pebble Beach |
Recent Winners – Farmers Insurance Open
Italics – not entered this week.
| Year | Winner | Notes |
| 2023 | Max Homa (-13) | Closed with 66, co-round of the day, to come from five shots. Won by two over Keegan Bradley. |
| 2022 | Luke List (-15) | Defeated Will Zalatoris on the first playoff hole to become the second player to break his maiden at this event since 1990. |
| 2021 | Patrick Reed (-14) | Ran away to win by five shots over Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele and others. |
| 2020 | Marc Leishman (-15) | Became the fourth consecutive international winner in his 12th attempt. |
| 2019 | Justin Rose (-21) | Won by two shots in his 9th attempt. |
| 2018 | Jason Day (-10) | Won a three-man playoff to win for the second time. |
| 2017 | Jon Rahm (-13) | Won on debut by three shots. |
| 2016 | Brandt Snedeker (-6) | Didn’t hit a shot on the Monday finish after incredible weather rocked the event. |
Angles
Better score on the North! Playing three shots easier and 500 yards shorter, making up shots on those 18 holes is required.
The South Course is really hard annually. Check the scorecard. There are 10 Par-4 holes and eight stretch over 450 yards. Half of the Par-5 challenges are 600-yards-plus.
Rough! Wet, overseeded Kikuyugrass (with Rye) will not shorten the longest track on TOUR from 2023.
Poa annua greens prepped to run 13 feet will be more of a challenge than the two stops in Hawaii and the pro-am from last week.
Fairways are hard to hit (less than 55 percent). Greens are hard to hit (less than 66 percent). Getting it close from around the green is hard. Holing putts outside three feet is hard.
The profile of the winner this week will be a big-time player with a full bag. The South Course could be used for a U.S. Open tomorrow. The 7,765 yards will eventually expose flaws. It’s not surprising that the winners here have had multiple chances or generational talent.
Pick better golfers!
Players to consider for Top 10, Top 20, or Top 40 action:
Sepp Straka (+4000): The bigger the park, the better his chances. The Austrian thrives on approach and should be rewarded again this week.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+6600): The new baby arrived late last year and he’s plowing along like a proud papa. Last time he was in California he ran T6 at Fortinet. The last time he was on Poa he won $1.512 million.
Patrick Rodgers (+7000): The Quail Hollow angle is real. Ask Max Homa. Now, I know Rodgers hasn’t WON at QHC…
Keith Mitchell (+7500): All you can get. Thrives in this part of the world and will at Pebble and Riviera.
Taylor Pendrith (+9000): Because I was on him LAST WEEK. That’s just how this goes sometimes.
Taylor Moore (+11000): Won a difficult Copperhead Course last year that mimics Torrey Pines. T29 or better in five of his last six, all cashed.
Peter Malnati (+35000): Three straight T25 or better; includes T10 2021.
Chandler Phillips (+50000): Welcome to the big leagues. Let’s see if he can make it three on the trot.
One and Done
I’ll be joining Spotter’s game again this season. Now, where did I put my checkbook…
35 events.
1 player per event (plus a backup pick if your guy gets kidnapped on Wednesday night and doesn’t make it to the first tee on Thursday).
1 use per year.
Add up the total money and Spotter is yer uncle!
| Event | Selection | Earnings |
| The Sentry | Collin Morikawa | 690,500 |
| Sony Open in Hawaii | Corey Conners | 18,592 |
| The American Express | Adam Hadwin | 310,800 |
| Farmers Insurance Open | ||
| Total Winnings: | 1,019,892 |
His game has more fun stuff to it. Reach out @A340Spotter on Twitter or A340Spotter@frontier.com for more details and to join.
Recapping Last Week – The American Express
MY CHOICE: Adam Hadwin – T6
Nobody is more comfortable on these three courses, and he has the scar tissues to prove it. The Canadian will look to make it eight from eight and add to his three finishes on the podium. In an event that’s almost impossible to handicap (see: Dunlap, Nick) AND NOW HAS AN AMATEUR CHAMPION added to its history, I’ll take the money and run.
Other to Consider:
Tom Kim: Tough laydown, especially after 66 to close at Kapalua to kick-start his 2024. His desert record is making me reconsider this pick until the first tee time on Thursday. Stay tuned. 2024 has been a damp fart for his investors. Missing the cut in a desert shootout was the last spot I thought I would fill on the bingo card this week.
Chris Kirk: T18-WIN in the last two weeks plus he closed 63-64 here last year for T3. Pulled a CANTLAY on Sunday and watched the entire field lap his 73. T47.
J.T. Poston: Copied, pasted. Baby is on the way! Go look at his results in the last six months. Absolutely flying. T11.
Justin Thomas: He’s not in any Signature Events until he qualifies. One leads to another. Saving him for the PGA Championship in his native state of Kentucky outside his birth city of Louisville is understood. T3. Look who’s in the Aon Swing 5! He’s not even in the field this week! Confident!
Patrick Cantlay: If you believe he is going to have a big 2024, I would not be surprised to see it start this week on these three tracks. Sat T10 entering Sunday on 19-under on a course where he holds the scoring record. Shot 76. Cashed T52. Golf. Bloody hell.
Longshots
Taylor Montgomery: When form meets course history…Beat six players.
Patton Kizzire: Probably not in THIS format. Probably everywhere else. The streak ended. There was no format for him this week.
This Week – Farmers Insurance Open
MY CHOICE: Jason Day
It was this week or next! You know this means he’ll win NEXT week, right? NO! THIS WEEK! Cashing T34 last week and T10 in Maui produced eight rounds of 69 or better. Now that the rust is off, time to go join Woods (8) and Mickelson (3) at the top of the food chain in La Jolla.
Other to Consider:
Tony Finau: Making his 10th visit, he’s T24 or better in eight of nine. Over his last four, he’s hit the top 10 three times and MC once. For those of you playing safe or can’t decide, I’d start here. He will also defend next month in Mexico.
Max Homa: I’m going to save him for Riviera, but he’s defended once in California already at Fortinet (2021, 2022). The last player to successfully defend was Woods from 2005-2008 #FourPeat.
Keegan Bradley: Another proven player in big ballparks, he ran second to Homa last year, also closing with 66. Making his 13th start, he will have a plan.
Sungjae Im: Looking to make it six-from-six, he will look to make it three straight in the top 10.
Longshots
Harris English
Patrick Rodgers
Taylor Moore
The American Express 2024 Preview
Never leave home without it!
Read more: The American Express 2024 PreviewThe American Express
The Stadium Course at PGA West (Host)
Nicklaus Tournament Course
La Quinta Country Club
La Quinta, CA
Weekly Readers:
Odds Outlook – click here
Horses for Courses/Stats Suggest – click here
Expert Picks – click here
DFS Angles – click here
Bet365.com – click here
Golfbet articles from the entire crew – click here
Welcome to 2024 and the new season.
For those of you who are just arriving for the first time, here’s what’s going on:
Please read the stuff above for the total experience.
Information changes from Sunday to Wednesday morning. If there is anything new/exciting/pertinent, I’ll add it here.
This column is me. My thoughts, my humor, my fun, my opinions. I’m not here for grammar lessons, suggestions, or to charge you.
So shut up, keep up, and enjoy it.
If you have any questions, reach out.
Chalk (via Bet365.com)
My thoughts on the top players for betting purposes:
Scottie Scheffler (11/2): Go on, take the money, and run, goes the song. As Scheffler’s putter goes, his weekly paycheck increases. Nobody hits it better, but when 25-under or better is required, I’m not sure he has enough makes in the flat stick. Take the top 10 and carry on.
Patrick Cantlay (9/1): Don’t forget he used to dominate in the desert outside Las Vegas! The California desert hasn’t been as profitable, but the Californian has racked up three top-10 paydays, including solo second in 2021, in his last four starts. Owning the course record, 61, at the Stadium Course, he’s also produced 62 at La Quinta. He’s my first name on the team sheet this week.
Xander Schauffele (11/1): Returning for the first time since 2017, the Las Vegas resident closed with 62 at the Stadium Course last year to steal a spot on the podium at T3. The last time we saw him in the winner’s circle was in the summer of 2022 in Scotland before The Open Championship. Sitting in the top five in SG: Approach AND Putting, that’s an incredible streak without a win.
Sungjae Im (20/1): Setting the PGA TOUR record for most birdies in a tournament (34) and cashing T5 at Kapalua, the spotlight shines brightly on him this week. Never finishing better than T10 and never worse than T18, it’s not surprising he’s in the field for the sixth consecutive season. This week will be the first time in six seasons he’s not coming directly from Waialae. The Korean posted 20-under last year, his best total, yet it was only good enough for T18.
Tom Kim (20/1): Once Cantlay left the Las Vegas desert, Kim picked up the ball and ran with it. Winning the event the last two seasons, his first two times in the field, he’s proven he can fill it up in perfect scoring conditions. Cashing T6 here last January, the 21-year-old circled 26 birdies and an eagle, plus signed for 62 at the NT. With plenty of options from Korea in the field, he stands out.
Justin Thomas (22/1): Qualifying for Signature Events in 2024 is the carrot for the two-time major winner. Missing out on the playoffs last season, 2024 will require additional concentration, especially with the PGA Championship in his backyard of Louisville coming up in May. The last time he played The American Express was 2015 (T7). A fresh start to a fresh year. All aboard!
NOW PLAYING:
| Host Course | Stadium Course at PGA West |
| Yards (per official scorecard): | 7,187 |
| Par: | 72 (36-36). |
| Greens: | Overseeded Poa annua; 5,000 square feet on average. |
| Stimpmeter: | 11 feet. |
| Rough: | Overseed at 1 inch. Dormant Tifgreen Bermuda at 2 inches. |
| Bunkers/Water Hazards/In-Play | Over 90 bunkers, seven holes with water in play. |
| Architect(s): | Pete Dye (1986). |
| Defending Champion (event): | Jon Rahm (-27; not entered). |
| Multiple Champion(s) Entered: | Bill Haas (not on this rotation). |
| Course Record (last): | 61; Patrick Cantlay (Round 4, 2021). |
| 72 Hole Tournament Record (2016-current rotation): | 261 (-27); Jon Rahm (2023). |
| Fact of the Week: | Only six international winners from the previous 64 events. |
| Fact of the Week II: | Johnny Miller is the only player to defend the title (1975-76). |
Notes:
- Field of 156.
- First multi-course event of 2024 and first pro-am.
- The OWGR is represented by 21 of the top 50.
- Top 65 and ties will make the cut and play the weekend after 54 holes (play each course once).
- $8.4 million – $1.512 million – 500 FedExCup points – Sentry and Masters ticket punched.
Season Winners
2023 Season Winners
| Event | Winner |
| Sentry Tournament of Champions | Jon Rahm |
| Sony Open in Hawaii | Si Woo Kim |
| The AMERICAN EXPRESS | Jon Rahm (2) |
| Farmers Insurance Open | Max Homa (2) |
| AT&T Pebble Beach | Justin Rose |
| WM Phoenix Open | Scottie Scheffler |
| The Genesis Invitational | Jon Rahm (3) |
| The Honda Classic | Chris Kirk |
| Arnold Palmer Invitational | Kurt Kitayama (first TOUR win) |
| THE PLAYERS Championship | Scottie Scheffler (2) |
| Valspar Championship | Taylor Moore (first TOUR win) |
| Corales Puntacana | Matt Wallace (first TOUR win) |
| WGC – Dell Technologies MP | Sam Burns |
| Valero Texas Open | Corey Conners |
| Masters | Jon Rahm (4) |
| RBC Heritage | Matt Fitzpatrick |
| Zurich Classic of New Orleans | Davis Riley & Nick Hardy (first TOUR win for each) |
| Mexico Open at Vidanta | Tony Finau (2) |
| Wells Fargo Championship | Wyndham Clark (first TOUR win) |
| AT&T Byron Nelson | Jason Day |
| PGA Championship | Brooks Koepka |
| Charles Schwab Challenge | Emiliano Grillo |
| Memorial | Viktor Hovland |
| RBC Canadian Open | Nick Taylor |
| U.S. Open | Wyndham Clark (2) |
| Travelers Championship | Keegan Bradley (2) |
| Rocket Mortgage Classic | Rickie Fowler |
| John Deere Classic | Sepp Straka |
| Genesis Scottish Open | Rory McIlroy (2) |
| The Open Championship | Brian Harman |
| 3M Open | Lee Hodges (first TOUR win) |
| Wyndham Championship | Lucas Glover |
| FedEx St. Jude Championship | Lucas Glover (2) |
| BMW Championship | Viktor Hovland (2) |
| TOUR Championship | Viktor Hovland (3) |
| Fortinet Championship | Sahith Theegala |
| Sanderson Farms Championship | Luke List |
| Shriners Children’s Open | Tom Kim |
| ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP | Collin Morikawa |
| World Wide Technology | Erik van Rooyen |
| Butterfield Bermuda | Camilo Villegas |
| The RSM Classic | Ludvig Aberg |
2024 Season Winners
| Event | Winner |
| The Sentry | Chris Kirk |
| Sony Open in Hawaii | Grayson Murray |
| The American Express | |
| Farmers Insurance Open |
Recent Winners – The American Express
Italics – not entered this week.
| Year | Winner | Notes |
| 2023 | Jon Rahm (-27) | Played the final group with Davis Thompson and beat him by a shot to win for the second time. |
| 2022 | Hudson Swafford (-23) | Defeated Tom Hoge by two shots to win for the second time. |
| 2021 | Si Woo Kim (-23) | Only made two bogeys for the week on the SC/NT rotation to win by one. |
| 2020 | Andrew Landry (-26) | Tied the tournament scoring record winning by two. |
| 2019 | Adam Long (-26) | Became the first rookie to win since Jhonattan Vegas (2011). |
| 2018 | Jon Rahm (-22) | Needed a playoff to knock off Andrew Landry. |
| 2017 | Hudson Swafford (-20) | Wet, windy weekend produced the highest winning total to date in the new rota. |
| 2016 | Jason Dufner (-25) | Saw off David Lingmerth in a playoff in the first iteration of Stadium Course, Nicklaus Tournament Course, and LQCC |
Angles
- The Nicklaus Tournament Course plays to Par-72 and 7,147 yards. Playing 7,000 square feet on average, the Overseeded Poa annua greens are the largest of the three courses. Dylan Wu (2023) and Will Zalatoris (2022) have posted 61 here.
- La Quinta Country Club is known for premium putting surfaces and usually plays the easiest of the trio. All three courses have minimal rough and green speeds that won’t broach 11 feet. Playing to Par-72 and 7,060 yards, it plays as one of the easiest on TOUR annually. Adam Hadwin posted 59 in Round 3 in 2017.
- All eight winners have posted 20-under or better to win and have ranked in the top 10 in Par-4 and Par-5 scoring.
- The HIGHEST cut in this rotation in the last three editions was 7-under. The 2021 edition used only the Stadium Course and NT and was a 36-hole chop.
- First tournament with Poa annua Greens.
Players to consider for Top 10, Top 20, or Top 40 action from Bet365.com:
JT Poston (30/1): Making his third start in three events to start the season, he posted T3 in Las Vegas in the fall, T5 at Sentry, and solo sixth last week. Circling 29 birdies in 2023, he cashed T6 here last season. When trends converge, I jump.
Taylor Montgomery (50/1): Solo fifth on debut last year included three rounds of 66 or better. This desert doesn’t have the distraction of his home tournament in Las Vegas.
Adam Hadwin (60/1): One of the course horses this week, he’s never missed in seven visits and owns four top-10 paydays. Running second to Kim at Shriners in the fall, a missed cut last week at Sony will not deter me.
Taylor Pendrith (80/1): I might add every Canadian to my ticket. In his last five events, he’s posted T15 in four of his last five, including three in the top 10. Buy all you can get.
Grayson Murray (125/1): In six visits he’s posted T14 or better three times. I’ll ride the bounce from last week.
Patton Kizzire (125/1): Second consecutive week as a sponsor’s exemption. Cashing T13 last week, he’ll look to add to T11 and T22 in his previous two visits to La Quinta.
Sam Ryder (150/1): T13 and T10 in his last two appearances during his streak of nine consecutive made cuts.
Chesson Hadley (200/1): Cashing his last eight on TOUR includes T7 twice in two of his last four, including one in Las Vegas. He’s missed the weekend here on his last three trips so something has to give!
Jacob Bridgeman/Adrian Dumont de Chassart (300/1): The kids are all right. After both missed the cut last week, it’s time to put their heads down and make a bunch of birdies, just like they did all last season on the KFT.
One and Done
I’ll be joining Spotter’s game again this season. Now, where did I put my checkbook…
35 events.
1 player per event (plus a backup pick if your guy gets kidnapped on Wednesday night and doesn’t make it to the first tee Thursday).
1 use per year.
Add up the total money and Spotter is yer uncle!
| Event | Selection | Earnings |
| The Sentry | Collin Morikawa | 690,500 |
| Sony Open in Hawaii | Corey Conners | 18,592 |
| The American Express | ||
| Farmers Insurance Open | ||
| Total Winnings: | 709,092 |
His game has more fun stuff to it so reach out @A340Spotter on Twitter or A340Spotter@frontier.com for more details and to join.
Back to the mainland and the West Coast swing. Poa annua (except for the North Course at Torrey) for this week, Farmers, and Pebble Beach.
Two major differences this week:
- Poa
- Three courses
The American Express has produced six different winners over eight editions. Sadly, for gamers and gamblers, the bingo card of conquerors in the desert is quite full.
As I wrote last week, winning $1.5 million this week is great, but that’s almost third place for a major, FedExCup Playoff event, THE PLAYERS or seven more Signature Events.
This is a week where I’m going to take a chance with an angle, consequences be damned!
Recapping Last Week – Sony Open in Hawaii
MY CHOICE: Corey Conners – T57
The Canadian finished the week T80 of 81 players in Putting, needing 126 of them. Right, there were just 72 holes, got it.
Considerations
Eric Cole: Tough laydown this week as his form and function have been firing for months. Just a matter of preference. T13.
Russell Henley: I won’t talk you out of him this week, but I prefer him on a tougher ball-striking layout. Hairs split. Closed with 63 for T4. Sigh.
J.T. Poston: It shouldn’t be a surprise that this is most of my lineup in Expert Picks. Closed with 61 for 6th. Sigh.
Matt Kuchar: Nobody in the field this week has done it better at Waialae. It’s here or Harbour Town if you’re gonna ride. #ShorterTheBetter. MC. Careful with 40-somethings…
Hideki Matsuyama: Dead last in putting last week. Needed the best putting numbers of his life to win this (his only top 10) two years ago. Careful. T30. If you didn’t use him this week he’s live for TPC Scottsdale or Memorial.
Will Zalatoris: Hard to saddle a guy after 81 and 79 in his last official outing. Be patient. 76-69. See you down the road.
Longshots
J.J. Spaun: I prefer him on Poa, but he’s been super consistent recently. MC
Chan Kim: Hawaiian native lit up the KFT late and has plenty of experience in the Pacific Rim. Ahhhhhhhhhhh, the ol’ 75-64…
This Week: The American Express
MY CHOICE: Adam Hadwin
Nobody is more comfortable on these three courses, and he has the scar tissues to prove it. The Canadian will look to make it eight from eight and add to his three finishes on the podium.
Others to Consider
Tom Kim: Tough laydown, especially after 66 to close at Kapalua to kick-start his 2024. His desert record is making me reconsider this pick until the first tee time on Thursday. Stay tuned.
Chris Kirk: T18-WIN in the last two weeks, plus he closed 63-64 here last year for T3.
J.T. Poston: Copied, pasted.
Justin Thomas: He’s not in any Signature Events until he qualifies. One leads to another. Saving him for the PGA Championship in his native state of Kentucky outside his birth city of Louisville is understood.
Patrick Cantlay: If you believe a big 2024 is brewing, I would not be surprised to see it start this week on these three tracks.
Longshots
Taylor Montgomery: When form meets course history…
Patton Kizzire: Probably not in THIS format. Probably everywhere else.
Sony Open in Hawaii 2024 Preview
A full field in paradise!
Read more: Sony Open in Hawaii 2024 PreviewSony Open in Hawaii
Waialae Country Club
Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
Weekly Readers:
Odds Outlook – click here
Horses for Courses/Stats Suggest – click here
Expert Picks – click here
Golfbet articles from the entire crew – click here
DFS Angles – click here
My Venmo – @Mike-Glasscott
Welcome to 2024 and the new season.
For those of you who are just arriving for the first time, here’s what’s going on:
Please read the stuff above for the total experience.
Information changes from Sunday to Wednesday morning. If there is anything new/exciting/pertinent, I’ll add it in here.
This column is me. My thoughts, my humor, my fun, my opinions. I’m not here for grammar lessons, suggestions, or to charge you.
So shut up, keep up, and enjoy it.
If you have any questions, reach out.
Chalk (via Bet365.com)
My thoughts on the top players for betting purposes:
Ludvig Aberg (+1600): Started the week as the favorite, wasn’t the favorite Tuesday night, is the favorite again Wednesday morning. Posting 29-under at The RSM Classic is still ridiculous to type. Struggled in all phases last week but that won’t follow him to this flat walk. Get on him in live action after a bogey or two and get better odds!
Matt Fitzpatrick (+1800): Navigated a demanding Harbour Town last spring and won on the links of Scotland last fall. Like Aberg and Hatton, first-time participant at the event. No European or English or Brexit or or or has ever won this event.
Tyrrell Hatton (+1800): Same T14 as Fitzpatrick last week but did so with 62 (-11) in Round 2. Didn’t seemed pleased with much of anything so he’s in mid-season form. The argument for splitting the British duo can be made in his favor from the SG department. The counter would be he hasn’t won in three years anywhere in the world. Gambling!
Russell Henley (+2000): Winner 2013, P2 2022, and six of his 11 appearances are T32 or better.
Brian Harman (+2000): T5 last week in one of the biggest ballparks on TOUR. Weirdly, he’s posted only one top-10 result in 12 previous starts here (T4 2018).
JT Poston (+2500): Proven quantity in shootouts on either Bermuda or Bent. The fairway finder will be his key this week because the putter doesn’t take weeks off.
Chris Kirk (+2500): I’m not sure if he’s in the Ernie Els/Justin Thomas category. He will get a chance to prove me wrong. I’d chuck a tenner on him for a top 10 just in case.
Corey Conners (+2500): Ticks too many of the boxes for me this week. Win ticket.
NOW PLAYING:
| Host Course | Waialae Country Club. |
| Yards (per official scorecard): | 7,044. |
| Par: | 70 (35-35) |
| Greens: | TifEagle Bermuda; 7,100 square feet on average. |
| Stimpmeter: | 11 feet. |
| Rough: | Celebration Bermuda at almost three inches inches. |
| Bunkers/Water Hazards/In-Play | 83/4/5. |
| Architect(s): | Seth Raynor (1927). |
| Defending Champion (event): | Si Woo Kim (-18). |
| Multiple Champion(s) Entered: | None. |
| Course Record (last): | 59; Justin Thomas (Round 1, 2017). |
| 72 Hole Tournament Record (last): | 253 (-27); Justin Thomas (2017). |
| Fact of the Week: | Waialae CC has hosted every event played since 1965 (no event 1970 anywhere). |
| Fact of the Week II: | Only two of the last 10 winners did NOT play at Kapalua the previous week. |
Notes:
- Field of 144.
- Welcome to 13 of the 30 KFT graduates (10 others are alternates) and five of the 10 DP World Tour players who are eligible.
- The OWGR is represented by 22 of the top 50.
- Top 65 and ties will make the cut and play the weekend.
- $8.3 million – $1.494 million – 500 FedExCup points – Sentry and Masters ticket punched.
Season Winners
2023 Season Winners
Italics – not entered
| Event | Winner |
| Sentry Tournament of Champions | Jon Rahm |
| Sony Open in Hawaii | Si Woo Kim |
| The AMERICAN EXPRESS | Jon Rahm (2) |
| Farmers Insurance Open | Max Homa (2) |
| AT&T Pebble Beach | Justin Rose |
| WM Phoenix Open | Scottie Scheffler |
| The Genesis Invitational | Jon Rahm (3) |
| The Honda Classic | Chris Kirk |
| Arnold Palmer Invitational | Kurt Kitayama (first TOUR win) |
| THE PLAYERS Championship | Scottie Scheffler (2) |
| Valspar Championship | Taylor Moore (first TOUR win) |
| Corales Puntacana | Matt Wallace (first TOUR win) |
| WGC – Dell Technologies MP | Sam Burns |
| Valero Texas Open | Corey Conners |
| Masters | Jon Rahm (4) |
| RBC Heritage | Matt Fitzpatrick |
| Zurich Classic of New Orleans | Davis Riley & Nick Hardy (first TOUR win for each) |
| Mexico Open at Vidanta | Tony Finau (2) |
| Wells Fargo Championship | Wyndham Clark (first TOUR win) |
| AT&T Byron Nelson | Jason Day |
| PGA Championship | Brooks Koepka |
| Charles Schwab Challenge | Emiliano Grillo |
| Memorial | Viktor Hovland |
| RBC Canadian Open | Nick Taylor |
| U.S. Open | Wyndham Clark (2) |
| Travelers Championship | Keegan Bradley (2) |
| Rocket Mortgage Classic | Rickie Fowler |
| John Deere Classic | Sepp Straka |
| Genesis Scottish Open | Rory McIlroy (2) |
| The Open Championship | Brian Harman |
| 3M Open | Lee Hodges (first TOUR win) |
| Wyndham Championship | Lucas Glover |
| FedEx St. Jude Championship | Lucas Glover (2) |
| BMW Championship | Viktor Hovland (2) |
| TOUR Championship | Viktor Hovland (3) |
| Fortinet Championship | Sahith Theegala |
| Sanderson Farms Championship | Luke List |
| Shriners Children’s Open | Tom Kim |
| ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP | Collin Morikawa |
| World Wide Technology | Erik van Rooyen |
| Butterfield Bermuda | Camilo Villegas |
| The RSM Classic | Ludvig Aberg |
2024 Season Winners
Italics – not entered
| Event | Winner |
| The Sentry | Chris Kirk |
| Sony Open in Hawaii | |
| The American Express | |
| Farmers Insurance Open |
Recent Winners – Sony Open in Hawaii
Italics – not entered this week.
| Year | Winner | Notes |
| 2023 | Si Woo Kim (-18) | Shot 64 on Sunday to make up a three-shot deficit and knock out 54-hole leader Hayden Buckley by a shot. |
| 2022 | Hideki Matsuyama (-23) | Won a playoff over 54-hole leader and 2013 winner Russell Henley. |
| 2021 | Kevin Na (-21) | Shot 61 in Round 3 and held on to beat Chris Kirk by one. |
| 2020 | Cameron Smith (-11) | Matched the second highest winning score since 2000. Rain and windy conditions all weekend. |
| 2019 | Matt Kuchar (-22) | Won comfortably by four over Andrew Putnam. |
| 2018 | Patton Kizzire (-17) | Needed a playoff to win in just his second visit. |
Angles
Waialae Country Club stretches to just 7,044 yards, one of the shortest courses on TOUR, and plays to Par-70.
The last ten victors have produced winning scores of 17-under or better nine times.
Of the last 10 winners, eight played the week prior at Kapalua.
Bermudagrass fairways, rough, and greens are in play again this week.
With greens averaging 7,100 square feet, Waialae ranks near the top of the largest putting surfaces on TOUR.
Bermuda rough is approaching three inches this week after a deluge on Monday.
Experienced players flourished in this event from 1997 through 2019. All but three winners were under the age of 30. Over the last four years, only one winner has eclipsed that mark. If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
The course record, 59, was set in 2017 by Justin Thomas (not entered), in Round 1. He would go on to win and smash the tournament scoring record by three shots as he posted 253 (-27).
The last four champions have represented the International team in the Presidents Cup.
The last five winners have needed four or more previous attempts.
The field of 144 contains 22 of the top 50 OWGR.
Players to consider for Top 10, Top 20, or Top 40 action:
Eric Cole: Doesn’t gain many strokes off the tee but sits 19th in SG: Approach and 13th in SG: Putting.
Matt Kuchar: The 2019 champ sits fourth on the all-time money list and was T7 the last two years.
J.J. Spaun: Making 10 consecutive cuts, he’s producedT13 or better in three of his last five on TOUR.
Nick Taylor: I’m always looking to ride the trend, and the Canadian has cashed T32, T11, and T7 in 2023 in his last three here.
Taylor Montgomery: T8 last time out at The RSM Classic and T12 on debut here last year.
Austin Eckroat: The 54-hole leader last year finished second after T12 on debut in 2022.
Takumi Kanaya: Posting top-10 paydays in four of his last five on the Japan Tour, he will get another chance as a sponsor’s exemption this week.
Kevin Kisner: The television announcer try-out has ended. He returns to an event where he’s cashed T4-T32-T3 in his last three visits.
One and Done
I’ll be joining Spotter’s game again this season. Now, where did I put my checkbook…
35 events.
1 player per event (plus a backup pick if your guy gets kidnapped on Wednesday night and doesn’t make it to the first tee Thursday).
1 use per year.
Add up the total money, and Spotter is yer uncle!
| Event | Selection | Earnings |
| The Sentry | Collin Morikawa | $690,500 |
| Sony Open in Hawaii | ||
| The American Express | ||
| Farmers Insurance Open |
His game has more fun stuff to it, so reach out @A340Spotter on Twitter or A340Spotter@comcast.com for more details and to join.
The second stop on The Opening Drive in Hawaii takes the TOUR to a familiar stop. Waialae has followed Kapalua in every edition since 1999.
Two major differences this week:
- No Cut
- Field of 144 players
This is not the time to fall in love, but if you had a big week last week (Theegala, Spieth, or a top-five selection) you absolutely can gamble.
The game has completely changed with the additional money added this year.
Winning $1.5 million this week is great, but that’s almost third place for a major, FedExCup Playoff event, THE PLAYERS, or seven more Signature Events.
If you’re one of those folks who plan out all your plays before the season, fantastic.
My approach is more art than science. There’s an old saying that guys peak for six to eight weeks annually. I’m trying to use that angle. I’m also a student of history. I will take in past victories, top finishes, trends, and even flippings of coins.
Last Week – The Sentry
MY CHOICE: Collin Morikawa – T5
One bogey gang. Not enough. #PickBetterGolfers
Others to consider/fade
Max Homa – Too many events in SoCal for me to use this week. He will defend at Torrey Pines, and Riviera is his personal open. I won’t talk YOU out of him, though. Posting four rounds in the 60s for 22-under didn’t even garner a top 10 (T14).
Xander Schauffele – Should interest the course historians at Kapalua, but the rust bothers ME. You gotta do you. I’ll save him for the U.S. Open or East Lake (if your game uses that event). Considering he played once in the fall, T10 (-24) was a decent haul.
Patrick Cantlay – Another quirk of mine is playing guys where they have won before. Memorial is his jam. Didn’t sign for anything worse than 5-under 68. That also wasn’t good enough to secure a top-10 payday (T12). Amazing.
Jordan Spieth – New folks, it’s either Augusta or Colonial for me. Maybe Pebble. Made a double on his third hole of the week. His next bogey came on his third to last hole. Making 435 feet of putts to lead the field didn’t hurt! T3.
Remember, not playing a guy is OK. There are 14 more chances to use them in BIG EVENTS this season. Of the top 25 OWGR, 21 are in this week. It should be difficult. It will be difficult all season.
Longshots
Sungjae Im – The best of three starts was his debut. He has gone in the wrong direction since. That direction included another top 10 plus solo 12th. Coming off his first season in five without a podium finish doesn’t inspire, but he knows his way around tee to green. The Korean set the PGA TOUR record for birdies in an event with 34. Sadly, he also shot 73 in Round 3. T5 with 73 is amazing. Bravo! He made more birdies than Pars (30). Hahahahahahaha.
Sahith Theegala – Free roll. Winner at Fortinet in September. ELITE putter who finished 33rd of 38 last year on these greens. He won’t do that again, promise! I guess I should have used one of these two LONG SHOTS, eh? Solo Second and $2.16 million.
This Week – Sony Open in Hawaii
MY CHOICE: Corey Conners
The last four winners have been his teammates on the Presidents Cup team. The last four winners have needed four previous attempts before hoisting the trophy. Hitting it great last week on approach, he was first or second Strokes-Gained in an elite field. Make a couple more putts this week, and we’re good.
Considerations
Eric Cole: Tough lay down this week. His form and function have been firing for months. Just a matter of preference.
Russell Henley: I won’t talk you out of him this week, but I prefer him on a tough ball-striking layout. Hairs split.
J.T. Poston: It shouldn’t be surprising that this is most of my lineup in Expert Picks.
Matt Kuchar: Nobody in the field this week has done it better at Waialae. It’s here or Harbour Town if you’re gonna ride. #ShorterTheBetter. If Conners is a WD, Kuchar goes in.
Hideki Matsuyama: Dead last in putting last week. Needed the best-putting numbers of his life to win this (his only top 10) two years ago. Careful.
Will Zalatoris: Hard to saddle a guy after 81 and 79 in his last official outing. Be patient.
Longshots
J.J. Spaun: I prefer him on Poa, but he’s been super consistent recently.
Chan Kim: Hawaiian native lit up the KFT late and has plenty of experience in the Pacific Rim.
Welcome Back! The Sentry 2024
The Sentry
The Plantation Course at Kapalua
Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii
Weekly Readers:
Odds Outlook – click here
Horses for Courses/Stats Suggest – click here
Expert Picks – click here
Golfbet articles from the entire crew – click here
Opening Grid – click here
Welcome to 2024 and the new season.
For those of you who are just arriving for the first time, here’s what’s going on:
I write all of the stuff above. I’m not going to necessarily repeat everything in this column. Life is a do-it-yourself job so click and read.
Information changes from Sunday to Wednesday morning. If there is anything new/exciting/pertinent, I’ll try to add it here.
This column is me. My thoughts, my humor, my fun, my opinions. I’m not here for grammar lessons, suggestions, or to charge you any hard-earned money for reading.
So shut up, keep up, and enjoy it.
I know there are only a few of you so thanks for reading.
Chalk (via Bet365.com)
My thoughts on the top players for betting purposes:
Scottie Scheffler (+500): The last three winners here have led the field in SG: Putting. Nobody hits it better but can he it THAT WELL against a field of this class and get away with a cold-putting week? No, says I. Enjoy the free money on the top 10 bets, though.
Viktor Hovland (+800): Maybe the fourth time will be the charm? Form has never been a concern. The last two years he’s arrived after winning the Hero World Challenge in December against an elite field. His best finish is T18. What’s the hang-up? Chipping and putting on Bermuda. Well, he’s appeared to have fixed those issues. I’ll let you wade in at 8-1 to see him put it all together this week.
Collin Morikawa (+1100): Odds have already dropped from 12s to 11s since Monday morning. Not hard to figure out why. He was 35-under in his previous four rounds from 2022 thru Round 3 of 2023. His final round 72 last year saw his six-shot lead evaporate. Fading to T2 he picked up his fourth consecutive T7 or better from four starts. Family on the island. A winner at ZOZO in October. Two-time major champion. Only concern, as usual, could be the flat stick. I’ll start writing win tickets and his name is first on the list.
Ludvig Aberg (+1400): Looking to go back-to-back on TOUR in his 15th start anywhere as a pro. Wow. Fantastic player will be attacking history from that angle plus the Chopra Angle (keep reading). Too much for me to swallow at that price. Terribly curious to see how he follows up closing 64-61-61 from his win at The RSM though.
Xander Schauffele (+1400): One of the three former champs in the field, his last two years here have been disappointing. After his win, followed by P2 and T5, he cashed 12th and was a WD (back/neck) last year after opening with 70. Recent winners at Kapalua have produced results in the fall and ridden that momentum to Maui. He’s played once since the Ryde Cup, T38 at ZOZO, and did not hit the Hero. Hasn’t won since July 2022.
Patrick Cantlay (+1400): In the even years, he plays great, solo fourth in 2020 and 2022. In the odd years, he hasn’t cracked the top 12. Is it the Ryder Cup? He hasn’t played since Rome, nor did he play in the weeks leading up after The TOUR Championship. He did get married! Hooking on to a guy who hasn’t played his own ball since early September isn’t for the faint of heart.
Max Homa (+1400): This Californian checks the boxes for me as my No. 2 this week. After winning in South Africa in November, he knocked the rust off in The Bahamas at the Hero World Challenge. I can’t point to a recent full-field event where he wasn’t in the top 25. He finished T3 here last year and will be making his fourth start. Super on the greens as well, I’d expect a big week from him again.
Jordan Spieth (+1800): Nobody loves Horses for Courses more than I do and the Texan qualifies. The 2016 champ hit the podium in his first three, and the top 10 in his first four, but has been quiet since. Tied with Schauffele and Matsuyama more the most starts in the field (7 this week), he knows his way around. With the expanded family, a new baby arrived in September, and a jumpy putter, this number feels like a stretch. He’ll hope for tougher, breezy conditions to allow his creativity and short game to flourish.
Tom Kim (+2200): Debuting last year, he racked up T5 and wondered what all the fuss was about. The birdie machine would be higher on my list if the conditions were benign. I haven’t seen enough of him in the breeze to run him to the front, especially in a field of this strength. Form won’t be a concern as a busy fall worldwide included defending his title in the weather-less Las Vegas desert.
NOW PLAYING:
| Host Course | The Plantation Course at Kapalua |
| Yards (per official scorecard): | 7,596 |
| Par: | 73 (36-37) |
| Greens: | TifEagle Bermuda; 8,722 square feet on average. |
| Stimpmeter: | 11 feet. |
| Rough: | Celebration Bermuda at 2.5 inches. |
| Bunkers/Water Hazards/In-Play | 93/0/0. |
| Architect(s): | Coore and Crenshaw (1999). |
| Defending Champion (event): | Jon Rahm (-27; not entered; no longer holds TOUR status). |
| Multiple Champion(s) Entered: | None. |
| Course Record (last): | 61; set three times in 2022 (Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Matt Jones, none entered this week). |
| 72 Hole Tournament Record (last): | 258 (-34); Cam Smith 2022 (no longer a member on TOUR). |
| Fact of the Week: | 72 holes, no cut. |
| Fact of the Week II: | There are 18 players making their debut this week. The only player to win on the first attempt at Kapalua was Daniel Chopra in 2008. |
Notes:
- Field of 59.
- Winners in the calendar year 2023 or qualifiers for the BMW Championship are eligible.
- The OWGR is represented by 21 of the top 25.
- First of eight SIGNATURE EVENTS of 2024.
- $20 million – $3.6 million – 700 FedExCup points – Sentry and Masters ticket punched.
Season Winners
2023 Season Winners
Italics – not entered
| Event | Winner |
| Sentry Tournament of Champions | Jon Rahm |
| Sony Open in Hawaii | Si Woo Kim |
| The AMERICAN EXPRESS | Jon Rahm (2) |
| Farmers Insurance Open | Max Homa (2) |
| AT&T Pebble Beach | Justin Rose |
| WM Phoenix Open | Scottie Scheffler |
| The Genesis Invitational | Jon Rahm (3) |
| The Honda Classic | Chris Kirk |
| Arnold Palmer Invitational | Kurt Kitayama (first TOUR win) |
| THE PLAYERS Championship | Scottie Scheffler (2) |
| Valspar Championship | Taylor Moore (first TOUR win) |
| Corales Puntacana | Matt Wallace (first TOUR win) |
| WGC – Dell Technologies MP | Sam Burns |
| Valero Texas Open | Corey Conners |
| Masters | Jon Rahm (4) |
| RBC Heritage | Matt Fitzpatrick |
| Zurich Classic of New Orleans | Davis Riley & Nick Hardy (first TOUR win for each) |
| Mexico Open at Vidanta | Tony Finau (2) |
| Wells Fargo Championship | Wyndham Clark (first TOUR win) |
| AT&T Byron Nelson | Jason Day |
| PGA Championship | Brooks Koepka |
| Charles Schwab Challenge | Emiliano Grillo |
| Memorial | Viktor Hovland |
| RBC Canadian Open | Nick Taylor |
| U.S. Open | Wyndham Clark (2) |
| Travelers Championship | Keegan Bradley (2) |
| Rocket Mortgage Classic | Rickie Fowler |
| John Deere Classic | Sepp Straka |
| Genesis Scottish Open | Rory McIlroy (2) |
| The Open Championship | Brian Harman |
| 3M Open | Lee Hodges (first TOUR win) |
| Wyndham Championship | Lucas Glover |
| FedEx St. Jude Championship | Lucas Glover (2) |
| BMW Championship | Viktor Hovland (2) |
| TOUR Championship | Viktor Hovland (3) |
| Fortinet Championship | Sahith Theegala |
| Sanderson Farms Championship | Luke List |
| Shriners Children’s Open | Tom Kim |
| ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP | Collin Morikawa |
| World Wide Technology | Erik van Rooyen |
| Butterfield Bermuda | Camilo Villegas |
| The RSM Classic | Ludvig Aberg |
Recent Winners – The Sentry
Italics – not entered this week.
| Year | Winner | Notes |
| 2023 | Jon Rahm (-25) | Won by two, no longer a member on TOUR. |
| 2022 | Cam Smith (-34) | Set the tournament scoring record, no longer a member on TOUR. |
| 2021 | Harris English (-25) | Won in a playoff on his second visit. |
| 2020 | Justin Thomas (-14) | Won a three-man playoff over Schauffele and Reed in breezy conditions. |
| 2019 | Xander Schauffele (-23) | Closed with 62, tying the course record, to win on his second try. |
| 2018 | Dustin Johnson (-24) | Tied the Plantation course margin of victory, winning by eight shots. |
Angles
The Plantation Course tips at 7,596 yards, the third longest course used in 2023, and plays to Par-73.
The Plantation Course has ranked as the easiest course on TOUR the last three seasons, playing more than three shots under par per round annually. Weather is the only deterrent to scoring.
The resort course features generous fairways and the largest greens complexes on TOUR.
Elevation changes and uneven lies will challenge players on second shots.
TifEagle Bermuda greens running at 11 feet will allow players to be aggressive on the short grass.
The last eight winners have produced seven champions who finished first or second in SG: Putting.
The last eight winners have ranked in the top eight in SG: Off the tee.
The last 10 winners of this event have been household names. The best players have no problem going low.
Stretching
Players for the top 10 and top 20 action
Australian Cam Davis (66/1) will try to continue the proud Australian tradition at this event. The last wire-to-wire winner and champion to defend was Geoff Ogilvy (2009-2010). Stuart Appleby rattled off three straight wins from 2004-2006. Cameron Smith set the tournament scoring record in 2022. Making his second start, he quietly picked off a T10 on debut in 2022 with four rounds in the 60s for 23-under.
The top 10 finishers of 2023 included debutants Tom Hoge (150/1) at T3, Tom Kim (22/1) at T5, and Matt Fitzpatrick (28/1) at T7. This year, 18 players are making their maiden voyages at the Plantation Course. While Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, and U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark will get most of the looks, Floridian Eric Cole (66/1) makes for a lovely outsider. The 34-year-old rookie ran T3 to Aberg at The RSM Classic to wrap up a fruitful debut season on TOUR. He’s the best putter in the field, loves Bermudagrass, and won’t be bothered by the big names or big ballpark.
Akshay Bhatia (110/1) thrives in coastal settings and when conditions get breezy.
Mackenzie Hughes (150/1) quietly closed 2023 with a runner-up finish to Aberg at The RSM Classic two weeks after cashing T7 at El Cardonal in Mexico. The Canadian opened with 66 and closed with 65 here last year for T21, his best result from three visits.
One and Done
I’ll be joining Spotter’s game again this season. Now, where did I put my checkbook…
35 events.
1 player per event (plus a backup pick if your guy gets kidnapped on Wednesday night and doesn’t make it to the first tee on Thursday).
1 use per year.
Add up the total money and Spotter is yer uncle!
His game has more fun stuff to it so reach out @A340Spotter on Twitter or A340Spotter@frontier.com for more details and to join.
With EIGHT Signature Events spread out throughout the season, player management becomes a major issue. These events do NOT include the four majors or THE PLAYERS Championship. These events do NOT include the FedExCup Playoffs.
My theory for this game is quite simple: Use the biggest and best for the events with the biggest and best prize pools. Also, if your second guy wins this week, what’s to say he won’t win again in 2024??? Relax, it’s week 1.
This is a bonus week as there is NO CUT. You will cash. Or crash and burn.
MY CHOICE: Collin Morikawa
Others to consider/fade
Max Homa – Too many events in SoCal for me to use this week. He will defend at Torrey Pines and Riviera is his personal open. I won’t talk YOU out of him, though.
Xander Schauffele – This should interest the course historians at Kapalua but the rust bothers ME. You gotta do you. I’ll save him for the U.S. Open or East Lake (if your game uses that event).
Patrick Cantlay – Another quirk of mine is playing guys where they have won before. Memorial is his jam.
Jordan Spieth – New folks, it’s either Augusta or Colonial for me. Maybe Pebble.
Remember, not playing a guy you will still have 14 more chances to use them in BIG EVENTS this season. Of the top 25 OWGR, 21 are in this week. It should be difficult. It will be difficult all season.
Longshots
Sungjae Im – The best of three starts was his debut and he has gone in the wrong direction since. That direction included another top 10 plus solo 12th. Coming off his first season in five without a podium finish doesn’t inspire but he knows his way around tee to green.
Sahith Theegala – Free roll. Winner at Fortinet in September. ELITE putter who finished 33rd of 38 last year on these greens. He won’t do that again, promise!
Glass Houses 