Golf Tips: Sentry Tournament of Champions Preview & Predictions

The first ball to be hit in 2022 on the PGA Tour will be at the stunning Kapalua Plantation Course in Hawaii for the Sentry Tournament of Champions.

And what a line up we have to start the New Year with a host of winners from 2021.

The smaller than usual field of 39 will be competing on this long par 73, 7,596 yard, Bermuda Links style track for a share of the generous $8m prize purse with the winner collecting the title and a cool $1.45m.

Harris English returns to defend his crown and will be looking to start the year on a high again while Justin Thomas will be aiming to make it a hatrick of wins at this Champions event.

The weather is forecast to be sunny and warm throughout with temperatures in the high 20s and possibly some showers. The wind from the Pacific Ocean can cause havoc around here but will be mainly calm with gusts peaking at around 12mph.

Expect a birdie fest in Hawaii this week especially with the calm breezes, I wouldn’t be surprised if Ernie Els' -31 record-winning scorecard around here from 2003 was surpassed with the talent on show.

This event will be screened on Sky Sports Golf with live coverage starting at 6am GMT on Thursday morning.

We have been working hard behind the scenes to tally up last years winners and profits etc. The figures are in now and we will publish the exact amount on the website soon so keep an eye out for that.

It’s quite incredible the kind of numbers we are talking. It’s over £3k profit after taking away the losing selections etc and remember that’s using only £10 stakes. I’ll be raising the bar yet again this year, doing my homework and research, keeping an eye on my radar, with the main goal to surpass last year’s phenomenal effort and continue helping this amazing MFT community to bash the bookie throughout 2022.

So let’s move on with the first selections for 2022 at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii-five-0.

Justin Thomas

For my first and main selection I'm going to advise the player looking to make it a hat-trick of victories around here. Justin Thomas at 9/1 EW Bet365 simply adores this Plantation Course.

He has won this event twice and has two third place finishes in the past five years so I’m backing JT to get the year off to a good start for both us and him.

Having won this event in 2020 when defeating Xander Schauffele and Patrick Reed in a play-off JT has all the credentials to conquer this Bermuda lay out.

He also won here in 2017 shooting -22 on the scorecard. It was one of five victories for JT that year including a major when winning The USPGA Championship and I just have a feeling that 2022 could be one of those successful years for JT yet again.

It’s hard to believe that the youngster from Kentucky is still only 28 years old.

Currently ranked inside the world's Top 10 at No8, JT only managed the winner's enclosure once in 2021 when victorious at The Players Championship but was challenging at almost every event he played it seemed. In his last six tournaments in 2021 JT finished inside the Top 5 on four of those occasions.

I’ve seen enough of this kid lately to suggest that he’s at the top of his game once again and he can start the year with fireworks to the delight of us all.

Sam Burns

For my next selection it’s one of my favourites and a player who did both himself and us proud throughout last year. Sam Burns 18/1 EW Bet365 was all over my radar in 2021 and if you follow my tips then you’ll know just how highly I rate the talented 25 year old from Louisiana.

It was a breakthrough year for Burns in 2021 winning not one, but two PGA titles. He won his maiden title with a victory at the Sanderson Farms Championship then followed that up with a win at the Valspar Championship. He also finished runner up at the WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational and at the AT & T Byron Nelson.

It’s hard to imagine that only 18 months ago Burns was way up in the high three hundreds in the world rankings, now he’s inside the Top 10, truly remarkable.

I’ve already commented that a major may not be far away for this talented kid and it could well arrive this year. Burns finished 2021 just how he started it with a victory and seven Top 20 finishes in his last seven events, five of those were Top 10 finishes .

This remember is only a matter of weeks ago we are talking, so expect Burns to come back firing on all cylinders with those sublime pin-accurate iron shots on his way to victory in the sunshine island of Hawaii.

Xander Schauffele

For my next pick I’m going to single out Xander Schauffele 14/1 EW SBK, the 28 year old from San Diego, California.

The highlight for Schauffele in 2021 was winning an Olympic gold medal in Japan but he will also be pleased with his effort at Augusta when finishing 3rd at The Masters.

He finished runner-up at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and third at the Tour Championship. Schauffele is another who just seemed to be lurking around on every leaderboard last year, he’s a big time player and loves these events.

Add to that the fact that Schauffele won this event in 2019 and has three Top 5 finishes at Kampala’s Plantation Course.

Schauffele will thrive in this environment and will for sure be one of the challengers on the back nine at Sundays final round, possibly on his way to victory.

Justin Thomas to beat Jon Rahm

For my final selection this week it’s the customary matchbet Nap. The Nap was so successful for us last year with a 70% strike rate.

I’m liking the look off JT again but this time to beat Jon Rahm over 72 holes , available at 10/11 Betfair Nap.

Sentry Tournament of Champions Tips

• Justin Thomas 9/1 EW Bet365
• Sam Burns 18/1 EW Bet365
• Xander Schauffele 14/1 EW SBK
• Justin Thomas to beat Jon Rahm , 72 hole matchbet, 10/11 Nap Betfair

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