Hyundai Tournament of Champions Betting Preview

The PGA Tour returns to action this week in Hawaii for the Hyundai Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, Hawaii. This exclusive event is only open to tournament winners in 2010, and so the field is a veritable who’s-who of world golf, with the notable exception of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson – neither of whom traditionally has this event on their itinerary in any case. Other absentees are Rory McIlroy, US PGA champion Martin Kaymer, current world number one Lee Westwood and Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, who has elected to contest his native Africa Open instead.

The Plantation course at Kapalua is a monster 7,400 yards in length and plays to a par 73, and although surrounded by the Pacific ocean is not a traditional links test. The course possesses wide-open fairways and the real lack of any significant rough means long-hitters have a distinct advantage around the course. However, being able to play when the wind blows and being able to navigate the large Bermuda-grass greens are also desirable traits. It’s very much a marmite course – players either love it, or hate it.

The defending champion is Australian Geoff Ogilvy, and he represents good value despite being priced at just 8/1 with the bookmakers. With many of the field returning to competitive action for the first time, Ogilvy – like the other Australians in the field – was busy right up until late in 2010, contesting the Australian Triple Crown events, and that match-readiness could prove decisive. Ogilvy won one of those events, the Australian Open and finished second in another so is in good heart ahead of his return to this venue. And as defending champion, he will be looking to complete a hat-trick of wins in this event after also lifting the trophy in 2009 – so he clearly handles the course’s idiosyncrasies.

Ogilvy’s countryman, Stuart Appleby has already recorded a hat-trick of wins in this event between 2004-2006, and despite some indifferent performances in 2010 he did win the Greenbrier Classic in August, after he recorded a closing 59 to overhaul Jeff Overton. He has maintained a decent level of form back in Australia and should be in prime condition for a tilt at this event. At 25/1 he is one player in this field who is guaranteed to give his running around this course.

Graeme McDowell will be a popular winner given the stellar 2010 he enjoyed, but while I’m confident the Portrush player will enjoy another good year, I don’t feel confident he will be in the mix this early in the season, especially given that he will no doubt be wrestling with new kit having just signed to Srixon for the coming season. Although 12/1 is tempting about the US Open winner, he’s passed over with reluctance.

Followers of Bubba Watson on Twitter will no doubt be aware that the jovial left-hander has been ripping up courses in practice, and although this will be his first look at Plantation the course should suit the big-hitting Watson. Amongst the longest on the Tour, Watson has a craft and short game around the greens to match the best, and although never at his best on Bermuda grass his biggest enemy this week might be the wind. However, if it remains calm over the opening days and providing Watson hits the ground running, he could be difficult to peg back at 40/1 and he looks a huge price if he gets the putter going.

At even longer odds, punters could do worse than give Robert Garrigus a second glance. The victim of a spectacular melt-down at TPC Southwind last year, Garrigus did finally get his head in front to win the Children’s Miracle Network Classic at Disney to retain his Tour card. At his best on bermuda grass, and capable of punching out 300+ yards drives, Garrigus could be well over priced at 125/1 with one bookmaker., although his chances have not gone unnoticed with others who rate Garrigus as low as just 66/1.

Selection: Geoff Ogilvy
Savers: Stuart Appleby, Robert Garrigus