PGA Golf Handicapping – Hyundai Tournament of Champions
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Hyundai Tournament of Champions
Dates: Friday Jan 6 – Monday Jan 9, 2012
Venue: Plantation Course at Kapalua, Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii
Purse: $5.6 million
Winning Share: $1,120,000
FedExCup Points: 500
The PGA tour plays its inaugural event of 2012 this weekend in Hawaii. The Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort plays host to the Hyundai Tournament of Champions with the story being more about who is not attending rather than who is there.
The Top 2 finishers in the FedEx Cup standings are there as are six of the Top 10 money winners on the PGA tour in 2011. However, only two of the Top 10 ranked golfers in the world will be in attendance. Jonathan Byrd will attempt a repeat in undoubtedly windy conditions that is always a major factor in tournaments in Hawaii.
So who has the edge? One would have to think that the Australian contingent has a leg up with their experience playing in such conditions – Aussies have won five of the last eight tournaments at the Plantation Course at Kapalua.
THE FAVORITES
Steve Stricker
Hyundai Tournament of Champions odds: +700
Stricker is entering the tournament off a very good 2011 – two wins last year and three top-10s at Kapalua in his last four appearances. Stricker fell apart in last year’s event and finished fourth on the heels of a poor final round. Stricker is ranked sixth in the world for a reason – his accuracy and consistency could serve him well this week.
Webb Simpson
Hyundai Tournament of Champions odds: +700
Simpson burst on the scene last year with seven top-10’s in his last nine events. He was a scoring machine last year and ate up par 4’s and 5’s. Length is definitely a strength for Simpson who will definitely be looking to start his year with a bang.
CONTENDERS
Nick Watney
Hyundai Tournament of Champions odds: +900
Watney’s credentials include being a two-time winner and regular-season leader in FedExCup Points. He has shown that he can do well anywhere in the world and in any conditions – he had two Top-5 finished in Australia last season which bodes well for the conditions in Hawaii. Watney finished T5 in this event in 2005.
Keegan Bradley
Hyundai Tournament of Champions odds: +1500
Bradley exploded last year on the way to becoming the PGA Rookie of the Year. Bradley played a lot of tournaments last year and somehow found his way into contention in more than his share. He had two wins on tour last season but maybe lacks the experience to compete in the conditions in Hawaii.
Bubba Watson
Hyundai Tournament of Champions odds: +1500
Bubba is a beast – his power and obvious love of the game makes him an instant favorite. The man can hit the ball – accuracy and patience may be his only issue. He finished tied for 25th at the 2011 Hyundai.
Bill Haas
Hyundai Tournament of Champions odds: +1500
Haas is the reigning FedExCup champion who had quite a tournament at Kapalua last year. Haas finished eighth in that tournament and went 42 holes bogey-free before falling off the pace. What Haas has going for him ahead of this week’s tournament is accuracy – he was 11th in greens in regulation on the PGA TOUR in 2011 and was 19th in the all-around scoring. Haas is the total package and could break through in the first event of 2012. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Aaron Baddeley
Hyundai Tournament of Champions odds: +1500
Baddeley finished in the Top-10 in three of his last four events in 2011. He is one of those Aussies that won’t be uncomfortable in the winds of Hawaii. He has played twice at Kapalua producing NO Top-10’s however.
Jonathan Byrd
Hyundai Tournament of Champions odds: +2500
Bryd is the defending champion and loves the Hawaiian sun. In his four starts in Hawaii, he has yet to finish outside the Top-15. He finished an amazing 24-under par on this course last year.
THE SLEEPERS
Gary Woodland
Hyundai Tournament of Champions odds: +1500
Woodland is an incredible ball striker with very good accuracy – 13th in birdie average and 14th in adjusted scoring last year on tour. He finished Top-20 in seven of his last ten events played in 2011 and is certainly due for a win.
David Toms
Hyundai Tournament of Champions odds: +2000
Toms enters the Hyundai as perhaps the most consistent golfer in the field. Toms was a monster in 2011 and will be looking to start 2012 with a bang. He was sixth in greens in regulation, 15th in birdie average, ninth in adjusted scoring and third in the all-around scoring last year on tour.
THE PICK
It is a little difficult to establish a huge front runner this week so the most consistent golfer gets my nod. He just happens to be the best value of the golfers outlined! David Toms had a huge 2011 and appears to be on top of his game. In a field in which some of the best are absent, he and Steve Stricker are the class of the field. Toms hasn’t played in Kapalua in four years but he does have four Top-10s in six appearances on the Big Island.
2012 Hyundai Tournament of Champions pick: David Toms +2000
