Welcome to 2024, folks. And to start the new year, the PGA Tour is in Hawaii for the season’s first signature event, The Sentry.
The Plantation Course at Kapalua in Maui will once again play host, while the defending champion is not in the 59-man field.
Jon Rahm came from behind to defeat Collin Morikawa last year, but cannot defend his title thanks to his move to LIV Golf.
Some of the stars actually in the field include world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa, Xander Schauffele, Morikawa and Jordan Spieth.
Two notable names not teeing it up at the Plantation Course, Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas.
Reminder, there is no cut this week.
Golf course
Plantation Course at Kapalua | Par 73 | 7,596 yards
Course scenics during practice prior to the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Club on January 02, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Course history
Course history at the Plantation Course at Kapalua for the #TheSentry going back to 2015.
-Includes average finish position and Strokes Gained per round. Players are sorted by SG: Total.
-18th (out of 44) most predictive annual course on Tour.
Get all of my analysis, charts,… pic.twitter.com/injwIzIZDq
— Ron Klos (@PGASplits101) January 1, 2024
Betting preview
| Player | Odds | Player | Odds |
| Scottie Scheffler | (+500) | Tommy Fleetwood | (+2500) |
| Viktor Hovland | (+900) | Tom Kim | (+2500) |
| Patrick Cantlay | (+1200) | Tony Finau | (+3000) |
| Max Homa | (+1200) | Sungjae Im | (+3000) |
| Collin Morikawa | (+1200) | Sam Burns | (+3500) |
| Xander Schauffele | (+1400) | Russell Henley | (+3500) |
| Ludvig Aberg | (+1400) | Rickie Fowler | (+3500) |
| Jordan Spieth | (+2000) | Cameron Young | (+3500) |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | (+2200) | Jason Day | (+4000) |
| Tyrrell Hatton | (+2500) | Brian Harman | (+4000) |
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Collin Morikawa of the United States plays his shot from the fourth tee during the first round of the Hero World Challenge at Albany Golf Course on November 30, 2023, in Nassau, Bahamas. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Morikawa has done everything but win here. Before falling to Rahm in ’23, the two-time major winner tied for fifth in ’22 and for seventh in both ’21 and ’20.
Since the Ryder Cup, Morikawa has won the Zozo Championship in October and finished seventh at the Hero World Challenge last month.
Max Homa of the United States lines up a putt on the 15th green during the third round of the Hero World Challenge at Albany Golf Course on December 02, 2023, in Nassau, Bahamas. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Homa tied for 13th at the Hero World Challenge in his last start, but before that won the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa on the DP World Tour in November.
Last year in Maui, Homa tied for third.
Plus, at a golf course that demands low scores to contend, Homa ranks ninth in birdie average on Tour.
Matthew Fitzpatrick of England talks with his caddie Billy Foster on the tenth hole during the third round of the Hero World Challenge at Albany Golf Course on December 02, 2023, in Nassau, Bahamas. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
At a birdie fest, it’s always nice taking one of the best putters on Tour (11th in Strokes Gained: Putting).
Fitzpatrick played well in the Bahamas a month ago, tying for fourth at Albany.
The Englishman grabbed a share of seventh at last year’s Sentry.
Sungjae Im of South Korea lines up a putt on the 15th green ahead of Zozo Championship at Narashino Country Club on October 18, 2023, in Inzai, Chiba, Japan. (Photo by Yoshimasa Nakano/Getty Images)
Im hasn’t played on Tour since the Zozo Championship where he tied for 12th. However, despite the lack of recent starts, I like his chances at the Plantation Course.
He’s played well in Maui for the last three seasons finishing T-13 in ’23, T-8 in ’22 and T-5 in ’21.
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