Tournament of Champions Preview, Picks & Analysis

Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements

THE BOYS are back in town, and what a town, and what a start to 2017. The Plantation Course at Kapalua plays host to the SBS Tournament of Champions, which is open to everybody who won on the PGA Tour last season. If there is an incentive for winning a tournament it is surely the fact that it gets you into the field in Hawaii, one of the most beautiful islands on earth, inhabited by the friendliest people.

Unsurprisingly, the pedigree of recent winners is impressive. In 2011 it was won by Jonathan Byrd, in 2012 by Steve Stricker, 2013 by Dustin Johnson, 2014 Zach Johnson, 2015 Patrick Reed and last year's champion was Jordan Spieth, who carried on where he had left off in 2015.

The most famous hole on the course is the 18th, a downhill par five measuring 665 yards. It is usually played with a following wind, with the fairway gathering towards the green and is routinely reached with a drive and an iron. Any player standing on the 18th tee knowing that he needs an eagle to win will believe that he stands a good chance.

The qualifiers include Jason Dufner, Bubba Watson, James Hahn, Dustin Johnson, Tony Finau, Aaron Baddeley, Russell Knox, Hideki Matsuyama, Pat Perez, Jason Day, Brandt Snedeker, Patrick Reed and Jimmy Walker. As per usual, a number of those qualifiers will not take part - are they crazy? It is a small field, offering a $1m-plus cheque to the winner, played on a fabulous golf course in a glorious part of the world.

If ever there was a golf course and player were made for one another, it is the Plantation and Tony Finau. He is one of the most impressive ball strikers on the planet and visibly grew in confidence after his maiden victory in 2016. Unusually for a big man, there is far more to Finau than big hitting. He possesses the ability to shape the ball at will and hit it under the wind that so often blows in this part of the world, and he has a terrific short game. When Finau gets on a roll, he has the look of a man who can hole everything he looks at.

Most of the above also applies to Russell Knox, the Scot who has made such a name for himself on the PGA Tour. He just does everything so well. Admittedly, Knox does not hit the ball terribly far but he is one of the straightest hitters in the professional game and golf is a much easier game when it is played from the middle of the fairway, as Knox proved time and time again in 2016. He is a glorious long-iron player, but it is on and around the greens that he comes into his own, and you cannot score low at Kapalua unless you chip and putt well.

This is also going to be a huge year for Aaron Baddeley. When he started his PGA Tour career with victories in 2006 and 2007 it seemed that he was destined to become a huge star, but he had to wait until 2011 for his third success and until last year before his next win, at the Barbasol championship. Incredibly, the Australian is still only 35 years of age, but he has never been able to solve the problem that has haunted him throughout his playing career, namely that he is either very, very good or he is awful. Through it all, however, Baddeley has maintained one of the best putting strokes on the PGA Tour and thus knows that when his ball striking is good then he remains capable of beating anybody. 

Cody Gribble and Mackenzie Hughes head a group of 11 pros making debuts at Kapalua.

Day and Spieth are the two marquee players in the field. Spieth had a poor 2016 but started the year brilliantly when he won this event. Late in the year there were signs that the 2015 Masters and US Open champion was getting back to his best, and he will be chomping at the bit to defend his title. Day also needs a big year and will have spent the brief close-season working hard on his game. If his game is anywhere close to its best, the Australian will be there or thereabouts.

Matsuyama leads the FedEx Cup standings by a country mile after a spectacular start to the 2016-17 season, but the Japanese golfer surely can't win again. Can he? Don't be too quick to write him off. He has now changed his priorities and will be targeting his first major this year. He has no weaknesses, but the strongest club in his bag is the 15th - the one between his ears.

But the man to beat is Patrick Reed, who comes storming into 2017 now comfortably established in the world's top 10 and with just one aim for the season ahead, namely to win his first major. Love him or hate him, you simply can't ignore Reed, who is blessed with the most cussed spirit and never-say-die attitude. Unlike many of his fellow countrymen, Reed is prepared to travel the world to experience different courses and playing conditions because he is determined to improve his game and learn how to play in all sort of conditions. If ever there was a golfer with the game to win The Open, it is Reed, and he would love to kick off the year with another win. I think he may just do it.

To Win:

Patrick Reed. 2017 is going to be big year for the American

Each Way:

Jordan Spieth. Will soon be back to his 2015 form

Each Way:

Hideki Matsuyama. The man they have to beat

Fantasy Picks:

Patrick Reed. Ferocious competitor

Jordan Spieth. Back to his very best

Hideki Matsuyama. Going up in the world

Bubba Watson. Former winner

Russell Knox. A genuine contender every time he plays

Tony Finau. Will adore this course

Dustin Johnson. Can he kick on from 2016? Of course he can

Jimmy Walker. PGA champion is one of the best putters on tour

Aaron Baddeley. Has rediscovered his confidence

Cody Gribble. Silly name, superb golfer