Sony Open > Jan 14th - 17th

[Aidymac]

BRANDT SNEDEKER (28/1, Paddy Power) clearly likes it here in Hawaii as he shot an impressive four round total of -21 in last weeks' Hyundai Tournament of Champions. The only players that finished ahead of him were Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed and neither of those two are in the field this week. On these greens in Hawaii, you need to be a good firm putter and there aren't many players better in the game than Brandt. 

 

FABIAN GOMEZ (100/1, Bet365) earned more than $200,000 last week in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions which will give his morale a massive boost heading into the season. The Argentinian finished 6th in the prestigious event, with a four round total of -17. The putter was on song for him all week and although there are more golfers in this field, it does not have the same quality without Spieth, Day, Reed and Johnson. He won on tour last year and looks under-estimated by the bookmakers.

 

STEVEN BOWDITCH (125/1, Sky Bet) is a streaky player and one that is hard to catch right but on his day he can serve it up to anybody. The Australian was -15 last week in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and won't be far away here if he plays the same way. When he is bad, he is shocking, but he won the AT&T Byron Nelson last season. He has played in this tournament a few times and his best finish was T37, but I am hoping he can build on last weeks' performance now.

 

FULL PREVIEW --> https://www.punterslounge.com/joburg-open--sony-open-betting-tips-the-value-picks-as-the-season-hots-up-2016011103

[Bamford]

The Sony Open is traditionally the first full-field event of the new calendar year on the PGA Tour. Based in Honolulu, Waialae CC like Kapalua, is on the coast, but it's characteristics are quite different as it's flat, has tree-lined fairways, plenty of OB and reasonably small greens (compared to Kapalua). Even more importantly the greens are pretty flat, but they are by no means a walkover. Indeed they are tricky from anywhere outside of 5 feet. The course also plays traditionally firm, with fairways some of the hardest hit to hit Tour. When all is said and done, with little wind forecast, Waialae is pretty easy to score around, as long as you hit plenty of greens - Walker hit 14/18 last term - and are comfortable with putting on Bermudagrass. 

I've taken the plunge on 4 players this week, as the prices have been quite generous. Jimmy Walker who goes for the rarest of 3-peats at the Sony is the rightful favourite at 16/1 in a few places. Near misses for me were Graeme McDowell (no course experience a turn-off) and Marc Leishman (back to back wins?). 

So I'm going into battle with Brandt Snedeker (28s), Russell Henley (35s) and Daniel Berger (45s) all 6 places each-way. I'm also including Johnson Wagner at 125s.