The 2024 PGA Tour season kicks off with The Sentry, formerly known as the Sentry Tournament of Champions. This invite-only event is reserved for players who have won a tournament on Tour since the previous year’s edition and the top 50 finishers in the FedExCup.
This year’s field features 59 players including Twenty-one of the top 25 players in the Official World Golf Ranking. This is the largest field this event has ever seen as it’s been expanded from last year’s event (39).
It is the first Signature Event of the year and marks the start of Opening Drive, a two-week kick-off to the season. The TOUR’s two Hawaii events, The Sentry and next week’s Sony Open in Hawaii, represent the starting point for most players’ seasons and highlight the cadence of Signature and Full-Field events that will define the 2024 season.
Let’s get into this week’s storylines…
Viktor Hovland, the winner of the FedEx Cup last season, returns to action after finishing 10th in the Hero World Challenge. This will be his fourth appearance in this event with his best finish coming last year (T18).
Rickie Fowler will make his fifth appearance at Kapalua and first since 2020. He has some impressive course history finishing T6 or better in his four previous starts at this event. Fowler has played twice since the TOUR Championship, finishing T64 at the ZOZO Championship and 17th at the Hero World Challenge.
Jon Rahm, the previous winner of The Sentry will not be in attendance this week as he has decided to join the LIV Tour. The past two winners of this event have left the PGA Tour to join the rival tour so something to keep an eye out for.
Another notable absentee this week is Rory McIlroy who has decided to skip this first signature event of the 2024 season. He said, “I’m not a huge Hawaii guy, so I’ll probably not go to Hawaii.” Along with The Sentry, he will miss next week’s event the Sony Open, and make his debut at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
- Dates: January 4th, 2024 – January 7th, 2024
- Location: Kapalua, Hawaii, United States
- Course: Plantation Course at Kapalua
- Course Type: Coastal
- Par: 73 (3x 3’s / 11x 4’s / 4x 5’s)
- Length: 7,596 Yards
- Format: 72-hole stroke play
- Greens: TifEagle bermudagrass .110”
- Fairways: Celebration bermudagrass .375”
- Rough: Celebration bermudagrass 2.5”
- Bunkers: 93
- Water Hazard(s): 0 (In-Play on 0 Holes)
- Average Green Size: 8,722 sq. ft.
- Stimpmeter: 11 ft.
- Purse/ Winner: $20,000,000 /$3,600,000
- FedEx Cup Points: 700
- Field/ Cut: 59 Pros | No Cut
- Playoff Format: Sudden Death | Hole 18 (repeat)
- Course Scoring Average:
- 2023: 68.92 (-4.08), Rank 49 of 49
- 2022: 68.22 (-4.78), Rank 50 of 50
- 2021: 69.32 (-3.68), Rank 51 of 51
Course Architect:
- Course Architect: Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (1991)
- Renovations: Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (2019)
Comparable Courses & Greens:
- Comparable Courses:
- Designer Link (Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw):
- Riviera Country Club – Renovation 1992 – The Genesis Invitational
- Comparable Location (Kapalua, Hawaii):
- Waialae Country Club – Honolulu, Hawaii – Sony Open in Hawaii
- Comparable Yardage (7,596 Yards):
- Muirfield Village Golf Club – 7,533 Yards – the Memorial Tournament
- Quail Hollow Club – 7,521 Yards – Wells Fargo Championship
- Comparable Greens (TifEagle bermudagrass .110”):
- PGA WEST (Nicklaus Course) – TifEagle bermudagrass .110” – The American Express
- Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge – TifEagle bermudagrass .110” – Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Comparable Average Green Size (8,722 sq. ft.):
- El Cardonal at Diamante – 8,300 sq. ft. – World Wide Technology Championship
TV Information:
- Round 1: Thursday, January 4th, 2024
- Golf Channel – 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Round 2: Friday, January 5th, 2024
- Golf Channel – 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Round 3: Saturday, January 6th, 2024
- NBC – 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Golf Channel – 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Round 4: Sunday, January 7th, 2024
- NBC – 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Golf Channel – 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Thursday: Partly Cloudy 81 F, 17 mp/h ENE, 65% Humidity, 9% Chance of Rain
- Friday: Partly Cloudy 80 F, 14 mp/h ENE, 69% Humidity, 17% Chance of Rain
- Saturday: Sunny 80 F, 17 mp/h ENE, 70% Humidity, 14% Chance of Rain
- Sunday: Mostly Sunny 79 F, 8 mp/h N, 71% Humidity, 7% Chance of Rain
Course/ Tournament History:
The tournament was originally founded in 1953 and was previously restricted to golfers who had won a tournament on tour during the previous calendar year. However, this year it will feature an increased field with several other top players earning exemptions.
The Sentry Tournament of Champions has been held during the first week of January since 1999. It was that year that the event was moved to its current location at the Kapalua Resort.
This event has undergone several different title sponsors and venues in addition to format changes. From 2012-2015 it used a Friday-Monday format to not compete against the NFL schedule.
The 2024 edition will feature its largest prize pool ever and will increase the winner’s share to $3.6 Million from last year’s $2.7 Million. In addition to the major increase in money, the FedEx Cup Points offered have also jumped up to 700.
The Plantation Course is located at the Kapalua Resort on the island of Maui, Hawaii, USA. It was designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore and is known for its dramatic elevation changes and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. The course features wide fairways, large and undulating greens, and challenging bunkers. The layout takes advantage of the natural terrain, with holes that wind through the slopes of the West Maui Mountains. One of the most famous holes on the Plantation Course is the par-5 18th hole, which plays downhill and offers panoramic views of the ocean.
- Most Wins at Event:
- 5, Jack Nicklaus (1963, 1964, 1971, 1973, 1977)
- 72-Hole Record:
- 258, Cameron Smith (2022)
- 18-Hole Record:
- 61, Jon Rahm (3rd round, 2022), Justin Thomas (3rd round, 2022), Matt Jones (4th round, 2022)
Course Guide/ Scorecard:
The Plantation Course at Kapalua is arguably one of the most gorgeous tracks on the PGA Tour. It sits on the shores of Maui offering stunning views from most holes.
That being said, it’s also one of the easiest courses on Tour as seen by the previous year’s scoring averages. This event is what most touts like to call a “birdie-fest” as the winning scores have all been around -20 or below. The only outlier came back in 2020 when Justin Thomas won this tournament with a -14. In 2020, the wind was a major factor and should be similar to what we’re supposed to see this weekend, so I’m betting we see a winning score around -15/-16. Superbook currently has the 72-hole winning score set at 265.5 (-26.5) which seems high given the weather conditions as I mentioned before. If I had to place a bet on it, I would guess we see a winning score over this number.
The main defense of the course is the winds, as it sits on the coastline but, also the elevation changes. This course has the largest amount of elevation changes on Tour which can cause blind approach shots.
The course underwent significant renovations in 2019, led by architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. The changes were aimed at modernizing the course while preserving its unique characteristics. The tee boxes were moved back, bunkers were repositioned, and most greens were re-contoured. Despite all these changes to make the course more difficult, the past two winners have finished at -34 and -27.
The Plantation Course is the only Par 73 we’ll see on Tour all year and is a bomber’s paradise playing roughly 7,600 yards. The course features 5 Par 5’s all of which play over 525 yards with the 18th playing an astounding 677 yards. Despite this being one of the longer courses on tour, the elevation does have to be accounted for as the 18th is still reachable in two for some players.
The three Par 3’s range from 161 to 219 yards. Last year, all of the par 3’s had a scoring average under par.
No. 8, 199 yards, Par 3: “The eighth is a middle iron par three playing across a native canyon to a receptive green. The green that slopes back-to-front and right-to-left was built to hold and nurse the ball to the left, given the strong trade winds from the right.”
No. 11, 161 yards, Par 3: “The last par three of the course demands and rewards thought and finesse. The desired tee shot is a short iron that either “cuts” and “holds” into the wind blowing from the player’s right shoulder or one that allows for drift and uses the approach and slope of the green for assistance. A shot flown directly to the back left pin will not likely be tried more than once as holding the green is very tough due to the difficulty in holding the sloping green.”
There are eleven Par 4’s at Kapalua with the majority of those holes ranging between 400 and 450 yards. In terms of scoring average, the toughest Par 4 last year was No. 13 (+0.085).
No. 6, 424 yards, Par 4: “Another hole representative of earlier architectural forms, the sixth is a spectacular and mysterious par four affording alternate routes to the green. Playing through strong crossing winds from the right, the ideal tee shot is one played more dangerously, powerfully, and accurately across the cliffs to the right side of the fairway. From there, the player will be afforded an adequate view of the green. Those choosing the more conservative left-side route will have to play their approaches to a green unseen over the hill. Check the hole location as there is a spine that runs down the middle of the green, and if you are on the wrong side a 2 putt will be a premium.”
No. 13, 383 yards, Par 4: “The most difficult par four on the course, the thirteenth is a long hole made longer and more difficult by the prevailing trade winds. Low, boring tee shots and long iron or fairway wood approaches are necessary to reach this deep and deceptive green in regulation. Putts numbering three or more will also be commonplace given the green’s size and slope and the wind’s effects.”
There are four Par 5’s on the course, No. 5, No. 9, No. 15, and No. 18. All of these holes had a scoring average under par in 2023. No. 5 was the easiest par 5 on the course last year with a scoring average of 0.928 below par.
No. 5, 526 yards, Par 5: “The fifth hole of The Plantation Course is a natural and daring par five that slopes from left to right all the way. A bunker was added in the middle of the fairway during the 2019 refinement. An example of the classical “cape” concept of golf architecture, the fairway culminates at a green perched on a peninsula high above the canyon that borders the entire right side of the hole. The nature of the hole entices the player to “have a go” after a fine drive. Courage, but not foolhardiness, is rewarded here.”
No. 18, 677 yards, Par 5: “One of the most famous holes in all of golf, 18 is the hole around which the rest of the course was created. The eighteenth is an extremely long downhill, downwind par five. Despite its length, the hole is made reachable in two powerful blows by the assisting winds and slope. The fairway and green are large and receptive, yet difficult to judge, owing to the vast panorama and scale of the background. The eighteenth is probably the most scenic, spectacular, and representative of all the holes at The Plantation Course. Its scale and drama are uncommon and its challenge is within reason, while its surrounding beauty is unparalleled.”
Featured/ Signature Hole(s): 18
For a hole-by-hole overview of the course, you can click the following link.
Key Statistics:
- Strokes Gained: Approach
- Driving Distance
- Strokes Gained: Putting (Bermudagrass)
- Birdies or Better Gained
- Par 4 Scoring: 400 – 450 Yards (x4)
- Par 5 Scoring: 500 – 550 Yards (x3)
- Proximity: 200-225 Yards
- Comparable Courses and Event History
The Field/ Odds:
There will be 59 players competing in this year’s tournament. Twenty-one of the top 25 players in the Official World Golf Ranking are in the field. Here are the current favorites in this week’s event:
Scottie Scheffler (+550) won the Hero World Challenge in his first event back following the TOUR Championship where he finished T6. It was the first time he’s gained strokes putting his his last six starts. He’ll be making his third appearance at Kapalua this week. He finished T7 (2023) and T13 (2022) in his two previous starts.
Viktor Hovland (+900) will make his fourth appearance in this event with his best finish coming last year (T18). He’s played three times since winning the TOUR Championship, twice on the DP World Tour, and most recently at the Hero World Challenge where he finished 10th.
Patrick Cantlay (+1200) will play in his first event following the TOUR Championship last year. He had a disappointing 2023 season by his standards finishing without a win for the first time since 2020. This will be his sixth appearance at this event with his best finishes coming in 2022 and 2020 (4th).
Max Homa (+1200) has played three times since finishing T9 in the TOUR Championship. He finished T7 at the Fortinet Championship, won the Nedbank Golf Challenge on the DP World Tour, and T13 at the Hero World Challenge. This will be his fourth appearance at this event with his best finish coming last year (T3).
Collin Morikawa (+1200) will make his fifth appearance at Kapalua. He has some impressive course history finishing T7 or better in his four previous starts at this event. Morikawa has played twice since the TOUR Championship finishing winning the ZOZO Championship and 7th at the Hero World Challenge.
- Previous Winners in the Field:
- Harris English (’21), Xander Schauffele (’19), Jordan Spieth (’16)
- Debutants in the Field:
- Akshay Bhatia, Davis Riley, Nick Hardy, Kurt Kitayama, Lee Hodges, Ludvig Aberg, Matt Wallace, Nico Echavarria, Taylor Moore, Vincent Norrman, Wyndham Clark, Byeong Hun An, Eric Cole, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Denny McCarthy, Patrick Rodgers, and Adam Schenk
- Notable Withdraws:
- None
To see the most up-to-date odds, you can click the following link.
To see the full field for this event and how they qualified, you can click the following link.
Horses for Courses:
| The Sentry | Sentry Tournament of Champions | Sentry Tournament of Champions | Sentry Tournament of Champions | Sentry Tournament of Champions | Sentry Tournament of Champions | |
| Plantation Course at Kapalua | Plantation Course at Kapalua | Plantation Course at Kapalua | Plantation Course at Kapalua | Plantation Course at Kapalua | Plantation Course at Kapalua | |
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
| Collin Morikawa | 2 | T5 | T7 | T7 | – | – |
| Sungjae Im | T13 | T8 | T5 | – | – | – |
| Scottie Scheffler | T7 | – | T13 | – | – | – |
| Patrick Cantlay | T16 | 4 | T13 | 4 | – | T15 |
| Rickie Fowler | – | – | – | T5 | – | T4 |
| Jordan Speith | T13 | T21 | – | – | – | 9 |
| Xander Schauffele | WD | 12 | T5 | T2 | WON | T22 |
Donkeys for Courses:
“Horses for Courses” is a phrase that is widely used and describes the best course/tournament fits. These are the players that have had success at the particular course/event. “Donkeys for Courses” is something I came up with that highlights the players who have struggled at a specific course/tournament.
| The Sentry | Sentry Tournament of Champions | Sentry Tournament of Champions | Sentry Tournament of Champions | Sentry Tournament of Champions | Sentry Tournament of Champions | |
| Plantation Course at Kapalua | Plantation Course at Kapalua | Plantation Course at Kapalua | Plantation Course at Kapalua | Plantation Course at Kapalua | Plantation Course at Kapalua | |
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
| Viktor Hovalnd | T18 | T30 | T31 | – | – | – |
| Sahith Theegala | 33 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Nick Taylor | – | – | T29 | – | – | – |
| Lucas Glover | – | T35 | – | – | – | – |
| Keegan Bradley | 34 | – | – | – | T27 | – |
| Adam Svensson | 37 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Adam Hadwin | – | – | – | – | – | 32 |
Previous Winners Scores & Prices:
- 2023: Jon Rahm (-27)
- Price: 7-1
- 2022: Cameron Smith (-34)
- Price: 28-1
- 2021: Harris English (-25)
- Price: 33-1
- 2020: Justin Thomas (-14)
- Price: 11-2
- 2019: Xander Schauffele (-23)
- Price: 22-1
Previous Winners Incoming Form (Last 5 Starts):
- 2023: Jon Rahm
- T8 – Hero World Challenge (PGA)
- T4 – THE CJ CUP in South Carolina (PGA)
- WON – DP World Tour Championship (EUR)
- WON – acciona Open de Espana (EUR)
- T2 – BMW PGA Championship (EUR)
- 2022: Cameron Smith
- T4 – The RSM Classic (PGA)
- T15 – Hewlett Packard Enterprise Houston Open (PGA)
- T9 – THE CJ CUP (PGA)
- T14 – TOUR Championship (PGA)
- T34 – BMW Championship (PGA)
- 2021: Harris English
- T5 – Mayakoba Golf Classic (PGA)
- T6 – The RSM Classic (PGA)
- T28 – ZOZO Championship (PGA)
- 10 – THE CJ CUP (PGA)
- MC – Shriners Hospitals for Children Open (PGA)
- 2020: Justin Thomas
- T5 – Hero World Challenge (PGA)
- T17 – ZOZO Championship (PGA)
- WON – THE CJ CUP (PGA)
- T4 – Safeway Open (PGA)
- T3 – TOUR Championship (PGA)
- 2019: Xander Schauffele
- T8 – Hero World Challenge (PGA)
- WON – WGC-HSBC Champions (PGA)
- T48 – THE CJ CUP (PGA)
- 25 – CIMB Classic (PGA)
- T16 – DP World Tour Championship, Dubai (EUR)
Previous Winners Finishes at Event:
- 2023: Jon Rahm
- 2022 – 2
- 2021 – T7
- 2020 – 10
- 2019 – T8
- 2018 – 2
- 2022: Cameron Smith
- 2021 – T24
- 2018 – T17
- 2021: Harris English
- 2014 – T11
- 2020: Justin Thomas
- 2019 – 3
- 2018 – T22
- 2017 – WON
- 2016 – T21
- 2019: Xander Schauffele
- 2018 – T22
Picks (Outrights):
- Collin Morikawa (+1200) – BetMGM
- Risk: 0.67 to win 8.04 Units
- Matthew Fitzpatrick (+3000) – BetMGM
- Risk: 0.27 to win 8.10 Units
- Tom Kim (+3000) – FanDuel
- Risk: 0.27 to win 8.10 Units
Total Risk on Outrights: 1.21 Units
Picks (Top 10):
- Max Homa (+100) – BetMGM
- Risk: 1.00 to win 1.00 Units
Total Risk on Top 10s: 1.00 Units
Picks (Top 20):
- Eric Cole (+138) – BetMGM
- Risk: 1.00 to win 1.38 Units
- Cameron Davis (+150) – BetMGM
- Risk: 1.00 to win 1.38 Units
Total Risk on Top 20s: 2.00 Units
As always, all of my placement bets are through BetMGM as they’re one of the only books without dead-heat rules. If you’d like to bet these placements at BetMGM, you can get up to $1500 in Bonus Bets if you don’t win if you’re a first-time user.
Here’s my link to sign up at BetMGM!
Total Risk on The Sentry: 4.21 Units
Best of luck, and as always you can find me on Twitter @GatorBetting and Instagram @Gator_Sports_Betting. Any feedback whether positive or negative is always encouraged.
