PGA Tour preview: Sony Open TV times and betting tips
The PGA Tour’s Hawaiian swing continues with the Sony Open, and after last week’s exploits I cannot wait for this one to begin. With an early win for the previews already in the bag, thanks in no small part to the greatest mullet-wielding gentleman on the planet, I am feeling confident I can continue our good run of results with this week’s selections. But before we get to my golf betting tips…
Sony Open in Hawaii details
Venue: Waialae Country Club, Hawaii, USA
Date: January 13-16, 2022
Course stats: Par 72; 7,044 yards
Course summary: This short track is a different test to last week’s venue, with a Harbour Town links vibe that requires accuracy and precision from players. Wind is the main defence here, with scoring very interchangeable dependent on the conditions. Average width, tree-lined Bermuda fairways lead to large Bermuda greens that often play slow. This is an old-school type test that requires accuracy from tee-to-green and consistently strong putting.
Purse: $6.6 million
Defending champion: Kevin Na (-21)
Sony Open in Hawaii TV coverage
Thursday: Sky Sports Golf from 5pm and Sky Sports Main Event from 6pm
Friday: Sky Sports Golf from 5pm and Sky Sports Main Event from 10.30pm
Saturday: Sky Sports Golf from 9pm
Sunday: Sky Sports Golf from 9pm
Sony Open in Hawaii golf betting tips
Bazza’s Banker: Webb Simpson – 3pt e/w @ 16/1 with bet365
The phrase ‘horses for courses’ springs to mind for this selection, as Simpson certainly loves it around Waialae. In his last three visits he has finished inside the top-4, and his finished 13th or better every year since 2015.
Simpson’s recent form has been quietly impressive, with three top-15 finishes in his last six starts. He is also hitting the ball extremely well, ranking 8th for SG: Tee-to-green in the last three months. With this being a strategists course, his strong form at Harbour Town also increases his appeal in the betting. While Cam Smith is a worthy favourite, Simpson might not let him have it all his own way this week.
The Each-Way Play: Marc Leishman – 1.5pt e/w @ 22/1 with bet365
Off the back of tipping an Aussie winner last week, I am hoping I can quickly repeat through Leishman. I tipped Leishman last week as I cannot resist him in current form, and while he didn’t return any profit for us, he certainly put in a bold show. That performance bought him another week on my selection sheet, and I am quietly confident he will suit this test a little better.
Leishman has twice finished inside the top-4 in his last three visits to this track, and his recent form makes for interesting reading. Two top-5s and a top-10 finish in his last five events make him one of the form players on tour, and when you consider that he ranks 16th for SG: Putting in the last three months he certainly makes a case for selection. At a reasonable price, I am backing Leishman to return the Aussie double.
The Outsider: Kramer Hickok – 0.5pt e/w @ 150/1 with bet365
Hickok caught me eye in this event last season, and while he is a big price, I think he offers plenty of each-way value. His performance in 2021, where he finished T19th along with the likes of Hideki Matsuyama, saw him rank 11th for SG: Tee-to-green and 9th for SG: Off-the-tee. Bizarrely, it was his putting – which has been the strongest aspect of his game in recent weeks – that let him down on that occasion.
A 4th place finish at the Houston Open two starts ago leads me to believe he is close enough, and If things click for Kramer I can see him having a good go at this with a three-figure price in tow.
For more prices, visit bet365.
