Sentry Tournament of Champions preview and betting tips
Sentry Tournament of Champions top selections
Dustin Johnson demolished the field 12 months ago and his ruthless hitting on this wide course rightly sees the former World No. 1 installed as the 5/1 favourite.
But I’m looking away from the American and to a Spaniard who is surely going to enjoy a massive year.
Given the record of rookies on this course, Jon Rahm’s (15/2) runner-up finish last year – albeit someway short of DJ – was an impressive show.
Scores of 71, 70, 66 and 69 indicated to me a player getting to know and then exploiting his increasing course knowledge.
He should come here in great confidence given the way he finished off the Hero World Challenge at the start of December.
Brooks Koepka had a hellish time in Hawaii 12 months ago – finishing dead last at +13 and recording two 78s.
But you can completely forget that form, as the American spent much of the next few months off with the wrist injury that caused him to miss the Masters.
As we know, both the US Open and PGA Championship titles followed and he is already off the mark this season thanks to victory at the CJ Cup.
Brooks often complains of not being given the respect he deserves and, with some firms offering prices as big as 11/1 on the three time major champion this week, he may have a point.
We might be able to cash in on that. Koepka finished 3rd here on his only other appearance in 2016 – helped by a third-round 63.
His devastating length and solid putting can bring this course and tricky greens to their knees, while anyone who was at Shinnecock Hills on that third round Saturday at the US Open knows he can handle a breeze.
He deserves to be up with the favourites, not double the price of them.
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Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
