Sony Open.
Second leg of the Hawaii Swing but this is a full field event on a very different course to last weeks Mercedes. This shorter, tighter course rewards accuracy over power (though big hitters have done well recently) and the fact that it will be windy for all 4 days means that the grip it and rip it merchants should struggle. The weather forecast suggests that Thursday afternoon will see the worst of the wind, so those going out early may enjoy an advantage.
Vijay Singh looks hard to oppose until you consider that his putting from short range was poor enough to cost him the title last week and 9/2 is very short for a dodgy putter. The fact that he will no doubt be grilled by the press about Michele Wie taking part (Singh has objected to women playing in men’s events) may prove a distraction. It is 11 events since Vijay won on the tour and his course record is good rather than excellent and at 9/2 you would like to see big ticks in all the right boxes.
0.5 point e/w Chad Campbell @ 40/1 generally available.
won 4.5 points
Chad was a bit disappointing in 2005 but still scored 5 top 10’s and finished the season well with a runner up spot in the Chrysler. He has an early tee off on Thursday and is regarded has having a good game in windy conditions and was ranked 20th for GIR in 2005.
0.5 point e/w Harrison Frazar @ 80/1 with Stan James
lost 1 point
Still to win his first PGA event but came close here in 2004 when finishing second, losing a play-off to Els. One of the few players who can hit his driver long and pretty straight he could take advantage of a good early tee time when the wind will not be at its strongest. He finished 2005 in great form with figures of 17/8/3/3 and if he comes here with his game in similar nick, that 80/1 will look very generous.
1 point e/w David Toms @ 20/1 generally available.
won 25 points
4th and 13th in his last 2 outings here, Toms is one of the real class acts in the field. Played the first 2 rounds very well last week before a 3rd round 79 saw his chances evaporate. He hits the ball straight, is a good putter, has course form and had last week to get used to windy conditions. Despite finishing 5th on last years money list he remains under-rated by many and 20/1 is a bigger price than I expected to see. Another with an early tee off, but you can only hope that playing with the crocked Faxon and the pathetic figure of David Duval does not drag his game down.
6 points Carl Pettersson to beat Sean O’Hair @ 9/10 with Totesport.
won 5.45 points
O’Hair is possibly a little over rated as he received a lot of press for overcoming life with a mad dad. He is good but his form at the end of 2005 was solid rather than spectacular and he was eclipsed by the play of Pettersson who, largely unnoticed, finished the year with form figures of 15/1/2/21 and in the process finished ahead of O’Hair in their last 6 mutual events. O’Hair was abysmal in the Mercedes last week, a full 13 shots behind Pettersson who had 3 good rounds but his score was ruined by an 85 in Rd2 and with windy weather forecast the more substantial frame of the Swede should be more suited to the conditions.
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