2015 Sony Open - Hawaii Preview

The bookmakers don't seem to miss a thing. Or do they?

It's not without reason that they have given Australian Jason Day odds of 12/1 and established him as their favourite to win this week's Sony Open at Waialae in Honolulu.

The absolutely stunning 11-under par 62 he fired in Monday's final round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions at Kapalua - his bogey-free, 11-birdie, course-record-tying charge took him just one shot short of making the play-off - was an excellent pointer to the fact that he looked super hot and more than ready to get the sparks flying again at Waialae.

Jimmy Walker, this week's defending champion and Monday's disappointed runner-up at Kapalua after allowing Patrick Reed to dismantle his four-stroke lead over the last four holes and beat him in the play-off, is the bookies' joint second favourite at 16/1, but I'm not so sure they are right about this one.

The pounding his confidence took at Kapalua is more likely to cost him than boost him and his big +300-yard drives won't be so important on the lush 7 044-yard, par-70 course at Waialae where this seaside layout's lack of length and its wide fairways make it relatively easy to hit the greens in regulation.

The weather, and the wind especially, wont be a factor this year - not according to our experts. It's going to be sunny with little wind and no rain so what will matter most, the course-wise pundits will tell you, is putting and despite what the bookies might think - they have him at 25/1 - this should bring former Masters champion and the 2009 Sony Open winner Zach Johnson slap bang into the picture.

His skill on the greeens has helped him win here before and he could well do it again.

The bookies have also made Matt Kuchar, 2014's WGC Accenture Match Play champion, their 2nd joint favourite along with Walker at 16/1, but here again I can see at least two players who seem to have the better credentials this week.

One of them is American Russel Henley who tied for third in the Hyundai TOC on Monday and perhaps, more important, set the current Sony tournament record of 256 when he won here two years ago. He certainly looks a good bet at 28/1

The other is fellow-American Chris Kirk who also posted a 62 at Kapalua on his way to a tie for 14th on Monday. Perhaps more important, however, was the fact that he was the runner-up to Walker here at Waialae last year. They've got him at 18/1.

In the game of golf, you can never be sure of anything. This was made clear on the closing stretches of both the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and the SA Open during the past weekend, but some other contestants that might be worth keeping an eye on at Waialae this weekend are South Africa's Tim Clark, American Charles Howell III and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama.

Few have pocketed as much prize money at Waialae as Howell. He's third in all-time earnings and way out in front of the non-winners. This from eight top 10s in 13 appearances, including each of last three. Watch him.

Clark is well suited to Waialae. He's got what it takes to win - consistency and a good feel on the greens. And Matsuyama, a six-time pro winner, is one of the Tour's top form player right now as his tie for third at Kapalua clearly indicates. Watch him too.

It has become almost common practice for a good many highly ranked players to double up during the PGA Tour stop in Hawaii, even though it means transferring from one end of the Hawaiian islands to the other. This year is no exception.

Hyundai winner Patrick Reed won't be there, but the Waialae field does include six of the world's 25 top-ranked players and all are among the two dozen contestants making the hop from Maui to Honolulu.

Something that might drive Walker to forget Monday and go for the island double is the fact that to date only one man, South Africa's celebrated Ernie Els, has won both Hawaiian tournaments back-to-back.

THE BOOKMAKERS ODDS ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON

TOP 10

Jason Day (Aus) 12/1
Jimmy Walker (USA) 16/1
Matt Kuchar (USA) 16/1
Chris Kirk (USA) 18/1
Hideki Matsuyama (Jap) 20/1
Zach Johnson (USA) 25/1
Russel Henley (USA) 28/1
Brendon Todd (USa) 33/1
Luke Donald (Eng) 33/1
Ryan Palmer (USA) 33/1
Tim Clark(RSA)33/1
Charles Howell (USA)33/1
Harris English (USA) 33/1

To get all the up-to-date bookmakers odds you should go to http://www.oddschecker.com/golf/sony-open/winner

For any feedback or ideas you are welcome to email: neville@golfweather.com.