There’s no better setting to start the 2021 season than the idyllic island of Maui in the Hawaiian Islands chain, no nicer place than posh Kapalua Resort and it’s newly-renovated Plantation Course.
World’s No. 1 Dustin Johnson leads a field of 43 players as the Tournament of Champions gets going on Thursday, a prime-time television event with some prime-time players alongside D.J.
Johnson is the pre-tournament favorite. He’s been over there since the day after Christmas but admitted to getting in a lot of family time and beach time. Johnson said his week that he’s getting back to work. “My game is about where it normally is this time of year,” he reported. He’s had nice success on the Plantation course calling it “A good golf course to be a little rusty on.”
D.J.’s right. Fairways are generous and there are a lot of birdie opportunities although early forecasts have winds blowing up to 20 miles per hour for at least three of the four days. Those winds can be very unpredictable. They may call for 15-20 mile-per-hour breezes but they can instantly go 25-to-30. That’s the unknown factor.
Last year, Justin Thomas shot 14-under for 72 holes and tied with Xander Schauffele and Patrick Reed. Schauffele was out after the first hole of the playoff and it was J.T. prevailing on the third extra hole. We have Thomas as a co-favorite with D.J.
Here are some players who should be in the thick of it come Sunday:
Patrick Reed: His game looked sharp at the end of last year. His short game is spot-on, look for him to be a factor again this week.
Xander Schauffele: As we indicated earlier, he went out of the playoff after the first hole of the 2020 championship. He’ll feel like he has unfinished business this week. Schauffele may not be back to 100 percent, he revealed upon arrival at Kapalua that he has battled COVID, he caught the bug but is clear to play this week.
Bryson DeChambeau: No telling where he’ll hit some of his drives this week but if you get on the wrong line, your ball can end up in grass as high as your chest.
Jon Rahm: Normally Rahm would be one of the top guys but he’s made the equipment switch to Callaway. The clubs are rarely an issue. What takes some getting-used-to is the new golf ball and he’s using the Callaway Chrome Soft X ball as well, a move from the TaylorMade TP-5. What Rahm hasn’t done yet is switched to new wedges and putter. He kept his TaylorMade wedges and putter in the bag.
Hideki Matsuyama: He’s played well here in the past and his game was really turning around late last year. Could be a factor this week.
Patrick Cantlay: When the winds blow, go with a solid ball-striker and he’s very solid.
What’s important regarding this event is that the winners of the past four Tournament of Champions have gone on to finish in the top five in FedEx Cup points at the end of the season.
TOC Broadcast Times:
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 6-10PM ET, Golf Channel
Sunday: 4-6PM ET, NBC Sports; 6-8PM ET, Golf Channel
