Sentry Tournament of Champions: Top 10 power rankings at Kapalua

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LAHAINA, HI – JANUARY 08: Justin Thomas of the United States celebrates with the trophy on the 18th green after winning during the final round of the SBS Tournament of Champions at the Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Club on January 8, 2017 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

Even missing nearly two months in the spring due to a wrist injury, Justin Thomas was still one of the most productive golfers of 2019. He hit his stride at the tail end of the major championship season (T-9 in Scotland and T-11 at the Open) and proceeded to rattle off four straight top-10s, including wins at the BMW Championship and the CJ Cup.

The 26-year-old has 10 straight top-17 finishes going back to July. His last stroke-play event netted a T-5 at the Hero World Challenge in early December. What’s freshest on golf fans’ minds is the Presidents Cup, where JT had a 3-1-1 record. It’s worth noting he was boosted to two wins playing with Tiger Woods and lost his singles match 2&1 to Cameron Smith.

But he was far from the worst player at this event and did OK on a course that challenged a lot of American players of his ilk.

Fortunately for Thomas, his ilk is welcome at Kapalua.

That’s evidenced by his win in 2017 by three (67-67-67-69) and solo third in 2019 (67-72-70-65). This is his fifth straight appearance at Kapalua. The consistency all Tour pros dream of.

Thomas has also won the Sony Open in Hawaii, so clearly the jet lag and Bermuda greens are no match.

The University of Alabama product finished fourth on Tour in total strokes gained last season (1.631). He had an uncharacteristically poor putting year (144th, -.186) but was solid everywhere else.

Everyone will have new greens to learn, so I like Thomas’ approach game (2nd. .895) to give him an advantage this week.

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