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2021 Sentry Tournament of Champions: Top 10 power rankings at Kapalua

By Mike Randleman

Jan 6, 2019; Maui, HI, USA; The Kapalua butterfly logo in the landscape located near the first hole during the final round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament at Kapalua Resort - The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 6, 2019; Maui, HI, USA; The Kapalua butterfly logo in the landscape located near the first hole during the final round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament at Kapalua Resort - The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 10, 2020; Dublin, Ohio, USA; PGA Viktor Hovland on the tenth tee during the second round of the Workday Charity Open golf tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10, 2020; Dublin, Ohio, USA; PGA Viktor Hovland on the tenth tee during the second round of the Workday Charity Open golf tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /

Norway’s Viktor Hovland is seeking to become the first player to win the Tournament of Champions in his debut since fellow Scandinavian Daniel Chopra of Sweden won in 2008.

Course knowledge at a place like Kapalua is key, but Viktor Hovland has showed time and time again he can find a way to high finishes regardless of familiarity.

Hovland won in the PGA Tour’s last tournament a month ago at the Mayakoba Golf Classic for his second win in as many seasons  The 23 year old fought off nerves down the stretch to win by one over Aaron Wise and to beat out chasers like Tony Finau and Justin Thomas.

It was nice to see Hovland put it all together in one week. Well, almost all of it. A poor short game player stayed that way at 71st in strokes gained around the green, but his usual ball elite ball striking was amplified. He was inside the top 13 in driving accuracy and driving distance while making a field-best 25 birdies

It had to be a big boost for the former Oklahoma State standout who was playing good, but not great, golf since June. Hovland was raking in the top-25s but cracked the top 10 just once before breaking through in Mexico.

Hovland was running on fumes to tee it up the week after Mayakoba across the globe at the European Tour’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. He held it together to contend on Sunday and finish just two back in a tie for third.

The future European Ryder Cup member ranked 11th last season on Tour in strokes gained off the tee (.767) and was top 40 in par-5 scoring (4.51).

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