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The Sentry Tournament of Champions: Who’s hot?

By Bill Felber

Nov 15, 2020; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Bryson DeChambeau plays his shot from the tenth tee during the final round of The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National GC. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2020; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Bryson DeChambeau plays his shot from the tenth tee during the final round of The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National GC. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tony Finau was winless again in 2020. But hey, he’s never boring and maybe this will be the week.Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
Tony Finau was winless again in 2020. But hey, he’s never boring and maybe this will be the week.Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports /

Third-level favorites

  • Tony Finau, -0.49
  • Patrick Cantlay, -0.49
  • Jon Rahm, -0.0
  • Joaquin Niemann, -0.63
  • Harris English; -0.71
  • Viktor Hovland, -0.71

Speaking of enigmatic figures, does that description fit anyone better than Tony Finau? He hasn’t won in five seasons, but Finau seems weekly at least on the fringes of contention. His five starts this season include ties for eighth at the Open and Mayakoba, plus a strong showing at the Zozo.

Rahm approached $6 million in 2020, a season that produced two wins, six top fives and nine top 10s.  His 2021 campaign has started well with a tie for 2nd at the Zozo and a tie for seventh at Augusta.

Niemann is a longshot who has played consistently this fall. His seven starts include only one finish outside the top 25 highlighted by a sixth at the CJ Cup.

Hovland is coming off a victory at Mayakoba and might be as hot a bet as any to land a top 15. He was t15 at Houston, t12 at the CJ Cup and t13 at Winged Foot.

Do not overlook English, who enjoyed a superb autumn. Fourth at Winged Foot, he was 10th at the CJ Cup, t6 at the RSM and t5 at Mayakoba. Nobody else on Tour can boast four top 10s this season. He is 57-under-par for the season.

Cantlay would rank among the hottest players coming in but for a modest t38 at the CJ Cup. He preceded that with a t8 at the Shriners, and followed it by winning the Zozo. His drawback has been an inability to show up big at the Majors: He was 43rd at the Open and 17th  at the Masters.

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