The Sentry Tournament of Champions: Who’s hot?
By Bill Felber
The tri-favorites
- Xander Schauffele, -1.11
- Bryson deChambeau, -1.25
- Dustin Johnson; -1.77
We are now at two years and counting with respect to Schauffele’s absence from the winner’s circle. But for the Covid extension, he wouldn’t even be in the field. No matter, Schauffele’s recent portfolio is first-rate. It includes a fifth at the U.S. Open, a runner-up at the CJ Cup, and top 20s at the Zozo and the Masters. In just those 16 rounds, all against Major or international fields, Schauffele is 36-under par.
DeChambeau’s fall obviously was highlighted by his dominant six-stroke win at Winged Foot. He followed that with a t8 at the Shriners, then rested up for the Masters, where he performed indifferently.
That’s the thing about DeChambeau: He can be overpowering, as his two victories since the restart demonstrate. Yet he can also be inconsistent. At Augusta, a course that seemed tailor-made for his power game, he came home an indifferent 22nd. DeChambeau can never be counted out, and the ideal scenario at Kapalua would be a showdown between DeChambeau and Johnson.
For what it’s worth, nobody comes in hotter than Johnson. But you knew that. His three starts this season include a tie for sixth at the Open and a tie for second at Houston in addition to his five-stroke romp at the Masters.
Since the FedEx St. Jude in early August, Johnson has started eight events. He’s won three of them with seconds at the BMW, PGA and Houston and nothing worse than that tie for 12th at the FedEx. Here’s how dominant Johnson has been. He leads the FedEx Cup points race by 250 points, leads in scoring average by a stroke and a half, and – with $3.1 million in the bank already – leads in cash by a cool half million dollars.