Selections for the Sony Open and Bahamas Classic

Six picks across two events as the Korn Ferry Tour returns!

The first week of the new year is behind us and Collin Morikawa did everything bar win us some serious loot. Ultimately he was outplayed by Hideki Matsuyama but I’m not disheartened. This wasn’t a final round crumble; there were a few poor putts as the wind began to pick up, and just after Matsuyama got some fortune as he holed out from over a hundred yards out. I was pleased with how well he played all week and am still happy with our ante-post positions on him for the rest of the year. Byeong-hun An started a little slowly but played nicely on Sunday, ultimately he didn’t score heavily enough to compete but as you’ll see, I haven’t given up.

Two tournaments this week as the Korn Ferry starts with a new venue, but before that, another old favourite on the PGA rotation. Let’s get into it.

Sony Open in Hawaii Selections:

We’ve moved from Maui to Oahu for the second Hawaiian event in a row. This is the prestigious country club on the Eastern side of Honolulu, the state capital. It is a fairly old-fashioned course with some tight driving lines on a short (7,044 yard) par 70 course that has been hosting the PGA since the 1960s. As someone who unexpectedly fell in love with Hawaii when staying near the course, I’ve got a real fondness for it and I can see why the Tour get back there every winter. This is a tougher test than Kapalua last week but there’s very little about Waialae to trouble the professionals. Given the tight lines being accurate from the tee is somewhat helpful but good wedge play, excellent scrambling and good course form are the critical pieces. It looks like there’ll be some wind on Sunday but we can expect lower scoring than the last few years with calm conditions for the start of the tournament.

Matsuyama heads the market with most of the big names not staying for a second week. Given his exploits in winning this previously it wouldn’t be a stunner to see Hideki go close again but he’s not exactly a consistent golfer and even if he turns up, I wouldn’t be rushing to see him playing well again.

Of those at the top of the market it is Byeong-hun An who appeals the most. As mentioned last week, he was second here last year having been 12^th on debut, and he was solid enough in a harder field last week, his putting in particular improving as the week progressed. It’d be good to see him getting closer to the pins than he managed on Maui but that’s certainly within the range of likely outcomes at a course that suits his eye and for an elite iron player. I’ve little to add to my previous comments but I think he’s still one to stay on the right side of and the early 18/1 from Bet365 (now lengthened) looked a more realistic price than Skybet’s 25s, which is when I decided to go back in.

Another with great form in Hawaii is Chris Kirk, who won the 2024 Sentry and has been in the top three here three times in the last 11, and was 18^th last year. He’s another who didn’t perform brilliantly in the Sentry but is coming back from a long layoff and was defending his title. At a course he knows better, with no pressure and a week of play to knock off the rust, this accurate driver and strong scrambler can be expected to compete.

Finally, Harris English is a short-game and putting wizard who is consistently underrated, no doubt because over a long career he’s only picked up four wins on the PGA Tour. One of those was at the Sentry, however, whilst his record here includes a third and fourth place, as well as finishing tenth last year. He showed solid form in the fall series with three top-15 finishes from four starts, and it would be no surprise at all if he hit the ground running with another strong performance on a course that suits him so well.

Bahamas Golf Classic Selections:

Meet the new course… easier than the old course? The Korn Ferry again kicks off with two events in the Bahamas, and whilst the second is again the Great Abaco, we’re starting with the Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise Island (catchy) which replaces the Great Exuma Classic. This sees us moving to the heart of the Bahamas, in a tiny island just off the shore of downtown Nassau, the capital. It’s a resort course with a few lakes, a few bunkers, and a couple of holes where the Caribbean is in play, but basically nothing to worry players of this level. With winds expected to be low, we could see scoring that in no way resembles the tough tests we’ve come to expect early in the KFT season. Do, however, keep an eye on the wind as this event doesn’t start until Sunday and the forecast could change in the interim.

With little to go on (no course form and not too much information about the course) and a new group of players, this won’t be the longest preview. Although the course is shorte driving areas look generous so I’m keen to find some long hitters, but the priority is players who have a history of scoring birdies in bunches and finding players who seem overpriced compared to their levels of skill.

First of these is John Keefer, who I expected to see installed as favourite (as he has been by Sporting Index) but there was value in the initial 20/1 from Bet365. I talked about him in my pre-season preview, noting that “Another guy who turned pro in the summer of 2024 is Johnny Keefer, the former Baylor star immediately made noise on the PGA Tour of the Americas (a win, four seconds, and only once out of the top ten (19^th) in 11 starts). His final stage of qualifying saw two excellent rounds and he was 14^th overall, having finished 13^th at the Procore on his first PGA start. Expect plenty.” He’s simply a very talented young golfer on the rise and I don’t think he’ll be this price in many Korn Ferry events, especially where the lack of course experience isn’t a disadvantage.

Secondly, I’m picking the other player I plan to follow this season, albeit at a much longer price. Petr Hruby is another who slowed ability on the PGA Tour of the Americas, as well as shining in Q-school (where he won for us at a delicious 66/1 in the second stage) and playing well as a collegiate star on some windy courses in the Pacific Northwest. This is simply a price play as I believe he’s a better golfer than the bookies realise. Let’s hope he proves it this week.

Finally, I’m taking a player dropping back down from the PGA Tour, Seonghyeon Kim (listed as SH Kim with most bookies). He’s had a couple of mediocre seasons on the PGA Tour and narrowly lost his card (130^th) last year. His perforamcens in Texas (14^th at the Valero, 4^th at Craig Ranch) show that windswept resort courses suit him, and in his solitary season on the KFT (2002) he was third at the Great Abaco and 19^th at the Great Exuma. He’s at his best as a putter and scrambler and this sort of test at this sort of level should be well within his power. I expected to see him listed in the 33/1 – 40/1 range and was very happy to snap him up at these prices. In fact, he’s my most confident pick of the week.

Selections and multiples:

I think it is very unlikely that I’ll be adding to this weeks six picks; there’s no obvious reason to play the first-round leader market and there are no other tournaments that appeal as betting heats. So I’d recommend six little e/w doubles on the selections below. Best of luck!

Sony Open Selections:
Byeong-Hun An, 25/1
Chris Kirk, 50/1
Harris English, 60/1
All 1pt e/w, 1/5 odds 8 places, Skybet.

Bahamas Golf Classic Selections:
John Keefer 20/1
Seonghyeon (SH) Kim, 80/1
Petr Hruby, 175/1
All 1pt e/w, 1/4 odds 5 places, Bet365.