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Power Rankings: Sentry Tournament of Champions
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December 31, 2018
By Rob Bolton, PGATOUR.COM
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Top 10
Shots on the PGA TOUR in 2018
All right. Holiday break time is over. It's time to get back to work.
"Work." Ha. Yeah, right. The Sentry Tournament of Champions is the reward for scaling the mountain, not the arduous climb to its summit.
The ironically steep Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort on Maui is the site of the mass celebration for the most challenging tournament for which to qualify on the PGA TOUR. Only winners register upon arrival, 34 will compete and there is no cut.
Continue reading beneath the ranking for information on the tournament, the host course and more.
POWER RANKINGS: SENTRY TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONSRANK PLAYER COMMENT 15 
Bubba Watson First official start since the TOUR Championship in September. Mixed results at Kapalua include a trio of top 10s in six starts. One of the best lag putters throughout his career.First official start since the TOUR Championship in September. Mixed results at Kapalua include a trio of top 10s in six starts. One of the best lag putters throughout his career.14 
Brandt Snedeker Inviting fairways and greens neutralize his tee-to-green inconsistency. It's been evident in his results with a pair of third-place finishes and nothing worse than a T14 in five trips.Inviting fairways and greens neutralize his tee-to-green inconsistency. It's been evident in his results with a pair of third-place finishes and nothing worse than a T14 in five trips.13 
Rory McIlroy Although he's qualified six times prior, he headlines the class of nine debutants at Kapalua. The promise of 72 holes in a limited field accentuates him as a threat despite the inexperience.Although he's qualified six times prior, he headlines the class of nine debutants at Kapalua. The promise of 72 holes in a limited field accentuates him as a threat despite the inexperience.12 
Francesco Molinari After his historic, four-month stretch into early autumn, his late-year fade is understandable. Now rested for six weeks, he returns to Kapalua for the first time since a T15 in 2011.After his historic, four-month stretch into early autumn, his late-year fade is understandable. Now rested for six weeks, he returns to Kapalua for the first time since a T15 in 2011.11 
Matt Kuchar Wasted no time in acknowledging that he went "from Hola to Aloha" when clinching victory at Mayakoba in November. This is his seventh appearance but first in four years. Four top 10s.Wasted no time in acknowledging that he went "from Hola to Aloha" when clinching victory at Mayakoba in November. This is his seventh appearance but first in four years. Four top 10s.10 
Bryson DeChambeau Four wins since a 26th-place finish in his debut a year ago, three of which in his last five official starts. You know he loves the challenge of solving the extremes of Kapalua.Four wins since a 26th-place finish in his debut a year ago, three of which in his last five official starts. You know he loves the challenge of solving the extremes of Kapalua.9 
Gary Woodland Back for the first time in five years, he's recently elevated to a new level of consistency that yielded nine top 25s in his last 11 official starts. Powerful and precise tee to green.Back for the first time in five years, he's recently elevated to a new level of consistency that yielded nine top 25s in his last 11 official starts. Powerful and precise tee to green.8 
Xander Schauffele Predictably struggled in putting four rounds together for a T22 as a first-timer last year, but it's invaluable experience on a course that demands it. Won the WGC-HSBC two months ago.Predictably struggled in putting four rounds together for a T22 as a first-timer last year, but it's invaluable experience on a course that demands it. Won the WGC-HSBC two months ago.7 
Justin Thomas Just one top 20 in three appearances but it was a three-stroke victory when winds were calmer in 2017. Nonetheless, experience at Kapalua matters more than for which it's given credit.Just one top 20 in three appearances but it was a three-stroke victory when winds were calmer in 2017. Nonetheless, experience at Kapalua matters more than for which it's given credit.6 
Patrick Reed Loves himself Kapalua where large greens hide his below-average irons. The 2015 champ averaged 68.17 in his last 12 rounds on the course in adding a solo second in 2016 and a T6 last year.Loves himself Kapalua where large greens hide his below-average irons. The 2015 champ averaged 68.17 in his last 12 rounds on the course in adding a solo second in 2016 and a T6 last year.5 
Webb Simpson First trip since 2014 when he posted his second T3 in three appearances. Walked off this fall with a solo third at Sea Island and the birth of his fifth child. His putting remains a weapon.First trip since 2014 when he posted his second T3 in three appearances. Walked off this fall with a solo third at Sea Island and the birth of his fifth child. His putting remains a weapon.4 
Jason Day First official start since his third child was born nearly two months ago, but he finished 16th at the Hero World Challenge. Co-owns Kapalua's scoring record (62). Three top 10s and a T12.First official start since his third child was born nearly two months ago, but he finished 16th at the Hero World Challenge. Co-owns Kapalua's scoring record (62). Three top 10s and a T12.3 
Jon Rahm If you ever doubted him in the wind, look no further than a four-stroke win at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas a month ago, but he also placed second as a debutant here last year.If you ever doubted him in the wind, look no further than a four-stroke win at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas a month ago, but he also placed second as a debutant here last year.2 
Dustin Johnson Because of the limited field, this is one of the easiest tournaments at which to defend a title, and he's going for his third in nine tries. Top 10s in each of his last six appearances.Because of the limited field, this is one of the easiest tournaments at which to defend a title, and he's going for his third in nine tries. Top 10s in each of his last six appearances.1 
Marc Leishman Checks every box. Thrives in the wind; T7 here last year (as the first-round leader and 36-hole co-leader); and completed the fall with a win in Malaysia and solo second in the Aussie PGA.Checks every box. Thrives in the wind; T7 here last year (as the first-round leader and 36-hole co-leader); and completed the fall with a win in Malaysia and solo second in the Aussie PGA.I will rank the other 19 golfers 16-34 in Tuesday's Fantasy Insider, so Sleepers will return for next week's Sony Open in Hawaii.
The Sentry Tournament of Champions is billed as a winners-only competition, but since the 2012 edition, a spot in the field has been reserved for the previous season's FedExCup champion if he went winless en route to that title. It's a provision that never needed to be triggered because all winners of the FedExCup had at least one win during the season in which he raised the trophy. It's also a provision that's no longer necessary with the new structure of the FedExCup. The winner of the 2019 TOUR Championship is the FedExCup champion, so he will qualify automatically for the 2020 Sentry TOC.
In 2018, Justin Rose became the first FedExCup champ without a victory in the same Playoffs, but he already had qualified for this week's Sentry TOC as the winner of the Fort Worth Invitational. Rose, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are the only qualifiers this week who elected not to commit.
For all of the attention that the Plantation Course receives for its elevation and ridiculously long drives – 35 of the longest 50 drives of the 2017-18 season were recorded here – the focus worth the traction is on attacking pins and sinking putts. Sure, defending champion Dustin Johnson paced last year's field in distance of all drives with an average of 324.7 yards, but he also averaged 14 greens in regulation per round (ranking T8) and led the way with fewest putts per GIR. Furthermore, he finished second in conversation percentage inside 10 feet and sixth in strokes gained: putting en route to a field-high 26 par breakers (including three eagles).
The greens at Kapalua are massive for two reasons: It's a resort course and the wind. It was routed to cater to the trade winds from the northeast, but with nothing in the way to slow them down, it wouldn't be as much fun approaching average-sized targets. On cue, trade winds are forecast to gust 30-35 mph during each of the first three rounds this week. If that sounds nasty, they didn't relent throughout the 2018 edition. Although the field's scoring average of 71.221 marked a five-year high, DJ hung up 24-under 268 en route to an eight-stroke romp.
Maxing at just 10 feet on the Stimpmeter to defend against the wind, the Bermudagrass putting surface invite aggressive strikes, but it's still just as important as anywhere else to hit it in tight. Consider that Johnson connected just three times in 38 chances from 10 feet and outside that range last year. His longest conversion measured just 15 feet, five inches at the fifth hole in the opening round.
With the full allotment of four par 5s but just three par 3s, the Plantation Course plays to the only par of 73 on the PGA TOUR schedule. For the first time since 2013, the course has been lengthened, this time by 66 yards. A new tee at No. 4 has extended the hole by 42 yards; the par 4 now tips at 424 yards. The par-4 sixth is up 24 yards to 422 yards. Overall, Kapalua measures 7,518 yards.
Since DJ captured victory, other work was done throughout the property in response to some wear and tear on the greens and in the bunkers, but a considerable portion of that effort was in preparation merely for the Sentry TOC. Once it concludes, a thorough renovation that includes new grass will occur.
ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE
PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled.
MONDAY: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings
TUESDAY*: Fantasy Insider
WEDNESDAY: One & Done
* - Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf presented by SERVPRO, which also publishes on Tuesdays.
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