PGA Tour Predictions: Kim and Spieth look dangerous in the Sony Open

Picking favourites Jon Rahm and Collin Morikawa to finish first and second in last week's Sentry Tournament of Champions might be the betting equivalent of shooting fish in a barrel. Nevertheless, I will take the kudos and play it safe again at this week's Sony Open in Hawaii.

There's nothing like good form when it comes to picking winners and, while Joo-Hyung “Tom” Kim already has two PGA Tour wins - the Wyndham Championship and the Shriners Children's Open, both last year - under his belt, there is a very good reason as to why he is the 12.5 favourite with Smarkets to win on his second outing of the season.

Kim, who is making his debut in this event, finished tied-fifth at Kapalua on Sunday and had a front-row view of Rahm's extraordinary charge to victory. With added inspiration and a good result in the locker, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the 20-year-old claimed his third win from his last 10 competitions worldwide.

Japan's Hideki Matsuyama (available at 18) is the defending champion here, but I prefer the claims of Jordan Spieth - the Texan is itching for another PGA Tour win.

He tied for 13th in Maui last week but appeared happy with his performance. Spieth seeks another career-high season to match the magic of 2015, when he won the Masters and the US Open, as well as taking tied-fourth at the The Open and second in the PGA.

Padraig Harrington: the Irishman is a big fan of Jordan Spieth's game

He's got a big fan in Irishman Pádraig Harrington, who knows what it is like to peak in Majors given he won three in the space of 14 months back in 2007/08.

"What I like with Jordan is he's coming back," Harrington said at the PNC Championship last month. "You know, that's very unusual. Very unusual to have that peak and then to have another one. Jordan is coming back, which is quite impressive. It's quite a testament to him."

Spieth is guaranteed to entertain on his first trip to Waialae Country Club since missing the cut in 2019. His unpredictability might put you off, but his A-game would make him hard to beat. 

Make sure you add to your shortlist a consistent performer in the form of Canada's Corey Conners, who looks like excellent value for money at 21 with Smarkets. The ball-striking machine from Listowel, Ontario, picked up a top-20 finish last week and he's got a good record at Waialae - he finished third in 2019, tied 12th in 2020 and 11th last year.

Talking about course form, don’t overlook Matt Kuchar despite his failures to win an event since the Singapore Open three years ago. The American has posted seven top 10 finishes in 17 appearances in the Sony Open, including taking tied seventh last year, and notably won the event in 2019.

He's certainly decent value for your hard-earned cash at 50, especially given he is a 16-time PGA Tour winner who knows how to get over the line.

Sony Open In Hawaii Predictions

Joo-Hyung Kim @ 12.5
Jordan Spieth @ 16
Corey Conners @ 21
Matt Kuchar @ 50