Cameron Champ and Kevin Kisner look the team to beat in Naples

Twelve teams of two will spend three days feasting on birdies in the Sunshine State this week – the Tiburon Club is begging to be destroyed in beautiful weather and the QBE Shootout format encourages low scoring.

Lexi Thompson is the lone female representative, partnering Tony Finau, but Thompson will be playing off the men's tees. World number five Bryson DeChambeau teams up with Kevin Na for the first time.

Palmer's top tip
C Champ & K Kisner 5-1

Kevin Kisner must have had mixed feelings when his good pal Kevin Chappell withdrew from the QBE Shootout to have back surgery. Kisner will have been sad to lose his regular Shootout partner, but must have been delighted when it was announced that Cameron Champ would act as Chappell's replacement.

Champ has been the star of the new US Tour season, the rookie dazzling galleries with his jaw-dropping brand of power golf, and he should instantly take to the Shootout in his Tiburon debut this week.

Champ won the Sanderson Farms Championship by four shots at the end of October – in just his second start as a US Tour member – then followed up with 28th place in the Shriners Open, tenth in the Mayakoba Classic and sixth in the RSM Classic.

A fortnight off to recharge batteries was just the tonic Champ needed before his Shootout bow and there is every reason to expect the longest driver on the planet to be the headline act in Naples. He will be able to play super-aggressive golf – emboldened by the format – and his partner provides the perfect foil.

Kisner, who finished seventh in the RSM Classic last time out, is a calm, steady player who has competed in the last two Shootouts. He typically churns out fairways and greens, putts well and makes few mistakes. Champ is playing cavalier golf while Kisner is more conservative, and their combined scorecard each day should be full of positive numbers.

Kisner enjoyed performing alongside a more powerful, flamboyant partner in the shape of Phil Mickelson in the Presidents Cup last year, going undefeated alongside Lefty against the Internationals. Kisner could have even more fun with Champ backing him up in Naples.

Others to note
B Horschel & B Snedeker
The chief dangers to Champ and Kisner could be Horschel, who arrives off five solid months of golf, and Snedeker, who is one of the best putters in the field. Snedeker won the 2015 edition alongside Jason Dufner, a similar player to Horschel, but both Snedeker and Horschel did plenty of globetrotting in October and November, so may be lacking zest for further competition.

S O'Hair & S Stricker
The defending champions are a fair price given how well they gelled last year and the fact they had both won the Shootout previously with different partners, but O'Hair's recent form is not quite good enough to justify an investment.

B Harman & P Kizzire
Davis Love withdrew at the start of this week, replaced by Brian Harman, who teams up with fellow Sea Island resident Kizzire. Both are strong putters who can run into the places.

C Howell & L List
Chucky Three Sticks makes his first start since ending a US Tour victory drought of more than 11 years. A freewheeling Howell could be dangerous alongside powerhouse debutant List.

Staking plan
C Champ & K Kisner
4pts each-way 5-1 bet365

The lowdown

Course Gold Course, Tiburon Golf Club, Naples, Florida

Prize money €3.4m ($410,000 each to the winning team)

Length 7,382 yards

Par 72

Field 12 teams of two

Course records – 54 holes 182 Harris English & Matt Kuchar (2014)

Course winners (as pairing) taking part Steve Stricker & Sean O'Hair

When to bet By 3.15pm Friday

Where to watch Live on Sky Sports from 6.30pm Friday

Time difference Naples is five hours behind the UK and Ireland

Last week – Hero World Challenge 1 J Rahm (12-1), 2 T Finau (16-1), 3 J Rose (15-2), 4 H Stenson (25-1), T5 R Fowler (17-2), P Cantlay (22-1)

Course overview The Shootout moved to Tiburon in 2001 and has remained there since. There is no rough at Tiburon and the fairways are generous, but plenty of water is waiting to punish the seriously errant. There are two par-fives on each nine, the shortest of which is the 559-yard 17th. The 485-yard, par-four 18th is a tough closing hole

Format - Friday Scramble (best ball chosen after every shot); Saturday Greensomes (best tee-shot chosen then foursomes golf thereafter); Sunday Betterball (fourball golf with only best score counting)

Story of last year Sean O'Hair and Steve Stricker repelled the chasing pack to triumph, having gone clear early in the tournament with a 15-under-par opening round

Weather forecast Sunny for the most part, with light breezes

Type of playersuited to challenge A birdie-fest is almost inevitable – most loose shots do not count towards a team's score – and the pairs often return sub-60 rounds. The team who putt best should go close to victory

Key attribute Touch

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