Steve Palmer's Sentry Tournament of Champions third-round preview, best bets

Where to watch

Sky Sports Golf, 5.45pm Saturday

Best bets

Sam Burns to win 5.45pm twoball (5-9), Jon Rahm to win 8.15pm twoball (4-9), Jordan Spieth to win 8.35pm twoball (7-10)
1pt treble bet365

Story so far

Collin Morikawa endured a winless 2022 and the Californian has started the new year in determined mood at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

Morikawa followed a first-round 64 at the Plantation Course by going four under par for his opening five holes of round two, racing to 13 under par and clear of the field. His pace slowed from there, but the leader moved to 16 under par and takes a two-shot advantage into the weekend.

Morikawa, who could be backed at 20-1 ante-post, has shortened to 2-1 after his blistering start. The two-time Major champion last won on the PGA Tour in the 2021 Open Championship. He won the DP World Tour Championship on the DP World Tour four months after lifting the Claret Jug.

Morikawa has world number two Scottie Scheffler breathing down his neck. Scheffler can reclaim top spot in the world rankings if he finishes in a two-way tie for third place or better this week - and closing round two with four consecutive birdies has massively helped that mission.

The field has reduced from 39 to 38, with Xander Schauffele withdrawing after eight holes of round two with a back injury.

Leaderboard
-16 Collin Morikawa
-14 Scottie Scheffler, JJ Spaun
-13 Jordan Spieth
-12 Tom Kim
-11 Matt Fitzpatrick, Jon Rahm
-10 Luke List, Corey Conners, Tony Finau, Aaron Wise

Best prices
2 C Morikawa, 11-4 S Scheffler, 7 J Spieth, 9 J Rahm, 12 JJ Spaun, 14 T Kim, 20 M Fitzpatrick, 25 T Finau, 50 bar

Third-round preview

Exhausted night owls in the UK and Ireland, who have had two long stretches in the early hours for rounds one and two, get some relief for round three - the action from Hawaii resumes at 7.35am local time (5.35pm UK) on Saturday.

The mouthwatering final twoball of Collin Morikawa and Scottie Scheffler is scheduled on the tee at 8.45pm. These two Major champions dominate the outright market, but both are dealing with winning droughts of different degrees. Scheffler enjoyed a glorious 2022, but all his success came before May, with the Masters ending up as his last victory.

Morikawa recruited a new putting coach in November - the first time he has had one - and he will be thrilled with the results from Hawaii. Putting with a conventional grip, Morikawa ranks first in the putting stats this week.

Scheffler closed round two in style and will be looking to end a series of near-misses. He has finished second three times since slipping on the Green Jacket, including in the Hero World Challenge a month ago.

The 2-1 Morikawa and 11-4 Scheffler both seem fair prices, but hopefully Racing Post Sport pre-tournament recommendation Jordan Spieth can overtake both. Spieth is yet to sparkle on the greens this week and has missed a couple of tiddlers, but the Texan relishes this assignment and is only three shots behind with 36 holes to play.

Given the new-found excitement Morikawa has in his putting, the leader seems unlikely to fade away, so the likes of Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick and Tony Finau have given themselves little margin for error from just off the pace. Morikawa, Scheffler and Spieth appear the trio that in-running punters should be concentrating on.

With a pre-tournament investment in Spieth at 28-1, there is no urge to get further involved in the outright market at this stage. The most appealing options on the third-round twoballs card are Spieth, Rahm and Sam Burns, who can be put in a Saturday treble.

Spieth can outclass JJ Spaun in the 8.35pm match, while Rahm, who arrived early in Kapalua last week to relax with his family, is 44 under par for his last six rounds at the Plantation Course and can outgun Luke List. Burns is out early against Chez Reavie, a plodder who is wholly unsuited to the Sentry assignment. The treble pays more than 11-4 with bet365.

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