Steve Palmer's Sony Open in Hawaii final-round preview, best bets, free tips

Where to watch

Sky Sports Golf, 6pm Sunday

Best bets

Si Woo Kim to win Sony Open in Hawaii
2pts each-way 17-2 Hills

Andrew Putnam top-five finish
2pts 6-4 Betfair, Power

Justin Suh to win 6.10pm threeball
1pt 29-20 bet365

Advised on January 14

Maverick McNealy to win the Sony Open in Hawaii
1pt each-way 22-1 Hills

Story so far

Two Saturday eagles propelled Hayden Buckley into the Sony Open lead and the pre-tournament 66-1 chance has become 2-1 favourite with 18 holes to play.

Buckley holed his approach to the par-four tenth, then made three at the par-five 18th, reaching 15 under par through three rounds. That was enough for the PGA Tour maiden to go two shots clear of the field.

Buckley has won once on the Korn Ferry Tour - the Suncoast Classic in 2021 - but the 26-year-old has never bettered fourth place on the PGA Tour. David Lipsky, Ben Taylor and Chris Kirk are tucked in behind Buckley, tied for second spot.

A sunny day is forecast for the denouement, with some moderate afternoon breeze. The final threeball of Buckley, Lipsky and Taylor tees off at 8pm UK and Ireland time.

Leaderboard
-15 Hayden Buckley
-13 David Lipsky, Ben Taylor, Chris Kirk
-12 Andrew Putnam, Si Woo Kim
-11 Will Gordon, Nate Lashley
-10 Nick Taylor, Ben Griffin, Maverick McNealy, JT Poston, Austin Eckroat, S.H Kim, Taylor Montgomery

Best prices
2 H Buckley, 6 C Kirk, 7 D Lipsky, 17-2 S W Kim, 9 B Taylor, 10 A Putnam, 25 W Gordon, 33 T Montgomery, 35 M McNealy, JT Poston, 50 bar

Final-round preview

Hayden Buckley seems as surprised as anyone to be leading the Sony Open in Hawaii - and the leader looks vulnerable in the final round.

Buckley got married on December 3, then had a honeymoon in Antigua. He moved house to Jupiter, Florida, just prior to that, and had hardly any practice in the off-season. From the RSM Classic, which ended on November 20th, to the first round of the Sony, Buckley hardly touched a club.

Waialae Country Club sets up well for him, but it is playing firm and fast and able to punish any errors. It is reasonable to expect Buckley, who has never been in this position on the PGA Tour before and has a swing full of technical flaws, to buckle under Sunday pressure.

Two wonderful shots - the approaches to ten and 18 - got Buckley pole position. He was only two under par for the other 16 holes and the pacesetter could get quickly swamped in round four.

Maverick McNealy was the outright play at 22-1 at the halfway stage - and a birdie at the 18th kept the Californian in the hunt. From a share of ninth place, five shots behind Buckley, there is every reason to believe McNealy can go close.

Giving a two-shot head-start to Si Woo Kim may prove the biggest problem McNealy has, though, and the Korean appeals as a Sunday investment at 17-2.

Kim is in a different league to Buckley and everyone else on the Sony Open leaderboard. The three-time PGA Tour champion, who has the Players Championship on his CV and two Presidents Cup caps, has got into contention without putting particularly well.

Amid the breeze and tension of this final round, Kim's tee-to-green solidity and ability to handle pressure may prove decisive. He showed that mettle in September when beating Justin Thomas in a tight Presidents Cup singles match.

Kim has found 45 greens in regulation this week and seems almost certain to set up countless birdie chances in round four. Any warming of the putter should see this fiesty character threaten the trophy from three shots behind.

Doing it the other way is Andrew Putnam, who has been carrying a magic-wand putter for the last 46 holes. Putnam, full of close-season rust when he set out on Thursday, was three over par for his first eight holes. He clicked into gear from his ninth hole onwards and has been sensational on the greens.

Putnam typically finds enough fairways to back up his putting strength and this experienced campaigner appeals at 6-4 to finish in the top five.

Si Woo Kim winning, with Putnam, Chris Kirk and McNealy chasing him home is a possible scenario. Buckley seems a short price at 2-1 and may appeal to the laying community who have access to the exchanges.

Final-round threeballs punters are pointed towards Justin Suh, who appears to have settled on the PGA Tour after a nervous start to his rookie campaign. Chock-full of talent, Suh seems set for a glorious career, and he should take off after banking a few decent cheques. Suh can leave Ben Martin and Kevin Tway behind in the 6.10pm threeball.

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