Steve Palmer's Sony Open in Hawaii first-round preview and best bets

Golf tips, best bets and player analysis for the first round of the Sony Open at Waialae Country Club on the PGA Tour.

When to watch

Sky Sports Golf, 5pm Thursday

Best bets

Emiliano Grillo top Argentinian
3pts 4-6 bet365, Coral, Ladbrokes

Stephan Jaeger top German
3pts 8-15 bet365

Aaron Rai top Englishman
2pts 23-20 bet365

Matthias Schwab to win 5.10pm threeball
1pt 2-1 bet365

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Preview

The PGA Tour has stayed in Hawaii for the Sony Open at Waialae, but this week the field size has increased to 144 from the 39 who teed up in the Sentry Tournament of Champions last week, meaning the action starts at dinner time in the UK and Ireland.

Jordan Spieth will take centre stage in the early skirmishes - the three-time Major champion joining Billy Horschel and Zach Johnson for the 6pm threeball. Spieth cracked the face of his driver during the Sentry pre-tournament pro-am - and has been testing replacements since - so the favourite for this match could be vulnerable. Spieth missed the cut in his last visit to Waialae.

Given how downbeat Horschel was about his game last week, the 15-4 about 2009 Sony champion Johnson is tempting, but not quite juicy enough given how poorly the American Ryder Cup captain has been playing lately.

The later coverage will centre upon Tom Kim, who must overcome the challenge of having the snail-like Keegan Bradley as a playing partner, as well as the marquee threeball of Hideki Matsuyama, Sungjae Im and Adam Scott (10.40pm).

Pick of the threeballs options may be the 2-1 about Matthias Schwab winning the 5.10pm contest against Brendan Steele and Jonathan Byrd.

The Christmas break came at a good time for Schwab, who had lost the sparkle he showed in the spring, and Waialae is an excellent venue for the Austrian to get back to basics. He has built a promising career through being a neat and tidy player - and Waialae plays to his strengths.

It is 13 years since Byrd won on the PGA Tour and the injury-plagued 44-year-old is yesterday's man, while Steele withdrew with a back problem during the final round of the Houston Open last time out, so the Californian has arrived in Hawaii with fitness to prove.

Three 'tops' wagers also appeal - to greater stakes - starting with Emiliano Grillo for top South American. The typically accurate Argentinian is well equipped for Waialae and he was excellent in the second half of last year. Augusto Nunez, Nicolas Echavarria and Tano Goya provide weak opposition.

Stephan Jaeger is an attractive investment in a two-runner top German market. From May onwards, Jaeger has been solid and the six-time Korn Ferry Tour champion can outscore Hawaii debutant Matti Schmid.

And Aaron Rai will be looking forward to the challenge of a short, tight track. The precise Wolverhampton man may boss the top Englishman market, with Ben Taylor and Harry Hall providing his opposition. Rai was seventh in the Houston Open in November.

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