The Challenge - Japan Skins: Steve Palmer's free golf tips, preview & best bet

Free golf tips for the inaugural Japan Skins featuring Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Jason Day and Hideki Matsuyama at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Chiba.

Start time

5am Monday. Streamed live in the UK on golf.tv

Best bet

Rory McIlroy to win Japan Skins
2pts 2-1 general

Japan Skins preview

The inaugural Japan Skins starts at 5am UK and Ireland time on Monday morning and Rory McIlroy is favourite to win the four-man shootout.

The exhibition event is a dangerous one for punters to tackle, with organisers promising a number of 'extra challenges during play', so small stakes are recommended.

The Japan Skins takes place at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Chiba, which hosts the impending Zozo Championship, a new PGA Tour event which starts in the early hours of Thursday morning (UK).

The player with the lowest score on each hole wins that hole and whatever amount of money (skin) that hole is worth. If there is a tie, that 'skin' carries over to the next hole, so two skins are up for grabs, and so on. Once a skin or multiple skins are won, the next hole goes back to being worth just one skin. If the 18th hole is tied, a sudden-death playoff will be employed to decide who wins the final skin.

Holes one to six are worth $10,000 per skin, holes seven to 12 are worth $15,000 per skin, holes 13 to 17 are worth $20,000 per skin, and hole 18 is a $100,000 super skin, so the event seems likely to go the distance before a champion is crowned. Whoever wins the 18th hole has a golden chance of overall success.

The Japan Skins is set to finish under floodlights, adding to the mystique. With Tiger Woods only just returning to action after his latest knee surgery, and Jason Day working on swing changes, McIlroy and Hideki Matsuyama make most appeal.

Given Matsuyama has to race from the CJ Cup in Korea to make his Skins tee-time, then the Japanese has to act as tournament host, McIlroy seems the more attractive option.

The shape of the 18th hole – a right-to-left dogleg par-five – plays into the hands of McIlroy. He can unleash his natural drive – a hugely powerful draw – and set up a possible eagle or an easy birdie. With at least $100,000 up for grabs on that final hole, McIlroy will know he has a great opportunity of success whatever happens over the first 17 holes.

Expect a relaxed performance from the former world number one and FedEx Cup champion. The generally available 2-1 McIlroy is more than fair. Matsuyama may take second, with Day third and Woods fourth.

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