2025 The Sentry Golf Free Picks, Predictions and DFS Lineup January 2-5

2025 The Sentry Betting Preview- Golf Free Picks

WagerTalk golf handicapper Andy Lang offers his thoughts on the 2025 The Sentry teeing off from Kapalua Resort in Kapalua, HI. Andy discusses his DraftKings Darlings, golfers to who can trip you up and the course and more surrounding the 2025 The Sentry teeing off on January 2nd!

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2025 The Sentry	2025 The Sentry Betting Notes
When:	January 2-5
Where:	Kapalua Resort in Kapalua, HI
Defending Champ:	Chris Kirk
Current Favorite:	Xander Schauffele (+550 at DraftKings)
TV:	Golf Channel, NBC

2025 The Sentry Course: Kapalua Resort

The Kapalua Golf Course, especially the Plantation Course, is one of the easiest courses for PGA golfers. It has super wide fairways that make it easy to hit good drives without worrying about rough.

The big downhill slopes help the golf ball go farther, making it even more fun for long hitters. The greens are huge, giving players plenty of chances to make birdies and low scores. It’s a Par 73 as well which makes the scores even lower so don’t be surprised if the winning score is -30 or lower.

While the wind can be tricky, it’s usually not hard for professional golfers to handle, and the wind is going to be fairly tame to start the tournament so if you’re a fan of low scoring tournaments, this is your cup of tea.

This tournament has 60 players in it with no cut, and it’s a loaded field with last years winners and top 50 FedEx Cup points golfers. Scheffler and McIlroy won’t be playing this week along with Fleetwood and Lowry.

Last year for the articles, I went over my three favorite holes on the course, this year I’m going to change it up. I’ll go over my favorite hole on the course, and then I’ll rate the 18th hole as I think the last hole on the course is really important, and I love a great finishing hole.

2025 The Sentry Favorite Holes

Hole 5 Par 5, 526 yards

There’s a bunker right in the middle of the fairway so guys will have to fly the bunker, lay it up before it, or hit it to the left or right.

Drives that hit the fairway are in great shape for an eagle or birdie, but the jungle on both sides of the fairway can be big time penalties. The green is tucked in behind more jungle so approach shots can’t land short. It’s a feast or famine hole that I just love.

18th Hole: This final hole is a bit gimmicky, but it fits on this course. Everyone’s tee shot funnels down the left side of the fairway downhill, and even though it’s 677 it certainly doesn’t play that long.

The green is huge so there will be some really long putts for eagle, and the lag putt is important to grab the birdie.

It’s probably the most picturesque 18th hole on tour when standing on the tee which is a plus, but it’s not difficult so I can’t rate it very high.

2025 The Sentry: Players That Can Trip You Up

Patrick Cantlay

He’s priced as a Top 6 guy to win, and he’s finished 12th and 16th here the last two years so I just can’t take action on him.

He regressed last year, and over the last 6 months he’s 13th best in this field in total strokes gained, and it comes down to his

putting as he’s a shocking -0.09 strokes gained putting the last 6 months, and only +0.16 the last 12 months. I’ll need to see it before I believe it before betting on him.

Viktor Hovland

This is your annual reminder that Viktor Hovland is awful at this tournament. In short fields, he’s finished 22nd, 18th, 30th, and 31st in four appearances here.

His short game is his achilles heel, but this isn’t a difficult course, I have no idea why he’s so bad here. He just doesn’t feel comfortable here for some reason so avoid him this week.

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2025 The Sentry: DraftKings Darlings

Aaron Rai $6700

He’s 19th in total strokes gained in this field in the last 6 months, and even though he started off 2024 really slow, he picked it up and finished 2024 with 14 made cuts, and 9 Top 20 finishes. He was bad at this tournament last year, but I’m willing to the discounted price on him this week and hope his current form carries over.

Eric Cole $6900

Cole was 2023’s Draftkings Darling Of The Year, and we’ll use him this week at this $6900 price. He finished 14th here last year, and in the last 6 months he’s 18th in the field in total strokes gained. If he can get another top 20 finish here this year, he’s a steal at this price.

Maverick McNealy $7500

He’s never played here, but he’s finished 6th, 17th, 1st in his last three tournaments so I’ll take a chance on McNealy. His stats aren’t amazing, but he’s a great putter, and that’s what’s required on a birdie-fest course.

Full DraftKings Lineup

Aaron Rai $6700

Eric Cole $7500

Maverick McNealy $7500

Byeung Hun An $8400

Sungjae Im $9500

Xander Schauffele $11,000

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