The Sentry Preview and Picks

🍾 Happy New Year to Our GolfStats Insider Subscribers!

Welcome to the first edition of GolfStats Insider in 2025! We hope you had a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, relaxation, and maybe even a little golf. As we kick off the new year, we want to express our deepest gratitude to you, our subscribers. Your unwavering support makes everything we do possible, and we couldn’t be more excited to continue this journey together. Here’s to a fantastic year ahead, filled with insightful stats, engaging stories, and unforgettable moments in golf.

We will be rolling out new features early in 2025 with more details to come. Stay tuned!

🥳 Celebrating 25 Years of GolfStats and a Lifetime in Golf Media

As we usher in 2025, it’s incredible to reflect on the journey that brought us here. This year marks the 25th anniversary of GolfStats, a milestone we couldn’t have reached without you. It’s also a personal milestone for Sal Johnson, whose remarkable 50-year career in golf media began in 1975 as a 17-year-old runner for ABC Sports at the Los Angeles Open. That first job sparked a passion for capturing and analyzing golf scores, which ultimately led to the creation of GolfStats in 2000—a groundbreaking platform that brought innovative data and statistics to the golf world. Checkout his more in-depth post here.

Over the years, GolfStats has weathered industry challenges and evolved, becoming a trusted subscription-based service thanks to the support of subscribers like you. From its launch during the booming golf media era to navigating the lean years and emerging as the premier source for golf statistics, the story of GolfStats is a testament to resilience, innovation, and the love of the game. We can’t thank you enough for being part of this incredible journey. Here’s to celebrating 25 years of GolfStats and to the exciting future ahead!

If this newsletter was forwarded to you, we would really appreciate you subscribing by clicking the button below.

⛳️ New Year, New Golf Season

As we begin 2025, the PGA Tour is gearing up for an exciting season, starting with this week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions in Maui. But before we dive into the lush landscapes of Kapalua, we can’t ignore the major talking point hovering over professional golf: the state of LIV Golf.

The LIV Golf saga continues to perplex and polarize the golf world. Despite its bold claims of revolutionizing the sport, it often feels more like a showcase of how much money star players can command rather than a credible attempt to grow the game. The lack of transparency around player salaries and the absence of significant buzz surrounding their events doesn’t help their case. Last year, LIV Golf made waves by signing Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, but this year’s additions—Max (Chieh-po) Lee, Yubin Jang, and Frederik Kjettrup—are unlikely to captivate a global audience.

Even with a new CEO at the helm, LIV Golf appears to be losing momentum. Their first event of 2025 in Saudi Arabia is just weeks away, and whispers about securing a major TV partnership—possibly with Fox or Warner Bros.—remain unconfirmed. Compounding their challenges is the emergence of the TGL Golf League, a fresh concept blending team golf with live evening broadcasts on ESPN. This innovative approach is poised to capture the younger demographic and may render LIV Golf increasingly irrelevant.

🏝️ Off to Maui: A Golfer’s Paradise

For PGA Tour players, there’s no better way to kick off the year than a week in Maui. The Sentry Tournament of Champions is more than just a competition—it’s a reward for success, a celebration of the previous year’s achievements. Winners from 2024 and players in the top 50 of the FedExCup standings are treated to an idyllic stay at the Ritz Carlton, surrounded by pristine beaches and breathtaking scenery.

The Plantation Course at Kapalua is one of the most picturesque and unique venues on the PGA Tour. With vast fairways, sprawling greens, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, it offers a relaxed yet competitive start to the season. And while every player walks away with at least $50,000, the winner will pocket a staggering $3.6 million.

🏌️‍♂️ Player Updates

The golf world is abuzz with concern for Scottie Scheffler, who ended 2024 on a tough note after sustaining a hand injury that required surgery. While his camp is optimistic about a return for the American Express in three weeks, the timeline may be ambitious given the nature of the injury. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how quickly Scheffler can regain his dominant form.

Viktor Hovland’s off-season has been anything but smooth. From parting ways with his swing coach Joe Mayo to dealing with an old injury and a fractured pinky toe caused by a jet-lagged mishap, Hovland has had his share of setbacks. While he’s determined to play at Kapalua, it’s safe to say expectations are tempered.

Max Homa is another player seeking a fresh start after a challenging 2024 season. With a temporary caddie in Michael Greller—Jordan Spieth’s longtime bagman—Homa is looking to regain his form and confidence. Meanwhile, Spieth himself is recovering from wrist surgery, aiming for a pain-free return later in the season.

40-55 In the US with $200k+ in Retirement? Retire confidently.

If you’re 45-55, living in the US and have saved $200k or more for retirement, make sure your hard-earned savings last as long as you do and continue to grow safely, without market risk. This strategy can protect your funds from potential losses and give you steady growth, so you can retire without stress. Don’t let a market dip impact your future—secure your retirement. This strategy immediately adds 20% to your savings, so it not only grows long term, it increases right away.

See if you qualify

👀 A Closer Look at the Plantation Course

The Plantation Course at Kapalua, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, is one of the PGA Tour’s most distinctive venues. Its vast fairways and large greens make it visually stunning and forgiving for players, though its exposure to wind adds a layer of unpredictability. The course’s trade winds can help or hinder players, while dry, firm conditions this year may favor shorter hitters.

Despite its beauty, the Plantation Course is the easiest on the PGA Tour in terms of scoring. Last year, the field’s average score was 68.36 on the par-73 layout, continuing a trend of low scores at this event. The greens are massive, averaging over 8,700 square feet, placing a premium on putting. Strokes Gained Putting and three-putt avoidance are often key to success here, as evidenced by past winners like Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith.

The course also rewards players who excel in scrambling. Last year’s champion, Chris Kirk, missed just 12 greens and successfully got up and down 11 times, showcasing the importance of saving par when opportunities arise.

📜 Historical Trends

While the Plantation Course is often associated with long drives, its winners’ list features a mix of bombers and precision players. Shorter hitters like Jordan Spieth, Zach Johnson, and Steve Stricker have all triumphed here, proving that strategy and putting can outweigh raw power.

Recent renovations have made the course play firmer and faster, adding a layer of complexity. However, the layout remains accessible, with wide fairways and a lack of significant hazards. This week’s calm winds and dry conditions could lead to another birdie-fest, so expect players with sharp putting and solid scrambling to rise to the top.

Key Stats for Success

1. Strokes Gained Putting: With large, undulating greens, putting is paramount at Kapalua. Winners consistently rank among the best in one-putt percentage and three-putt avoidance.

2. Proximity to Hole: Hitting greens is relatively easy here, but getting approach shots close is critical for converting birdie opportunities.

3. Par Breakers: The Plantation Course yields plenty of birdies and eagles, so players must capitalize on scoring opportunities to contend.

4. Scrambling: Missing greens isn’t disastrous here, but getting up and down efficiently can be the difference between winning and finishing mid-pack.

🌊 Final Thoughts

As the 2025 season kicks off, the Sentry Tournament of Champions not only sets the tone for the year but highlights the unique charm of playing golf on the ocean. Of the 50 PGA Tour events, 15 take place on courses bordering the Pacific, Atlantic, or Caribbean seas, creating a distinctive environment that tests players’ ability to adapt to wind, weather, and visually stunning yet challenging layouts.

Some players thrive in these ocean settings. Viktor Hovland has emerged as the King of Ocean Events, with five wins by the sea, including victories at Mayakoba, Puerto Rico, and two Hero World Challenges in Bermuda. Over his last 30 starts on ocean-side courses, Hovland has tallied an impressive nine top-ten finishes. Despite his current struggles, his record in these events underscores his ability to perform when surrounded by the elements.

Justin Thomas has also been a standout in ocean-side tournaments. With victories at the Sentry in 2017 and 2020, as well as the 2021 Players Championship, Thomas has accumulated 12 top-ten finishes in 25 starts on these coastal courses. Other consistent performers in ocean events include Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay, and Max Homa, each showcasing their ability to handle the nuances of seaside golf.

As the players take on the Plantation Course at Kapalua, it’s clear that success this week will require mastery of the ocean breeze, precise putting, and solid scrambling. Whether it’s a seasoned champion or a fresh face breaking through, the journey to PGA Tour greatness often begins here, by the sea.

Here’s to a great 2025 season!