The Greg Norman-designed Oaks course has staged this event for an almost a decade now and slotted in behind the Masters could have expected a better field than what is presented. Regardless it's usually a fascinating event for punters as it is one of the tougher layouts of the year that is often exposed to wind so narrowing down the field can be somewhat simpler than some other weeks. It is always important to have a solid long game here as straying towards the trees almost always results in dropped strokes.

An event to look to primarily for similar form is the Mayakoba event held at El Camaleon. The course in Mexico is another Greg Norman-designed layout often exposed to wind and similar types of games do well on both. In recent years we have seen Matt Kuchar and Patton Kizzire both win the event in Mayakoba and the Sony Open at Waialee so the event in Hawaii is another worth a glance. 

Rickie Fowler leads the betting but for someone who has yet to play the track taking the skinny price on offer would be a little foolish in my eyes. Having posted a runner up finish at the Honda after the win in Phoenix his recent performances haven't been all too inspiring. 47th at Sawgrass and 40th at the Arnold Palmer are not good for someone inside the worlds top ten and with one eye on next week, I think he is best left alone. Someone who wouldn't turn his nose up at a victory is Jordan Spieth. There were definitely signs last week at the Match Play that the fight in him was back coming back in a few matches from hefty deficits. There were still a lot of errors and answers on a postcard what kind of score he shoots at Augusta. 

With one spot available at Augusta next week any non-exempt player who wins this event will get his place. I think Georgia Tech graduate RICHY WERENSKI (best price 225-1) is worth having on our slips this week. Richy flies under the radar having fared extremely well on his first few years on tour. He has managed to keep his tour card three years on the trot courtesy of some decent finishes. Two runners up finishes in 2017 and 2018 at the Barbasol and Barracuda suggest this lad could break through in the next while and an event where a few of the principles are focused on next week might be the ideal time to do it. He finished 11th here last year and crucially finished 3rd behind Kuchar at Mayakoba towards the end of last year. A 4th placed spot at the tight, windy Southwind course that holds the St Jude is another positive factor. Recent form takes a bit of a hit but he's a lively outsider for sure and one I'll be happy to back First Round Leader also. 

1.5pts each-way R.Werenski  200/1  (1/5 8)

0.5pt each-way R.Werenski First Round Leader  150/1  (1/4 5)

Richy Werenski - 1.5pts e/w @ 200/1
Richy Werenski First Round Leader - 0.5pts e/w @ 150/1

Finau, Kokrak and Sungjae Im are all shorter than four-time winner BILLY HORSCHEL (best price 25-1) this week and given his form around this track he has to be backed around the 25/1 mark. Billy Ho has become somewhat of a Texas specialist with a win at the Byron Nelson in 2017, a runner up at the Shell Houston in 2013 and three top 5s here at the Oaks. He hasn't missed a cut in a long time and arrives here this year a much more consistent golfer than what he ever has before.

8th at Torrey Pines earlier in the year is his best result this season but it is worth remembering his form in the Fedex Playoffs towards the end of last year finishing 3rd at the BMW and runner up at East Lake to Tiger. Certainly one of the more likely winners and should be shorter than Kokrak and Sungjae Im for sure.

1.5pts each-way B.Horschel 22/1 (1/5 8)

Billy Horschel - 1.5pts e/w @ 22/1

SUNG KANG (best price 66-1) finished 6th here two years ago and arrives at the Oaks in fine form. This year has been littered with solid results. Top tens at the Sony and Arnold Palmer have been backed up with Top 20s at the Farmers, Pebble and last time out at the Valspar. Yet to break his duck on the big tour this again holds an opportunity for someone like Kang. The Sony box is ticked with a top ten there earlier in the year but it is worth noting that he also finished runner up in this state at the Shell Houston Open in 2017 which was the week before the Masters that season. Everything points towards another solid chance here this week.

1.25pts each-way Sung Kang 66/1 (1/5 8)

Sung Kang - 1.25pts e/w @ 66/1