Kevin Kisner gets the vote at a big price from David John to go well at the Hero World Challenge as Tiger Woods makes his comeback.
I have missed Tiger Woods.
Whether watching him set new levels of golfing excellence in his pomp over a decade ago or more recently thinning wedges, duffing chips and unable to activate his glutes, the current world number 1199 remains a compelling character both on and off the course.
He is a best price of 50/1 to win an event he hosts for his various charitable causes but it is no offers he will romp to victory when it comes to column inches commanded compared to the other 17 players in the field with a reported 90 members of the press corps set to descend on Nassau.
In a nutshell, here is the latest health bulletin on Tiger, who plays a first competitive tournament since withdrawing from the Dubai Desert Classic in February.
Fallout from a recent social fourball at Trump National in Jupiter alongside Mr President, Dustin Johnson and Brad Faxon was he was playing pain-free after the last of a string of back surgeries seven months ago with Faxon revealing Woods was "in a great place mentally and physically".
"He looked effortless, he looked free and had some power," Faxon added after watching Tiger on more than one occasion outgun DJ from the tee.
"I was impressed with the power."
Jason Day confirmed it "is the best he has felt in three years and he does not wake up in pain anymore" so I guess we need to be cautiously upbeat about these first tentative steps taken on his return to the professional game.
Only Tiger will know deep down how high he has set the bar for himself this week but getting through all four rounds with a thumbs-up from his medical team has to be the obvious and immediate goal.
The greatest competitive spirit the game has ever seen might annoyingly have to put any thoughts of victory this week to one side then so let’s all hold judgement on his long-term prospects until he can hopefully sustain a regular schedule in 2018.
Some of the biggest names in the sport will be well aware then they are going to take a back seat to Tiger either rolling back the years or hacking around in the fescue at Albany.
World numbers one, two and three, DJ, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas will bid to round off a stellar 2017 littered with multiple titles plus a couple of major championships thrown in for good measure.
Thomas has emerged as a true global force with three victories from his last seven starts stretching back to the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in August and boasts a significantly similar profile to last year’s winner here Hideki Matsuyama.
There is very little between the trio at the head of the betting for an event that used to be viewed as little more than extremely well-paid exhibition stuff when staged in California but there does seem more of an edge to things since Spieth clobbered his rivals by 10 shots at Isleworth in 2015.
The latter was hugely encouraged by his own comeback at last week’s Australian Open following seven weeks off following the Presidents Cup, closing with an eagle in round four for a 67 and a top-10 finish.
"I felt like I hit a lot of really beautiful shots," he said afterwards so brings a good deal of positive thoughts back from his annual trip Down Under.
Brooks Koepka has been on his travels too and won the recent Dunlop Phoenix by nine shots.
The US Open champion has been a notable mover in the market already and that performance in Japan left home favourite Matsuyama rather downbeat, saying "I feel there is a huge gap between us".
Koepka and Thomas are a new breed of golfer that can leave any rival feeling extremely intimidated and could conceivably have the rest trailing in their wake if they turn on the turbo boost in current mood.
Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose both arrive in decent nick and are among the market leaders too but I am going to take an each-way punt on Kevin Kisner at much bigger odds for his debut at a venue which should be right up his street.
The Georgia Bulldog is very much my player to follow next year and although he may not be blessed with some of the physical gifts bestowed on Koepka or DJ, he makes up for that with the mental resolve that can make him a regular winner at the top level.
He has his sights set on earning a place on the US Ryder Cup team, explaining recently at the RSM Classic it was his number one target having enjoyed such a tremendous experience at the Presidents Cup rout of the Rest of the World.
"I am excited about how my game has come back after the time off," he added on the way to a T4 at Sea Island and although he makes his debut at the event in the Bahamas, this is the part of the world where Kisner invariably thrives.
Throw in some breeze, a course by the sea played on Bermuda grass and the world number 25 has plenty in his favour to outplay a quote of 33/1.
Recommended bets: Hero World Challenge
1pt e.w. Kevin Kisner at 33/1 (1/5 1,2,3,4)
Posted at 1745 GMT on 27/11/17.
