The Sentry 2025 FRL Tips: Three to make a flying start on Thursday

The 2025 PGA Tour season begins on Thursday with The Sentry and our resident golf expert Jamie Worsley has had a good look at who can hit the top of the leaderboard on day one at the Plantation Course.

Here's Jamie's three The Sentry 2025 FRL Tips.

1.25pts Wyndham Clark each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 33/1

First up is Wyndham Clark. Capable of going seriously low – as he showed when shooting that incredible 60 at Pebble Beach last year – he finally started to get the hang of the Plantation Course late on during his debut in 2024, and he can lean on that experience to be a danger in the opening round.

Though not managing to match his brilliant, major-winning breakthrough season in 2023, there were plenty of positives for Clark last season. He was especially good at the start, winning at Pebble Beach and finishing second at THE PLAYERS and in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Whilst he signed off the season by finishing inside the top 15 in six of his last eight regular season starts.

Most of his game fired last year and he was among the best scorers on the tour, ranking 10^th in birdie or better percentage. He has the power to get it out there at this setup and give himself plenty of good wedge opportunities, and as one of the most reliable putters around, he’s well equipped to take advantage of these chances.

Clark didn’t exactly show this from the off on his debut in The Sentry last year, as he struggled on the greens over the first three rounds to sit 46^th of 59 players going into the final round. He finally found something with the putter in round four, ranking second in the field on his way to a brilliant 10-under 63, and I’m hoping for more of the same tomorrow.

0.75pts Nico Echavarria each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 55/1

Nico Echavarria was one of the form players in the FedExCup Fall and having looked solid on his debut in this event last year, he can keep that energy flowing into Thursday’s opening round.

Having missed his first two cuts in the Fall, Echavarria caught fire over the final six events of the year. He recorded a second PGA Tour win in the ZOZO Championship and then backed that up by contending on his next start when sixth in the World Wide Technology Championship. Another solid performance followed when 29^th in Bermuda but he almost notched up his second win of the year in the RSM Classic to finish the year, finishing second by one shot behind Maverick McNealy.

All areas of his game looked good over that period, especially his approach play and putting, for which he ranks top 15 in this field. He was also starting events very strongly and ranks 10^th in round one performances over that same time.

Echavarria finished 25^th here on debut last year, following a round of 70 in round one with three consecutive rounds in the 60s. Both of his tour wins have come with low scores attached and enjoying the best form of his career, he’ll have the confidence to make a flying start tomorrow.

0.75pts Jake Knapp each-way (1/4 - 5 places) @ 70/1

Jake Knapp had been experiencing a lull in form following his first tour victory in Mexico at the beginning of 2024. However, he finished the year with a win in the Grant Thornton Invitational alongside Patty Tavatanakit and I’m hoping that jolt of positivity can spur him into making a good start to the new season in Hawaii.

Knapp made a terrific start to his rookie season, finishing third in the Farmers Insurance Open on his third start of the year and then became a tour winner in the Mexico Open two starts later. He again looked in fine form the following week when fourth in the Cognizant Classic, but he struggled to keep it going and barring an eighth-place finish in the CJ CUP Byron Nelson, quality finishes were sparse.

He did regain some confidence in the Grant Thornton Invitational, as he and Thai LPGA star, Patty Tavatanakit went wire-to-wire to win that event on their first start as a duo.

Knapp makes his debut in Hawaii, but the course should suit. Indeed, his victory in Mexico came on a similarly open and exposed layout on which driver was a play on the majority of holes and with his top 10 in the Byron Nelson – an event in which he opened with a 64 to sit second after round one – again showing his ability to perform in birdie-fests, he looks a lively player in the first-round leader market this week.

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