This Week in Golf -- January 5th through January 9th

Golf Betting Lines

01/02/2012 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - PGA TOUR - HYUNDAI TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS, Plantation Course at Kapalua, Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii - The breaks take less and less time, don't they? Seemed like yesterday the PGA Tour ended for the season, but on Friday, yes Friday, it kicks off its 2012 campaign.

As always, first up is Kapalua for the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. Staged at the Plantation Course at Kapalua, the first event of the season is reserved for winners from 2011 tournaments.

Sadly for the opener, several high-profile winners from last year have elected to skip the trip. World No. 1 Luke Donald, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Adam Scott and major winners Rory McIlroy, Charl Schwartzel and Darren Clarke each passed on the flight to the Aloha State.

There is some star power in the field, despite the big absences. PGA Champion Keegan Bradley, Steve Stricker and FedExCup winner Bill Haas are heading to Kapalua.

The first player to qualify for the 2013 Hyundai Tournament of Champions will be this year's winner. The first gentleman invited to Friday's opening round was Jonathan Byrd.

The American parred the second playoff hole last year to defeat Robert Garrigus. Byrd had 15 feet on the last hole in regulation to win the championship outright, but came up short.

On the second extra hole, Byrd nearly holed a 50-foot birdie try, but settled for par. Garrigus was 10 feet closer, but left himself with three feet for par. He missed and Byrd was the champion.

This year, the tournament starts on Friday and ends on Monday. Golf Channel will carry live action in primetime all week with an 8:00 p.m. (et) finish scheduled for Monday. (It should be over in time for the BCS National Championship game.)

In an interesting wrinkle, golf's two pre-eminent analysts will work together all week. Johnny Miller and Sir Nick Faldo will team up for the entire tournament as co-analysts.

Next week is the first full-field event of 2012, the Sony Open in Hawaii. Mark Wilson picked up the first of two 2011 victories in Honolulu.

EUROPEAN TOUR

AFRICA OPEN, East London Golf Club, East London, South Africa - Just 25 days after Luke Donald won the 2011 Race to Dubai, the 2012 version begins with the Africa Open.

Former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen walked off with the title 12 months ago and will be on hand to defend his championship. Last year, Oosthuizen birdied the first playoff to trump Alvaro Quiros, who won the 2011 season-ending Dubai World Championship, and Chris Wood.

Oosthuizen may have to withdraw during the tournament as his second child is due any day now.

Also in the field this week is two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen, who won this title in 2009, and last year's South African Tour Order of Merit winner Garth Mulroy.

Golf Channel has the telecast all four days.

Next week is the Joburg Open, which was won by another South African major winner, reigning Masters champion Charl Schwartzel.

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