Allenby, Palmer, Favored to Claim Sony Open

Sports News - January 17th, 2010 - Written By Bryan

Day three is in the books at the Sony Open, and familiar faces sit atop the leader board. Having found much success in his career in the state of Hawaii, Robert Allenby is comfortable with the lead. That is exactly where Allenby finds himself entering the final round at Waialae Country Club. He was very close to skipping the event due to an ankle injury he suffered just days ago, but is now 18 holes away from his fifth career PGA Tour Victory.

"I wanted to have a feel for how I was going to play golf," Allenby said in a post-round news conference with the Associate Press. "I think it was a good thing for me. It enabled me in my mind that I'd hit a lot of [bad] shots, but I'd be able to accept it. When you know there's a problem, it's a lot easier to accept."

Allenby shot a bogey-free round of 67, and is tied with Ryan Palmer at 11-under, as the two have separated themselves from the field, three shots clear of any other player.

Palmer also navigated his way across Waialae with a bogey-free 68 of his own. He birdied the final hole of the day to catch Allenby at the top.

"If I can go out tomorrow and shoot under par, someone will have to shoot a good round to catch or pass us," Palmer said after his round on Saturday.

Palmer's has two career wins on the PGA Tour, with his last coming back in 2008.

Neither Allenby nor Palmer did anything spectacular on Saturday. They were simply steady throughout, and no player made a move to come catch them.

"It's a big help having a three-shot lead," Palmer remarked after his round. "That's still a lot to make up in one round of golf, especially if the wind keeps blowing. I'm very ecstatic with where I'm at. I couldn't be in a better spot."

Alleby was the only player in the 144 field to enter the tournament on a winning streak. He won the last two events, including the Australian Masters. Next for Allenby could be a PGA Tour Title.

"I'm moving in the right direction," Allenby said after his round. "I may not win tomorrow, but I believe I will definitely win this year. And when I do, I'll win again and again. With me, it's just confidence. When I get the confidence going, I feel like I can do anything. I have that confidence right now, and I'm very patient. Hopefully, I can do what's needed."

Three shots back, at 8-under par, you will find the world's third ranked golfer, Steve Stricker. Saturday marked a day of missed opportunities for Sticker, as he missed four birdie putts from inside 10 feet. Still, he remains optimistic heading into the final round of play.

"Very important," Stricker said. "It's a good start for tomorrow. I'll only be about three shots back, and not a lot of guys in between. So I've got a shot at it."

However, Sports Books such as Bodog are heavily favoring Allenby to raise the trophy at the close of Sunday. Allenby is currently listed at 15/8 to claim his third PGA Title inside the state of Hawaii.

Palmer is a slight underdog behind Allenby heading into Sunday, currently listed at 10/3. Palmer has been consistent all week, and if he continues to hit fairways and give himself continual looks at birdies, he could claim the Sony Open championship and get his 2010 PGA Tour campaign off to a fantastic start.

Stricker is tabbed as the "best of the rest." He is the favorite to break out of the pack knotted at 8-under, and claim the Sony Open. He is currently listed at 13/2 to track down, and eclipse both Palmer and Allenby.

Defending Sony Open champion Zach Johnson is another favorite among online sportsbooks to repeat his title, with odds on him listed at 7/1.

Other Notables-

Davis Love III 16/1
Troy Matteson 20/1
Rory Sabbatini 20/1
Nathan Green 40/1
Tom Lehman 50/1
The Field (Any other player) 10/1