2026 Sony Open in Hawaii - Patio Preview, Key Stats, Tournament Trends & Early Models
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We are soooo back!
The PGA season is finally back in session, with the golf action kicking off in Hawaii at the Sony Open THIS weekend. We had plenty of success at the Sony last year, and we’re looking to start the 2026 season with similar momentum.
Patio Preview
Waialae Country Club
Honolulu, Hawaii
Host of the Sony Open (formerly the Hawaiian Open) dating back to the mid-60s, over 60 years
In jeopardy because Kapalua was cancelled, and the Sony sponsorship is up after this year
Field Size: 120 players
Top 65+ Ties make the cut after 2 rounds
Par 70, ~7,050 yards (SHORT)
Greens: Bermuda, 7,000+ sq ft (LARGE)
Stimpmeter: 11.5 (AVG)
80+ bunkers
Water in play on fewer than 1/3 of holes
Generally considered to be an easy course with average missed fairway and rough penalties
5-year course average Driver Usage slightly below Tour average, but drives of 320+ yards more than 5% above Tour average.
Driving accuracy slightly below Tour average
GIR% 5% above Tour average, both from fairway and rough.
Fairway bunkers aren’t extremely penal
GIR% from fairway bunkers almost 20% above Tour average of 48.3%
Players go for the green about 9% more than Tour average at Waialae, and they hit the green about 16% more than Tour Average
Overall proximity 2.5-3 feet shorter here than Tour Average
Over 60% of approach shots will come from 150+ yards
Over 80% from 125+
Despite big greens, scrambling still comes into play, especially if there’s wind
One-putt % slightly below Tour Average
3-putt avoidance % right around average
% of made putts from pretty much any distance slightly above average
Scoring average around 68.5
Birdie-to-Bogey radio 1.68 vs Tour Average of 1.44
Recent Tournament History
2025: Nick Taylor -16 (66-68-65-65); Playoff Victory over Nico Echavarria
2024: Grayson Murray -17 (69-63-64-67); Playoff Victory over Keegan & Benny An
2023: Si Woo Kim -18 (67-67-64-64); 1 Stroke Victory over Hayden Buckley
2022: Hideki Matsuyama -23 (66-65-63-63); Playoff Victory over Russell Henley
2021: Kevin Na -21 (67-66-61-65); 1 Stroke Victory over Chris Kirk & Joaquin Niemann
2020: Cameron Smith -11 (70-65-66-68); 1 Stroke Victory over Brendan Steele
FOLLOW EACH MEMBER OF THE CLUBHOUSE CREW ON THEIR SOCIALS!
Champ - @Champs311
Sammy - @SammyAvBets
Key Stats
Tier 1
Strokes Gained: Approach
Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green
Strokes Gained: Putting (Bermuda)
Birdie-or-Better%
Bogey Avoidance%
Tier 2
Good Drives
Par 4 Birdie-or-Better%
Going-For-Green%
3-Putt Avoidance (Bermuda)
Putting Inside 10 Feet (Bermuda)
Tier 3
Distance from Edge of Fairway
Scrambling
Approach from 150-200 Yards
Approach from 200+ Yards
Shots Gained: Total (Very Easy/Easy Courses)
Champ’s Course Comps
Austin Country Club
Colonial Country Club
Harbour Town Golf Links
Last 6 Sony Open Tournament Trends
Odds
0-25: 2022
26-50: 2023, 2020
51-100: 2025, 2021
101+: 2024
Winner’s Strokes Behind Leader By Round
R1: 5/6 (83%) trailed by 3 or more (0/6 led)
R2: 4/6 (67%) trailed by 3 or more (0/6 led)
R3: 6/6 (100%) within 3 shots (1/6 led)
Winner’s Lead-In Form
5/6 (83%) made the cut in their previous start
5/6 (83%) with at a Top 20 finish in their last 4 starts
4/6 (67%) with a Top 10 finish in their last 4 starts
3/6 (50%) with a Top 5 finish in their last 4 starts
2/6 (33%) with a WIN in their last 4 starts
Winner’s Sony Open History
5/6 (83%) with at least 4 previous starts at the Sony Open
4/6 (67%) made the cut in their prior start at the Sony Open
4/6 (67%) with at least 1 Top 25 finish in their last 2 Sony Open
4/6 (67%) with a Top 20 finish in their last 4 Sony Opens
2/6 (33%) with at least 2 Top 20 finishes in their last 4 Sony Open
2/6 (33%) made their last tournament start in November
1/6 (17%) with a Top 10 finish in their last 4 Sony Opens
1/6 (17%) made their last tournament start in December
First Round Leader Tee Splits
AM: 67% (2025, 2023, 2021, 2020)
PM: 83% (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021)
*results can include instances where FRL from both AM/PM and both get credited with a win.
Early Models
Become a Clubhouse Member to unlock Champ and Sammy’s full models, including our model weights where applicable
