The Sony Open in Hawaii is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, and is part of the tour's FedEx Cup Series. It has been contested at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Hawaii, since the event's modern-day inception as the Hawaiian Open in November 1965.[2]

Sony Open in Hawaii
Tournament information
LocationHonolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Established1965
Course(s)Waialae Country Club
Par70
Length7,044 yards (6,441 m)
Organized byFriends of Hawaii Charities
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$8,300,000
Month playedJanuary
Tournament record score
Aggregate253[a] Justin Thomas (2017)
To par−28 John Huston (1998)
Current champion
United States Grayson Murray
Location map
Waialae Country Club is located in Hawaii
Waialae Country Club
Waialae Country Club
Location in Hawaii

In addition to the usual PGA Tour eligibility criteria, the Sony Open may invite up to three professional golfers from emerging markets.[3]

History

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Setting for the Sony Open: the Waialae Country Club on Oahu

Originally a mid-autumn event for its first five editions, it was skipped in 1970 as it moved to its winter slot in early February 1971.[4] Currently, it is held in mid-January and is the first full-field event of the calendar year, following the Tournament of Champions on Maui. The front and back nines of Waialae are switched for the PGA Tour event, finishing at the dogleg ninth hole.[5]

The first lead sponsor was United Airlines in 1991, succeeded by current sponsor Sony in 1999. There have been five multiple winners of the tournament, all two-time champions: Hubert Green, Corey Pavin, Lanny Wadkins, Ernie Els, and Jimmy Walker. All have won major championships. The tournament is currently organized by Friends of Hawaii Charities.[6]

In 1983, forty-year-old Isao Aoki became Japan's first winner on the PGA Tour. He holed out a wedge shot for an eagle-3 on the 72nd hole to beat Jack Renner by a stroke.[7][8]

In 1998, John Huston broke the then PGA Tour scoring record to par. He shot 28 under par, beating Ben Hogan's record originally set in 1945.[9]

The Sony Open gained attention for granting four consecutive sponsor invitations (PGA Tour Exemption #11) to Michelle Wie, the first in 2004 when she was age 14.[10] She missed the cut in all four appearances,[11] and did not receive one of the four available sponsor exemptions in 2008. One of the invitations went to Alex Ching, a 17-year-old former high school classmate of Wie.

In 2007, amateur Tadd Fujikawa become the second youngest player ever (16 years, 4 days) to make a 36-hole cut in an official PGA Tour event.[11][12] His achievement was highlighted by a 15-foot (4.6 m) eagle putt on his 36th hole, Waialae's 551-yard par-5 18th. Incidentally, the PGA Tour's 2006 media guide shows that the youngest player ever to make a 36-hole cut in an official Tour event was Bob Panasik (15 years, 8 months, and 20 days) in 1957 at the Canadian Open,[13] 3½ months younger than Fujikawa.

 
PGA Tour golfer Ben Martin (left) at a Birdies for the Brave event following his round at the 2014 Sony Open

Preparations for the 2018 Sony Open were briefly disrupted by a false emergency alert stating that a ballistic missile had been launched toward Hawaii. Staff members reportedly attempted to take shelter in the players' locker room, the media center was ordered to evacuate, and several players posted messages on social media about the erroneous alert, which was sent to all smartphones in the state.[14] The alert was ultimately determined to have been sent in error.[15] Before the final round, Golf Channel cameramen also staged a walkout.[16]

Winners

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Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up Purse ($) Winner's
share ($)
Ref.
Sony Open in Hawaii
2024   Grayson Murray 263 −17 Playoff   An Byeong-hun
  Keegan Bradley
8,300,000 1,494,000
2023   Kim Si-woo 262 −18 1 stroke   Hayden Buckley 7,900,000 1,422,000
2022   Hideki Matsuyama 257 −23 Playoff   Russell Henley 7,500,000 1,350,000
2021   Kevin Na 259 −21 1 stroke   Chris Kirk
  Joaquín Niemann
6,600,000 1,188,000
2020   Cameron Smith 269 −11 Playoff   Brendan Steele 6,600,000 1,188,000
2019   Matt Kuchar 258 −22 4 strokes   Andrew Putnam 6,400,000 1,152,000
2018   Patton Kizzire 263 −17 Playoff   James Hahn 6,200,000 1,116,000
2017   Justin Thomas 253 −27 7 strokes   Justin Rose 6,000,000 1,080,000
2016   Fabián Gómez 260 −20 Playoff   Brandt Snedeker 5,800,000 1,044,000
2015   Jimmy Walker (2) 257 −23 9 strokes   Scott Piercy 5,600,000 1,008,000
2014   Jimmy Walker 263 −17 1 stroke   Chris Kirk 5,600,000 1,008,000
2013   Russell Henley 256 −24 3 strokes   Tim Clark 5,600,000 1,008,000
2012   Johnson Wagner 267 −13 2 strokes   Harrison Frazar
  Charles Howell III
  Sean O'Hair
  Carl Pettersson
5,500,000 990,000
2011   Mark Wilson 264 −16 2 strokes   Tim Clark
  Steve Marino
5,500,000 990,000
2010   Ryan Palmer 265 −15 1 stroke   Robert Allenby 5,500,000 990,000
2009   Zach Johnson 265 −15 2 strokes   Adam Scott
  David Toms
5,400,000 972,000
2008   K. J. Choi 266 −14 3 strokes   Rory Sabbatini 5,300,000 954,000
2007   Paul Goydos 266 −14 1 stroke   Luke Donald
  Charles Howell III
5,200,000 936,000
2006   David Toms 261 −19 5 strokes   Chad Campbell
  Rory Sabbatini
5,100,000 918,000
2005   Vijay Singh 269 −11 1 stroke   Ernie Els 4,800,000 864,000
2004   Ernie Els (2) 262 −18 Playoff   Harrison Frazar 4,800,000 864,000
2003   Ernie Els 264 −16 Playoff   Aaron Baddeley 4,500,000 810,000
2002   Jerry Kelly 266 −14 1 stroke   John Cook 4,000,000 720,000
2001   Brad Faxon 260 −20 4 strokes   Tom Lehman 4,000,000 720,000
2000   Paul Azinger 261 −19 7 strokes   Stuart Appleby 2,900,000 522,000
1999   Jeff Sluman 271 −9 2 strokes   Davis Love III
  Jeff Maggert
  Len Mattiace
  Chris Perry
  Tommy Tolles
2,600,000 468,000
United Airlines Hawaiian Open
1998   John Huston 260 −28 7 strokes   Tom Watson 1,800,000 324,000
1997   Paul Stankowski 271 −17 Playoff   Jim Furyk
  Mike Reid
1,200,000 216,000
1996   Jim Furyk 277 −11 Playoff   Brad Faxon 1,200,000 216,000
1995   John Morse 269 −19 3 strokes   Tom Lehman
  Duffy Waldorf
1,200,000 216,000
1994   Brett Ogle 269 −19 1 stroke   Davis Love III 1,200,000 216,000
1993   Howard Twitty 269 −19 4 strokes   Joey Sindelar 1,200,000 216,000
1992   John Cook 265 −23 2 strokes   Paul Azinger 1,200,000 216,000
United Hawaiian Open
1991   Lanny Wadkins (2) 270 −18 4 strokes   John Cook 1,100,000 198,000
Hawaiian Open
1990   David Ishii 279 −9 1 stroke   Paul Azinger 1,000,000 180,000
1989   Gene Sauers 197[b] −19 1 stroke   David Ogrin 750,000 135,000
1988   Lanny Wadkins 271 −17 1 stroke   Richard Zokol 600,000 108,000
1987   Corey Pavin (2) 270 −18 Playoff   Craig Stadler 600,000 108,000
1986   Corey Pavin 272 −16 2 strokes   Paul Azinger 500,000 90,000
1985   Mark O'Meara 267 −21 1 stroke   Craig Stadler 500,000 90,000
1984   Jack Renner 271 −17 Playoff   Wayne Levi 500,000 90,000
1983   Isao Aoki 268 −20 1 stroke   Jack Renner 325,000 58,500
1982   Wayne Levi 277 −11 1 stroke   Scott Simpson 325,000 58,500
1981   Hale Irwin 265 −23 6 strokes   Don January 325,000 58,500
1980   Andy Bean 266 −22 3 strokes   Lee Trevino 325,000 58,500
1979   Hubert Green (2) 267 −21 3 strokes   Fuzzy Zoeller 300,000 54,000
1978   Hubert Green 274 −14 Playoff   Billy Kratzert 250,000 50,000
1977   Bruce Lietzke 273 −15 3 strokes   Don January
  Takashi Murakami
240,000 48,000
1976   Ben Crenshaw 270 −18 4 strokes   Hale Irwin
  Larry Nelson
230,000 46,000
1975   Gary Groh 274 −14 1 stroke   Al Geiberger 220,000 44,000
1974   Jack Nicklaus 271 −17 3 strokes   Eddie Pearce 220,000 44,000
1973   John Schlee 273 −15 2 strokes   Orville Moody 200,000 40,000
1972   Grier Jones 274 −14 Playoff   Bob Murphy 200,000 40,000
1971   Tom Shaw 273 −15 1 stroke   Miller Barber 200,000 40,000
1970: No tournament
1969   Bruce Crampton 274 −14 4 strokes   Jack Nicklaus 125,000 25,000
1968   Lee Trevino 272 −16 2 strokes   George Archer 125,000 25,000
1967   Dudley Wysong 284 −4 Playoff   Billy Casper 100,000 20,000
1966   Ted Makalena 271 −17 3 strokes   Billy Casper
  Gay Brewer
42,500 8,500
1965   Gay Brewer 281 −7 Playoff   Bob Goalby 45,000 9,000

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.

Previous incarnations recognized by PGA Tour
Year Player Score To par Winner's
share ($)
1948   Cary Middlecoff 274 −10 2,000
1947   Dutch Harrison 275 −13 2,000
1929   Craig Wood 289 +1 1,600
1928   Bill Mehlhorn 291

Multiple winners

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Five men have won this tournament more than once through 2023.

Records

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References

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  1. ^ Porter, Kyle. "Justin Thomas sets PGA Tour scoring record in stunning showing at Sony Open". CBS Sports. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  2. ^ "Gay Brewer birdies 73d, nips Goalby". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 8, 1965. p. 13.
  3. ^ "2015–16 PGA Tour Player Handbook & Tournament Regulations" (PDF). October 5, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 12, 2016.
  4. ^ "Shaw charges, bags Hawaiian Open victory". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire services. February 8, 1971. p. 3B.
  5. ^ "Waialae Country Club – Course Tour". Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
  6. ^ "Sony Open In Hawaii - Charity". Archived from the original on 2014-12-05. Retrieved 2013-06-23.
  7. ^ "Aoki's wedge shot steals golf tourney". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI. February 14, 1983. p. 3B.
  8. ^ "Aoki's eagle feathers PGA win". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. February 14, 1983. p. 16.
  9. ^ "Huston breaks Hogan's 53-year-old record". The Irish Times. February 16, 1998. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  10. ^ "Wie shoots 72 at PGA tourney". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 16, 2004. p. C5.
  11. ^ a b "Hawaii teen makes history". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 13, 2007. p. B2.
  12. ^ "Finally The Teenager Makes a Cut". Golf Channel. Associated Press. January 12, 2007. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
  13. ^ Sullivan, Jack (July 12, 1957). "Norman could be brightest Canadian on big-time golf tournament trail". Ottawa Citizen. (Canada). Canadian Press. p. 11.
  14. ^ Kohli, Sonali; Ottey and, Michael A.W.; Chang, Heidi (January 13, 2018). "False alert of missile attack sparks panic in Hawaii". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  15. ^ "'Terrifying': False ballistic missile threat alarm sends Hawaii into panic". Hawaii News Now. January 13, 2018. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  16. ^ "Golf Channel Cameramen Walk Amid Coverage of Sony Open". ESPN. Associated Press. January 14, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2018.

Notes

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  1. ^ PGA Tour aggregate scoring record.[1]
  2. ^ Shortened to 54 holes due to rain.
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21°16′19″N 157°46′30″W / 21.272°N 157.775°W / 21.272; -157.775