PGA First Look: Sony Open
The PGA First Look is complete with a course preview, odds, salaries, Official World Golf Rankings, and course history.
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Sony Open Preview
After the SBS Tournament of Champions, the PGA Tour stays in Hawaii for the Sony Open. This is the first full field event of 2017 and we actually have a strong field, headlined by Jordan Spieth and Hideki Matsuyama. Strangely enough, in five combined appearances, they have missed four cuts and have an MDF. Even though this is the second tournament in Hawaii in as many weeks, it is a drastically different course than the one we saw last week. Waialae Country Club is a Par 70 that measures only 7,068 yards. The fairways last week were wide and easy to hit, but that’s not the case this week. In fact, many players will be forced to club down off the tee thanks to the tree-lined fairways that await them on this short track. Over the last five seasons, players have hit less than 50% of fairways at this event, which makes it one of the most difficult driving courses on tour.
This course features only two par fives, which is a big change from the four featured on last week’s course. Par four scoring will be critical this week, as 12 of the 18 holes are par fours. The course has Bermuda Grass on both the fairways and the greens, so looking into Bermuda Grass specialists is not a bad idea. This is an event where many of the same golfers compete year in and year out, so course history is a little more important than it is for most tournaments (although I’m going to throw the course history for Spieth and Matsuyama out the window). Even though there won’t be a ton of drivers hit this week, this is still an easy course. The winner will likely finish around 20-under par, so birdie makers have the edge once again. I am also giving a small edge to experience, as only one golfer under the age of 30 has won here since 1997.
Cut Rule:The top 70 and ties will move on after the first two rounds.
Recent Winners of this Event: Fabian Gomez (2016), Jimmy Walker (2015 & 2014), Russell Henley (2013), Johnson Wagner (2012)
Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)
1) Strokes Gained Tee to Green
2) Birdie or Better %
3) Par 4 Scoring
4) Strokes Gained Putting
5) Ball Striking
6) Scrambling
Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2011-2015)
| Golfer | Salary | OWGR | Odds | + / – | Cuts | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Spieth | $11,500 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0/1 | 500 | 500 | 96 | 500 | 500 |
| Hideki Matsuyama | $11,000 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 1/3 | 500 | 78 | 500 | 105 | 105 |
| Justin Thomas | $10,500 | 22 | 14 | 0 | 1/2 | 113 | 6 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Jimmy Walker | $9,900 | 19 | 21 | 0 | 4/5 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 80 |
| Brandt Snedeker | $9,700 | 26 | 26 | -1 | 1/1 | 2 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Paul Casey | $9,500 | 13 | 25 | 1 | 1/1 | 500 | 30 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Justin Rose | $9,300 | 14 | 28 | 0 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Gary Woodland | $9,100 | 45 | 33 | 0 | 2/2 | 13 | 3 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Scott Piercy | $8,900 | 32 | 40 | -4 | 4/5 | 13 | 2 | 80 | 15 | 23 |
| Daniel Berger | $8,800 | 29 | 37 | 1 | 2/2 | 42 | 13 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Russell Henley | $8,600 | 117 | 49 | -7 | 3/4 | 131 | 17 | 51 | 1 | 500 |
| Zach Johnson | $8,500 | 35 | 48 | -4 | 4/5 | 9 | 64 | 8 | 75 | 54 |
| Bill Haas | $8,400 | 38 | 39 | 2 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Ryan Palmer | $8,300 | 68 | 54 | -6 | 4/5 | 13 | 17 | 8 | 66 | 105 |
| Marc Leishman | $8,200 | 53 | 63 | -10 | 4/4 | 28 | 37 | 5 | 9 | 500 |
| Russell Knox | $8,100 | 18 | 39 | 4 | 1/5 | 88 | 13 | 80 | 75 | 80 |
| Fabian Gomez | $8,100 | 83 | 82 | -19 | 3/3 | 1 | 71 | 500 | 67 | 500 |
| Pat Perez | $8,000 | 106 | 38 | 8 | 5/5 | 81 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 46 |
| Billy Horschel | $8,000 | 76 | 43 | 4 | 1/1 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 54 | 500 |
| Keegan Bradley | $8,000 | 98 | 62 | -5 | 2/3 | 123 | 500 | 500 | 49 | 13 |
| William McGirt | $7,900 | 48 | 61 | -1 | 4/4 | 13 | 71 | 46 | 500 | 19 |
| Si Woo Kim | $7,900 | 54 | 77 | -9 | 1/1 | 4 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Anirban Lahiri | $7,900 | 78 | 91 | -16 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Charles Howell | $7,800 | 97 | 44 | 9 | 5/5 | 13 | 26 | 8 | 3 | 2 |
| Jamie Lovemark | $7,800 | 100 | 75 | -4 | 1/2 | 7 | 500 | 123 | 500 | 500 |
| Harold Varner | $7,800 | 191 | 76 | -5 | 1/1 | 13 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Jason Dufner | $7,700 | 58 | 49 | 10 | 2/3 | 9 | 500 | 29 | 500 | 99 |
| Chris Kirk | $7,700 | 71 | 49 | 8 | 4/5 | 96 | 26 | 2 | 5 | 38 |
| Kevin Na | $7,700 | 39 | 67 | 1 | 3/5 | 28 | 64 | 8 | 75 | 126 |
| Luke List | $7,700 | 202 | 79 | -6 | 0/2 | 88 | 500 | 500 | 111 | 500 |
| Soren Kjeldsen | $7,600 | 50 | 89 | -5 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Stewart Cink | $7,600 | 255 | 107 | -10 | 4/5 | 42 | 37 | 20 | 117 | 29 |
| Zac Blair | $7,600 | 251 | 113 | -13 | 2/2 | 3 | 6 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Branden Grace | $7,500 | 16 | 61 | 13 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Harris English | $7,500 | 72 | 62 | 10 | 5/5 | 56 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 67 |
| Chez Reavie | $7,500 | 126 | 133 | -15 | 2/3 | 42 | 26 | 500 | 105 | 500 |
| Kevin Kisner | $7,400 | 41 | 77 | 6 | 2/4 | 5 | 84 | 80 | 500 | 139 |
| Tony Finau | $7,400 | 84 | 77 | 5 | 1/2 | 64 | 86 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| John Huh | $7,400 | 221 | 139 | -16 | 5/5 | 33 | 78 | 72 | 31 | 53 |
| Whee Kim | $7,300 | 252 | 142 | -16 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Smylie Kaufman | $7,300 | 96 | 154 | -22 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Chad Campbell | $7,300 | 201 | 166 | -28 | 3/4 | 67 | 133 | 500 | 41 | 71 |
| Camilo Villegas | $7,200 | 424 | 106 | 3 | 1/2 | 113 | 44 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Brian Harman | $7,200 | 127 | 115 | -2 | 4/5 | 13 | 13 | 32 | 121 | 59 |
| Sean O’Hair | $7,200 | 80 | 116 | -3 | 2/4 | 42 | 133 | 138 | 500 | 2 |
| Mackenzie Hughes | $7,100 | 287 | 120 | -1 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Henrik Norlander | $7,100 | 441 | 144 | -11 | 1/2 | 104 | 500 | 500 | 41 | 500 |
| Johnson Wagner | $7,100 | 151 | 149 | -15 | 1/5 | 88 | 126 | 80 | 75 | 1 |
| Jim Herman | $7,100 | 91 | 156 | -17 | 2/4 | 84 | 78 | 80 | 111 | 500 |
| Xander Schauffele | $7,100 | 289 | 222 | -30 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Hudson Swafford | $7,000 | 217 | 80 | 17 | 2/3 | 9 | 101 | 8 | 500 | 500 |
| David Lingmerth | $7,000 | 65 | 126 | 3 | 2/4 | 13 | 86 | 96 | 31 | 500 |
| John Peterson | $7,000 | 667 | 147 | -8 | 2/2 | 500 | 37 | 20 | 500 | 500 |
| John Senden | $7,000 | 135 | 163 | -15 | 5/5 | 42 | 83 | 61 | 26 | 23 |
| Ryan Blaum | $7,000 | 335 | 176 | -18 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Seung-Yul Noh | $7,000 | 329 | 199 | -23 | 3/4 | 28 | 110 | 61 | 500 | 66 |
| Ollie Schniederjans | $6,900 | 197 | 203 | -18 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Vaughn Taylor | $6,900 | 119 | 229 | -23 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Morgan Hoffmann | $6,900 | 274 | 238 | -25 | 4/4 | 13 | 51 | 65 | 67 | 500 |
| Sung Kang | $6,900 | 194 | 271 | -38 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Brian Gay | $6,900 | 743 | 306 | -51 | 3/4 | 96 | 500 | 32 | 31 | 6 |
| Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano | $6,900 | 647 | 312 | -55 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Andres Gonzales | $6,900 | 291 | 344 | -61 | 0/1 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 111 | 500 |
| Webb Simpson | $6,800 | 79 | 72 | 37 | 4/4 | 13 | 13 | 500 | 20 | 38 |
| Cody Gribble | $6,800 | 195 | 99 | 26 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Patrick Rodgers | $6,800 | 144 | 101 | 25 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Cameron Smith | $6,800 | 167 | 108 | 22 | 1/1 | 81 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Jerry Kelly | $6,800 | 105 | 111 | 21 | 4/5 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 75 | 29 |
| James Hahn | $6,800 | 61 | 134 | 14 | 4/4 | 28 | 26 | 46 | 67 | 500 |
| Kyle Stanley | $6,800 | 262 | 138 | 13 | 3/3 | 13 | 500 | 500 | 67 | 23 |
| Bryson DeChambeau | $6,800 | 113 | 138 | 13 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Wesley Bryan | $6,700 | 118 | 139 | 19 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Daniel Summerhays | $6,700 | 69 | 162 | 7 | 4/5 | 13 | 17 | 46 | 76 | 46 |
| Michael Kim | $6,700 | 276 | 238 | -10 | 0/1 | 96 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| David Toms | $6,700 | 265 | 262 | -19 | 0/1 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 80 |
| Satoshi Kodaira | $6,700 | 114 | 271 | -23 | 1/1 | 81 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Kyle Reifers | $6,700 | 132 | 274 | -25 | 1/3 | 33 | 101 | 500 | 500 | 80 |
| Rory Sabbatini | $6,700 | 417 | 274 | -25 | 3/5 | 96 | 6 | 104 | 59 | 29 |
| Boo Weekley | $6,700 | 238 | 285 | -31 | 2/4 | 88 | 44 | 29 | 111 | 500 |
| Cheng-Tsung Pan | $6,600 | 215 | 140 | 25 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Brian Stuard | $6,600 | 154 | 144 | 23 | 2/3 | 500 | 101 | 6 | 5 | 500 |
| Robert Streb | $6,600 | 92 | 148 | 20 | 3/3 | 500 | 17 | 68 | 73 | 500 |
| Ben Martin | $6,600 | 147 | 187 | 8 | 3/3 | 50 | 51 | 38 | 500 | 500 |
| Michael Thompson | $6,600 | 242 | 193 | 7 | 2/4 | 56 | 500 | 118 | 76 | 6 |
| K.J. Choi | $6,600 | 143 | 259 | -10 | 4/5 | 50 | 44 | 20 | 88 | 38 |
| Colt Knost | $6,600 | 128 | 268 | -14 | 3/4 | 75 | 17 | 500 | 76 | 23 |
| J.J. Henry | $6,600 | 461 | 494 | -50 | 2/3 | 70 | 30 | 500 | 88 | 500 |
| Shawn Stefani | $6,500 | 294 | 165 | 21 | 3/3 | 50 | 6 | 500 | 59 | 500 |
| Billy Hurley | $6,500 | 124 | 185 | 17 | 2/3 | 500 | 86 | 38 | 500 | 71 |
| Bud Cauley | $6,500 | 304 | 224 | 10 | 1/3 | 500 | 500 | 141 | 97 | 29 |
| Scott Brown | $6,500 | 196 | 265 | -4 | 1/3 | 500 | 86 | 68 | 500 | 139 |
| Ryan Brehm | $6,500 | 229 | 306 | -20 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Vijay Singh | $6,500 | 170 | 335 | -28 | 3/5 | 50 | 110 | 104 | 20 | 46 |
| Yusaku Miyazato | $6,500 | 145 | 459 | -39 | 1/3 | 70 | 140 | 104 | 500 | 500 |
| Derek Fathauer | $6,400 | 175 | 181 | 25 | 2/2 | 79 | 68 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Seamus Power | $6,400 | 319 | 222 | 19 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| David Hearn | $6,400 | 142 | 232 | 14 | 5/5 | 75 | 51 | 38 | 31 | 10 |
| Daisuke Kataoka | $6,400 | 122 | 238 | 13 | 1/1 | 33 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Hideto Tanihara | $6,400 | 59 | 238 | 13 | 3/3 | 73 | 500 | 8 | 54 | 500 |
| Jason Bohn | $6,400 | 177 | 250 | 6 | 0/2 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 88 | 126 |
| Hiroshi Iwata | $6,400 | 235 | 265 | 3 | 0/2 | 104 | 101 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Jonas Blixt | $6,400 | 205 | 291 | -10 | 1/3 | 141 | 500 | 500 | 97 | 54 |
| Rod Pampling | $6,300 | 166 | 156 | 40 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Ricky Barnes | $6,300 | 200 | 288 | -1 | 3/5 | 56 | 123 | 38 | 20 | 99 |
| Spencer Levin | $6,300 | 226 | 306 | -5 | 4/4 | 56 | 51 | 29 | 500 | 23 |
| Jon Curran | $6,300 | 109 | 306 | -5 | 0/2 | 104 | 101 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Tyrone Van Aswegen | $6,300 | 230 | 362 | -17 | 2/2 | 64 | 500 | 61 | 500 | 500 |
| Nicholas Lindheim | $6,300 | 281 | 371 | -18 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Miguel Angel Carballo | $6,300 | 425 | 441 | -21 | 1/3 | 137 | 500 | 72 | 500 | 121 |
| Ken Duke | $6,300 | 290 | 441 | -21 | 2/3 | 500 | 500 | 72 | 88 | 59 |
| Mark Hubbard | $6,300 | 463 | 512 | -29 | 2/2 | 56 | 60 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Ben Crane | $6,200 | 379 | 224 | 34 | 0/1 | 96 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Troy Merritt | $6,200 | 141 | 244 | 26 | 1/3 | 137 | 30 | 80 | 500 | 500 |
| Will MacKenzie | $6,200 | 447 | 244 | 26 | 0/2 | 134 | 500 | 80 | 500 | 500 |
| Steve Marino | $6,200 | 312 | 247 | 24 | 1/2 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 59 | 105 |
| Nick Taylor | $6,200 | 389 | 282 | 11 | 2/2 | 74 | 68 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Trey Mullinax | $6,200 | 317 | 291 | 7 | 0/1 | 500 | 101 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Hyung-Sung Kim | $6,200 | 403 | -10 | 2/3 | 96 | 30 | 65 | 500 | 500 | |
| Tag Ridings | $6,200 | 627 | 447 | -14 | 0/1 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 75 | 500 |
| Kevin Hayashi | $6,200 | 1112 | -28 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | |
| Kelly Kraft | $6,100 | 434 | 279 | 21 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Tim Wilkinson | $6,100 | 396 | 284 | 19 | 2/3 | 50 | 86 | 46 | 500 | 500 |
| Cameron Percy | $6,100 | 405 | 297 | 14 | 1/2 | 500 | 116 | 500 | 59 | 500 |
| Carl Pettersson | $6,100 | 547 | 318 | 7 | 2/5 | 123 | 86 | 131 | 59 | 2 |
| JT Poston | $6,100 | 316 | 324 | 6 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Y.E. Yang | $6,100 | 365 | 335 | 5 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Brandon Hagy | $6,100 | 346 | 415 | -2 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Bob Estes | $6,100 | 500 | -10 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | |
| Matt Every | $6,100 | 450 | 529 | -12 | 2/3 | 500 | DQ | 8 | 76 | 6 |
| Miguel Tabuena | $6,100 | 153 | 588 | -14 | 0/2 | 96 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 116 |
| Bryce Molder | $6,000 | 173 | 276 | 32 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| J.J. Spaun | $6,000 | 148 | 315 | 18 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Greg Chalmers | $6,000 | 285 | 353 | 12 | 1/1 | 500 | 500 | 51 | 500 | 500 |
| Peter Malnati | $6,000 | 293 | 468 | 3 | 2/2 | 79 | 500 | 38 | 500 | 500 |
| Steven Alker | $6,000 | 537 | 482 | 2 | 0/2 | 500 | 133 | 500 | 76 | 500 |
| Chad Collins | $6,000 | 338 | 568 | -3 | 2/4 | 113 | 30 | 46 | 500 | 80 |
| Steven Bowditch | $6,000 | 231 | 771 | -5 | 4/4 | 87 | 37 | 51 | 67 | 500 |
| Fred Funk | $6,000 | 838 | -6 | 1/4 | 42 | 126 | 123 | 75 | 500 | |
| Parker McLachlin | $6,000 | 915 | -7 | 0/2 | 113 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 121 | |
| Brent Grant | $6,000 | 950 | -8 | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
Color Coding
Course history in BLUE indicates a top ten finish.
Course history in GREEN indicates a top 25 finish.
Course history in YELLOW indicates a made cut with a finish outside of the top 25.
Course history in RED indicates a missed cut.
Legend
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| + / – | The difference between a golfer’s salary and odds rank. This can help you spot underpriced golfers. |
| OWGR | Official World Golf Ranking |
| Cuts | Cut record of each golfer at this course in the last five seasons. |
| 2011 – 2015 Columns | Course history at this event in the last five seasons. |