Sony Open in Hawaii

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

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]

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

History

[edit]
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

[edit]
Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up Purse ($) Winner's
share ($)
Ref.
Sony Open in Hawaii
2024 United States Grayson Murray 263 −17 Playoff South Korea An Byeong-hun
United States Keegan Bradley
8,300,000 1,494,000
2023 South Korea Kim Si-woo 262 −18 1 stroke United States Hayden Buckley 7,900,000 1,422,000
2022 Japan Hideki Matsuyama 257 −23 Playoff United States Russell Henley 7,500,000 1,350,000
2021 United States Kevin Na 259 −21 1 stroke United States Chris Kirk
Chile Joaquín Niemann
6,600,000 1,188,000
2020 Australia Cameron Smith 269 −11 Playoff United States Brendan Steele 6,600,000 1,188,000
2019 United States Matt Kuchar 258 −22 4 strokes United States Andrew Putnam 6,400,000 1,152,000
2018 United States Patton Kizzire 263 −17 Playoff United States James Hahn 6,200,000 1,116,000
2017 United States Justin Thomas 253 −27 7 strokes England Justin Rose 6,000,000 1,080,000
2016 Argentina Fabián Gómez 260 −20 Playoff United States Brandt Snedeker 5,800,000 1,044,000
2015 United States Jimmy Walker (2) 257 −23 9 strokes United States Scott Piercy 5,600,000 1,008,000
2014 United States Jimmy Walker 263 −17 1 stroke United States Chris Kirk 5,600,000 1,008,000
2013 United States Russell Henley 256 −24 3 strokes South Africa Tim Clark 5,600,000 1,008,000
2012 United States Johnson Wagner 267 −13 2 strokes United States Harrison Frazar
United States Charles Howell III
United States Sean O'Hair
Sweden Carl Pettersson
5,500,000 990,000
2011 United States Mark Wilson 264 −16 2 strokes South Africa Tim Clark
United States Steve Marino
5,500,000 990,000
2010 United States Ryan Palmer 265 −15 1 stroke Australia Robert Allenby 5,500,000 990,000
2009 United States Zach Johnson 265 −15 2 strokes Australia Adam Scott
United States David Toms
5,400,000 972,000
2008 South Korea K. J. Choi 266 −14 3 strokes South Africa Rory Sabbatini 5,300,000 954,000
2007 United States Paul Goydos 266 −14 1 stroke England Luke Donald
United States Charles Howell III
5,200,000 936,000
2006 United States David Toms 261 −19 5 strokes United States Chad Campbell
South Africa Rory Sabbatini
5,100,000 918,000
2005 Fiji Vijay Singh 269 −11 1 stroke South Africa Ernie Els 4,800,000 864,000
2004 South Africa Ernie Els (2) 262 −18 Playoff United States Harrison Frazar 4,800,000 864,000
2003 South Africa Ernie Els 264 −16 Playoff Australia Aaron Baddeley 4,500,000 810,000
2002 United States Jerry Kelly 266 −14 1 stroke United States John Cook 4,000,000 720,000
2001 United States Brad Faxon 260 −20 4 strokes United States Tom Lehman 4,000,000 720,000
2000 United States Paul Azinger 261 −19 7 strokes Australia Stuart Appleby 2,900,000 522,000
1999 United States Jeff Sluman 271 −9 2 strokes United States Davis Love III
United States Jeff Maggert
United States Len Mattiace
United States Chris Perry
United States Tommy Tolles
2,600,000 468,000
United Airlines Hawaiian Open
1998 United States John Huston 260 −28 7 strokes United States Tom Watson 1,800,000 324,000
1997 United States Paul Stankowski 271 −17 Playoff United States Jim Furyk
United States Mike Reid
1,200,000 216,000
1996 United States Jim Furyk 277 −11 Playoff United States Brad Faxon 1,200,000 216,000
1995 United States John Morse 269 −19 3 strokes United States Tom Lehman
United States Duffy Waldorf
1,200,000 216,000
1994 Australia Brett Ogle 269 −19 1 stroke United States Davis Love III 1,200,000 216,000
1993 United States Howard Twitty 269 −19 4 strokes United States Joey Sindelar 1,200,000 216,000
1992 United States John Cook 265 −23 2 strokes United States Paul Azinger 1,200,000 216,000
United Hawaiian Open
1991 United States Lanny Wadkins (2) 270 −18 4 strokes United States John Cook 1,100,000 198,000
Hawaiian Open
1990 United States David Ishii 279 −9 1 stroke United States Paul Azinger 1,000,000 180,000
1989 United States Gene Sauers 197[b] −19 1 stroke United States David Ogrin 750,000 135,000
1988 United States Lanny Wadkins 271 −17 1 stroke Canada Richard Zokol 600,000 108,000
1987 United States Corey Pavin (2) 270 −18 Playoff United States Craig Stadler 600,000 108,000
1986 United States Corey Pavin 272 −16 2 strokes United States Paul Azinger 500,000 90,000
1985 United States Mark O'Meara 267 −21 1 stroke United States Craig Stadler 500,000 90,000
1984 United States Jack Renner 271 −17 Playoff United States Wayne Levi 500,000 90,000
1983 Japan Isao Aoki 268 −20 1 stroke United States Jack Renner 325,000 58,500
1982 United States Wayne Levi 277 −11 1 stroke United States Scott Simpson 325,000 58,500
1981 United States Hale Irwin 265 −23 6 strokes United States Don January 325,000 58,500
1980 United States Andy Bean 266 −22 3 strokes United States Lee Trevino 325,000 58,500
1979 United States Hubert Green (2) 267 −21 3 strokes United States Fuzzy Zoeller 300,000 54,000
1978 United States Hubert Green 274 −14 Playoff United States Billy Kratzert 250,000 50,000
1977 United States Bruce Lietzke 273 −15 3 strokes United States Don January
Japan Takashi Murakami
240,000 48,000
1976 United States Ben Crenshaw 270 −18 4 strokes United States Hale Irwin
United States Larry Nelson
230,000 46,000
1975 United States Gary Groh 274 −14 1 stroke United States Al Geiberger 220,000 44,000
1974 United States Jack Nicklaus 271 −17 3 strokes United States Eddie Pearce 220,000 44,000
1973 United States John Schlee 273 −15 2 strokes United States Orville Moody 200,000 40,000
1972 United States Grier Jones 274 −14 Playoff United States Bob Murphy 200,000 40,000
1971 United States Tom Shaw 273 −15 1 stroke United States Miller Barber 200,000 40,000
1970: No tournament
1969 Australia Bruce Crampton 274 −14 4 strokes United States Jack Nicklaus 125,000 25,000
1968 United States Lee Trevino 272 −16 2 strokes United States George Archer 125,000 25,000
1967 United States Dudley Wysong 284 −4 Playoff United States Billy Casper 100,000 20,000
1966 United States Ted Makalena 271 −17 3 strokes United States Billy Casper
United States Gay Brewer
42,500 8,500
1965 United States Gay Brewer 281 −7 Playoff United States 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 United States Cary Middlecoff 274 −10 2,000
1947 United States Dutch Harrison 275 −13 2,000
1929 United States Craig Wood 289 +1 1,600
1928 United States Bill Mehlhorn 291

Multiple winners

[edit]

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

Records

[edit]

References

[edit]
  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

[edit]
  1. ^ PGA Tour aggregate scoring record.[1]
  2. ^ Shortened to 54 holes due to rain.
[edit]

21°16′19″N 157°46′30″W / 21.272°N 157.775°W / 21.272; -157.775