Sony Open in Hawaii
 | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Established | 1965 |
| Course(s) | Waialae Country Club |
| Par | 70 |
| Length | 7,044 yards (6,441 m) |
| Organized by | Friends of Hawaii Charities |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play |
| Prize fund | US$8,300,000 |
| Month played | January |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 253[a] Justin Thomas (2017) |
| To par | −28 John Huston (1998) |
| Current champion | |
 Kim Si-woo | |
| Location map | |
  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
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.
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
| Year | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up | Purse ($) | Winner's share ($) |
Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony Open in Hawaii | ||||||||
| 2024 |  |
|
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
Five men have won this tournament more than once through 2023.
- 2 wins
- Hubert Green: 1978, 1979
- Corey Pavin: 1986, 1987
- Lanny Wadkins: 1988, 1991
- Ernie Els: 2003, 2004
- Jimmy Walker: 2014, 2015
Records
- Tournament record: 253 (Justin Thomas, 2017)
- 54-hole record: 188 (Justin Thomas, 2017)
- 36-hole record: 123 (Justin Thomas, 2017)
- 18-hole record: 59 (Justin Thomas, 2017)
References
- ^ Porter, Kyle. "Justin Thomas sets PGA Tour scoring record in stunning showing at Sony Open". CBS Sports. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
- ^ "Gay Brewer birdies 73d, nips Goalby". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 8, 1965. p. 13.
- ^ "2015–16 PGA Tour Player Handbook & Tournament Regulations" (PDF). October 5, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 12, 2016.
- ^ "Shaw charges, bags Hawaiian Open victory". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire services. February 8, 1971. p. 3B.
- ^ "Waialae Country Club – Course Tour". Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
- ^ "Sony Open In Hawaii - Charity". Archived from the original on 2014-12-05. Retrieved 2013-06-23.
- ^ "Aoki's wedge shot steals golf tourney". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI. February 14, 1983. p. 3B.
- ^ "Aoki's eagle feathers PGA win". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. February 14, 1983. p. 16.
- ^ "Huston breaks Hogan's 53-year-old record". The Irish Times. February 16, 1998. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
- ^ "Wie shoots 72 at PGA tourney". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 16, 2004. p. C5.
- ^ a b "Hawaii teen makes history". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 13, 2007. p. B2.
- ^ "Finally The Teenager Makes a Cut". Golf Channel. Associated Press. January 12, 2007. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
- ^ Sullivan, Jack (July 12, 1957). "Norman could be brightest Canadian on big-time golf tournament trail". Ottawa Citizen. (Canada). Canadian Press. p. 11.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "'Terrifying': False ballistic missile threat alarm sends Hawaii into panic". Hawaii News Now. January 13, 2018. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
- ^ "Golf Channel Cameramen Walk Amid Coverage of Sony Open". ESPN. Associated Press. January 14, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2018.