Waialae Country Club is a scoring test that rewards repeatable approach play and efficient par-4 production. The layout doesn’t require constant driver, but it does demand players who can put the ball in the correct segments and turn looks into birdies before the field runs away.
The market reflects that kind of volatility: a tight top tier, then several playable pockets where course fit can matter as much as headline power. If you’re scanning sites for golf betting, checking PGA Tour odds, or building golf picks this week, this is a tournament to price ball-striking first and let the number do the rest (one small aside: Waialae has a way of turning “good” iron weeks into “winner” weeks fast).
Where Is the Sony Open in Hawaii Played?
The 2026 Sony Open in Hawaii is played at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Hawaii. This course leans into approach precision and par-4 scoring more than raw power. The cleanest paths to contention typically come from steady SG:APP plus enough putting to cash in the birdie chances you create.
How To Watch the Sony Open in Hawaii?
TV coverage is on Golf Channel (Thursday and Friday) and NBC (Saturday and Sunday). Streaming is available via Peacock and ESPN+.
What Is the Sony Open in Hawaii Purse?
The total purse is $9,100,000, with a winner’s share of $1,638,000.
Who Won the Sony Open in Hawaii 2025?
Nick Taylor won the 2025 Sony Open in Hawaii in a playoff, finishing at 264 (-16). He returns as the defending champion with both the course proof and a “made cut” baseline that keeps him relevant at a longer outright number.
The Sony Open in Hawaii Odds
Here are the updated odds ahead of the Sony Open in Hawaii:
| PGA Odds | PGA Odds |
|---|---|
| Russell Henley (+1100) | Hideki Matsuyama (+1800) |
| JJ Spaun (+1800) | Ben Griffin (+2000) |
| Collin Morikawa (+2000) | Si Woo Kim (+2200) |
| Robert MacIntyre (+2500) | Keegan Bradley (+2500) |
| Corey Conners (+3000) | Maverick McNealy (+3500) |
| Nico Echavarria (+3500) | Aaron Rai (+4000) |
| Harry Hall (+4000) | Nick Taylor (+4000) |
| Chris Kirk (+4500) | Jordan Spieth (+4500) |
With Russell Henley as the betting favorite at +1100 and a crowded second tier around the +2000 to +4000 range, there’s no dominant name in this week’s field. That’s what makes this event so intriguing from a betting standpoint. Smart picks from the best handicappers could lead to big payouts with so much parity in the field.
The Sony Open in Hawaii Favorites:
The following golfers are considered the early favorites to win the Sony Open in Hawaii, according to the top sports betting sites:
Russell Henley (+1100)
Russell Henley is a very real threat to win the 2026 Sony Open in Hawaii, and his +1100 number makes plenty of sense when you zoom out on both form and fit. Waialae has always rewarded elite iron play and precision over raw power, which lines up perfectly with Henley’s strengths. He’s been one of the most reliable ball-strikers on TOUR for years, and this course consistently brings out his best.
There’s also strong history working in his favor. Henley famously won this event in 2013 as a rookie in his very first TOUR start, and he’s followed that up with multiple high finishes over the years, including a runner-up in 2022 and another top-five last season. Few players in the field have this level of comfort at Waialae, and that familiarity tends to matter when birdies are required in bunches.
Looking at his late-season form, Henley was rolling with a win at Bay Hill and several high-end finishes down the stretch, showing he can still close against elite fields. If his putter is even average for the week, his tee-to-green consistency gives him a legitimate path to another Sony Open trophy. At +1100, he’s not a sneaky longshot, but he’s absolutely one of the most trustworthy options near the top of the board.
JJ Spaun (+1800)
J.J. Spaun comes into the 2026 Sony Open in Hawaii at +1800 with a really compelling mix of recent form and course fit. He was right in the thick of it here last year, finishing T-3 after holding the 54-hole lead, and that week at Waialae ended up being the springboard for a career-best season. Spaun’s elite approach play and ability to pile up birdie chances make him a natural fit on a course where iron precision is everything.
That strong Sony showing proved to be no fluke. Spaun followed it up with multiple close calls in big events, eventually breaking through in a major way with his U.S. Open win at Oakmont, where his ball-striking and nerve under pressure were on full display. Even when the putter runs hot and cold, his consistent greens-in-regulation numbers keep him around the leaderboard, especially on shorter tracks like Waialae that don’t demand elite driving distance.
From a betting perspective, +1800 feels justified but still playable. Spaun has already shown he can contend here, and his confidence level is far higher than it was a year ago after turning those near-misses into signature moments. If the putter cooperates even slightly, he has the upside to turn another Sony Open run into something even bigger this time around.
Ben Griffin (+2000)
Ben Griffin enters the 2026 Sony Open in Hawaii at +2000 as one of the more intriguing mid-tier win candidates on the board. Griffin’s breakout 2025 season included three victories and a steady run of high-end finishes, proving he can both contend and close when he gets into position. His game is built on strong approach play and confident putting, two traits that tend to translate extremely well at Waialae.
While his course history isn’t eye-popping, it is quietly solid. Griffin has made the cut in both of his Sony Open appearances, including a T12 finish in 2023, and showed flashes last year with a low round mixed in despite a middling final result. That familiarity matters on a course that rewards patience and iron precision more than raw power, and Griffin’s accuracy-first profile fits the scoring environment.
From a betting perspective, +2000 feels like a fair number with some upside baked in. Griffin finished last season on a heater, capped by a win in Mexico, and he consistently gained strokes both on approach and on the greens. If he brings that late-season form to Hawaii, he has the ceiling to push into contention and the confidence to turn a Sunday chance into a legitimate win threat.
The Best Sony Open in Hawaii Betting Value
This is where the board starts to offer cleaner “price vs path” alignments.
Collin Morikawa (+2000)
Morikawa’s case starts with the category Waialae tends to amplify: elite SG:APP. Your notes point to a strong 2025 with steady scoring, and his approach-centric blueprint is exactly what reduces variance on a course where positioning and proximity are currency.
Add in high GIR and an improving SG:P trend from your notes, and the win path looks structured rather than speculative. The price is tight at +1400, but it’s consistent with a player whose iron play routinely creates a top-of-board ceiling.
Si Woo Kim (+2200)
Si Woo’s Waialae case doesn’t need projection: he won here in 2023 (-18). Your notes also show repeatable baseline form in 2025 with 12 top-25s, which is enough to support an outright at a mid price.
The supporting stats fit the venue: SG:APP (29th), positive SG:P, par-4 scoring (3.98, 27th), and 69.72 scoring average (34th). At +3500, you’re buying a player with built-in course comfort and a scoring profile that can keep pace.
Corey Conners (+3000)
Conners is a ball-striking bet first, and your notes provide the backbone: SG:APP (3rd in 2025) with SG:OTT (21st) and GIR (26th). That’s a profile that manufactures chances, which is the one thing you can rely on at Waialae.
The separator is your note that he’s shown the ability to spike with the flat stick—he’s led SG:Putting in key rounds. At +1600, this number asks him to pair his usual tee-to-green quality with one above-average putting week, not reinvent his game.
The Top Sony Open in Hawaii Longshot
Nick Taylor (+4000)
Taylor’s number is long enough to be useful, and the course result is not theoretical: he won in 2025 with 264 (-16) and a playoff finish. Your notes also give him a practical baseline—19/24 made cuts in 2025—which matters for a longshot outright because it keeps him playing four rounds more often than not.
The statistical case is narrow but relevant: SG:APP (28th in field) and putting that can swing from week to week, including the kind of hot stretch that wins events like this. At +4000, the price isn’t asking for dominance; it’s asking for “contention position + one high-conversion week.”
Sony Open in Hawaii Predictions
My outright winner golf pick is Hideki Matsuyama (+3000).
This wager is built on two non-negotiables: recent scoring form and proven Waialae success. Your notes say he just won The Sentry in 2025 with a record 35-under, and that isn’t a minor trend—it’s a signal that both ball-striking and conversion are currently working at an elite level.
Waialae also fits the way he wins. You’ve got a prior Sony title here (2022, -23), plus the stat scaffolding: SG:APP leadership, elite putting in wins, and a birdie-driven profile. At +1800, the price leaves room for variance without forcing you into an overly thin margin at the top of the board. You can check the Sony Open in Hawaii Golf Results to see who won and how we fared with our bets.
Bet: Hideki Matsuyama (+1800)
The Best Sony Open in Hawaii Prop Bets
Let’s take a look at some of the top Sony Open in Hawaii prop bets that we recommend adding to your golf card this week:
Hideki Matsuyama Top 5 (+300)
If you want exposure without requiring the final step, a top-5 aligns with the same evidence: dominant recent form (Sentry win) plus a Waialae win on record. The bet is simply that his current approach-and-birdie engine stays intact for four rounds.
Bet: Hideki Matsuyama Top 5 (+300)
Si Woo Kim Top 10 (+250)
The case is course performance plus a stable 2025 baseline. He’s already won at Waialae, and your notes show enough consistent top-25 frequency to support a placement bet at a playable number.
Bet: Si Woo Kim Top 10 (+250)
Hole in One Yes (+500)
This is a variance play, but it’s grounded in the setup you provided: four par-3s and a tournament that can turn into a scoring week. Treat it as a small-stake market rather than a core position.
Bet: Hole in One Yes (+500)
Corey Conners Top Canadian (-150)
If you’re playing a nationality market, Conners has the cleanest repeatable ball-striking profile in your notes—SG:APP (3rd in 2025), plus SG:OTT (21st) and GIR (26th). Over four rounds, that reduces the number of ways this can go sideways.
Bet: Corey Conners Top Canadian (-150)
Lowest Round Under 64 (+200)
This is a conditions-and-ceiling bet. If the week plays favorably and someone gets a clean run of looks, a sub-64 round is within reach in a birdie environment like Waialae.
Bet: Lowest Round Under 64 (+200)
Sony Open in Hawaii Winners
| Year | Winner | Score | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Nick Taylor | -16 (264) | 66 | 68 | 65 | 65 |
Nick Taylor mounted a stunning late charge in the final round
Chipping in from 60 feet for eagle on the par-5 18th to card a 65 and force a playoff with Nico Echavarria. He then clinched the victory with birdies on both playoff holes, marking his fifth PGA Tour title. The event turned on his improbable eagle to extend the tournament. Interesting facts: Taylor had only a 0.4% chance of winning before the 18th tee; this was his third consecutive playoff win on Tour. Stats: Eagle chip-in on 18; consistent scoring with two 65s over the weekend; multiple birdies in playoff.
| Year | Winner | Score | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Grayson Murray | -17 (263) | 69 | 65 | 63 | 67 |
Grayson Murray delivered a bogey-free final round 67
Highlighted by a wedge to 3 feet for birdie on the 18th to join a three-way playoff with Keegan Bradley and Byeong Hun An. He sealed the win with a 38-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole after An’s bogey. The playoff resolved quickly on the par-5 18th. Interesting facts: This redemption victory was his second PGA Tour title after personal challenges; the playoff birdie was from nearly 39 feet. Stats: Bogey-free in the final round; multiple birdies including clutch ones on 18 and in playoff; 63 in R3 with low scoring.
| Year | Winner | Score | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Si Woo Kim | -18 (262) | 67 | 67 | 64 | 64 |
Si Woo Kim surged with a strong weekend
Posting back-to-back 64s, including eight birdies and two bogeys in the final round to edge Hayden Buckley by one shot. The turn of events saw him birdie the last two holes for the win after a chip-in on 17. He held off Buckley’s closing birdie attempt. Interesting facts: This was his fourth PGA Tour victory; he led the field in ball-striking with clutch shots down the stretch. Stats: 8 birdies in R4 including 5 on front nine; total of 24 birdies across the tournament; chip-in birdie on 17.
| Year | Winner | Score | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Hideki Matsuyama | -23 (257) | 66 | 65 | 63 | 63 |
Hideki Matsuyama overcame a five-shot deficit on the back nine of the final round
Carding a 63 with a two-putt birdie on 18 to force a playoff with Russell Henley. He won with a 3-wood to 2 feet for eagle on the extra hole. The flawless back-nine rally defined the comeback. Interesting facts: Tied K.J. Choi for most PGA Tour wins by an Asian player at 8; best putting week of his career. Stats: Eagle in playoff; multiple birdies in final round 63; bogey-free closing stretch.
| Year | Winner | Score | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Kevin Na | -21 (259) | 67 | 66 | 61 | 65 |
Kevin Na rallied from three shots back with six holes left
Birdieing three straight on the back nine and closing with a birdie on 18 for a 65 to win by one. His third-round 61 set up the comeback with low scoring. The late birdies turned the tournament in his favor. Interesting facts: Fifth PGA Tour win and fourth in last 55 starts after one in first 364; nearly withdrew due to rib pain. Stats: 9-under 61 in R3; multiple birdies in closing stretch; 65 in R4 with key putts.
| Year | Winner | Score | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Cameron Smith | -11 (269) | 70 | 65 | 66 | 68 |
Cameron Smith came from three behind
Birdieing the 18th with a 9-foot putt for 68 to force a playoff with Brendan Steele. He won on the first extra hole with a tap-in par after Steele’s bogey. Windy conditions led to the high winning score. Interesting facts: Highest winning score at Sony in 15 years; second straight week in a playoff for Smith. Stats: Birdies on last three holes in R3; two eagles in one round; clutch 9-foot birdie on 18.
| Year | Winner | Score | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Matt Kuchar | -22 (258) | 63 | 63 | 66 | 66 |
Matt Kuchar dominated wire-to-wire
Opening with two 63s and closing with 66 despite three early bogeys. He pulled away with back-nine birdies in the final round. The brief stumble was overcome quickly. Interesting facts: Second win of the season; matched lowest 36-hole score of his career. Stats: 34 birdies and 1 eagle; 34.72% holes under par; back-to-back 63s to start.
| Year | Winner | Score | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Patton Kizzire | -17 (263) | 67 | 64 | 64 | 68 |
Patton Kizzire held on with a final 68 to force a playoff with James Hahn
He outlasted Hahn over six extra holes, winning with a birdie on the sixth. The prolonged playoff marked a tense finish on repeating holes. Interesting facts: Longest playoff in Sony history at six holes; first multiple winner of the season. Stats: Matched two pars and two birdies in playoff before winning; back-to-back 64s in middle rounds; clutch pars in extras.
| Year | Winner | Score | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Justin Thomas | -27 (253) | 59 | 64 | 65 | 65 |
Justin Thomas exploded with a historic 59 in R1
Featuring an eagle on the last hole. He maintained dominance with steady weekend 65s to set the 72-hole scoring record. The opening round feat defined the wire-to-wire win. Interesting facts: Youngest to shoot sub-60; lowest 72-hole score in PGA history. Stats: R1 with 8 birdies, 2 eagles, 1 bogey; two-putt birdie from 60 feet in final; high birdie total overall.
| Year | Winner | Score | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Fabian Gomez | -20 (260) | 69 | 64 | 65 | 62 |
Fabian Gomez ignited with seven straight birdies in the final round for a 62
Recovering from mid-round bogeys to force a playoff. He won on the second extra hole with his 11th birdie of the day. The comeback birdie streak turned the event. Interesting facts: Second PGA Tour win at age 37; blistered the course with an 8-under final round. Stats: 7 consecutive birdies from holes 6-12; 8 birdies in R4; 11th birdie in playoff.
| Year | Winner | Score | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Jimmy Walker | -23 (257) | 66 | 66 | 62 | 63 |
Jimmy Walker dominated the weekend with 62-63
Pulling away with seven birdies over the final 11 holes in R4 to win by a record nine shots. The blowout showcased his putting prowess. Late-round scoring separated him from the field. Interesting facts: Record margin at Sony; averaged over seven birdies per round after no wins in first 187 starts. Stats: 29 birdies total; 20 putts on back nine in R4; seven birdies in final 11 holes.
| Year | Winner | Score | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Jimmy Walker | -17 (263) | 66 | 67 | 67 | 63 |
Jimmy Walker caught fire on the back nine of the final round
Birdieing four of the last six holes including three straight to close with 63 and win by one. The late surge turned a crowded leaderboard in his favor. Bogey-free final round aided the victory. Interesting facts: Second PGA Tour title; clutch puts on 16 and 17. Stats: 7 birdies in R4; over 5 strokes better than field average in final; three straight birdies to close.









