Preview
Starts: 15th January 2026
Course: Waialae CC, Hawaii
Par: 70
Length: 7,044 yards
2025 Champion: Nick Taylor
PGA Tour Sony Open Picks 2026
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Sony Open 2026 Course Info
Course Designer: Seth Raynor
Course Used Since: 1965
Course Type: Coastal
Fairways: Narrow/Average
Rough: Bermuda
Greens: Small, Bermuda
Par 5's: 9th & 18th
Water Hazards: On 5 holes
Premium on: Putting
Situated in Honolulu, Hawaii, Waialae Country Club presents a distinct contrast to the state's many seaside layouts. With narrow fairways lined by Banyan trees and deep bunkers guarding small, sloping greens, the course demands precision and strategic play. The gentle, rolling terrain and the strategic placement of water hazards add complexity, rewarding thoughtful shot selections. This course is a quintessential example of traditional golf design.
Sony Open 2026 Trends
Winning Score
Nick Taylor triumphed last year with a score of sixteen under par. Previous winning scores were -17, -18, -23, -21, -11, -22, -17, -27, -20, -23, -17 and -24 (most recent first). Winning score fluctuates depending on the conditions.
Correlating Courses
Several players have described the Mayakoba Golf Classic and RBC Heritage (Hilton Head) as similar tests. Look out for strong results at Pebble Beach too, last year's winner, Nick Taylor, is a past winner of that event. Winner in 2024, Grayson Murray, had an 8th place finish at Pebble Beach (his 3rd best PGA Tour finish). Winner in 2023, Si Woo Kim, also has a strong record at Pebble Beach (two top 15s and a top 5).
Course Experience
Only one debutant has won at Waialae in the past fourteen years (Russell Henley in 2013). Furthermore, six of the last eight winners had made at least four starts at Waialae before winning. Side with those with course experience when making your Sony Open picks.
Course Form
Eight of the last fourteen winners had posted a top 12 in this event prior to their win.
Rust
Grayson Murray, Cameron Smith and Si Woo Kim are the only players to have triumphed in the last eleven years that hadn't played at Kapalua the previous week. However, with The Sentry having been cancelled this year, all players will be making their first start of 2026 this week.
Recent Form
Three of the past ten winners had a top 10 at Kapalua and seven of the past ten winners were inside the top 21 the previous week. However, in 2021 Kevin Na finished dead last at the Tournament of Champions so sometimes just playing the week before is beneficial! Preference is for players that finished the year well in 2025.
Nationality
Americans have dominated here, 12 of the last 17 winners were from the USA.
Age
Winners have been in their twenties, thirties and forties. There are no strong age trends to help pick out a Sony Open winner.
"Playing last week is a big help to be honest. Even showing up last week. What's funny is you kind of forget what you were doing, the registration and all the little things forget you have to do. So to kind of get that out of the way last week and come here feeling ready to go instead of not wondering what you're going to be doing. So that's it's a big help." Seamus Power, 2022
Sony Open 2026 Trends Shortlist
Using the information above, we have taken into account the three most relevant trends to help you with your golf picks. Sony Open trends used were:
✅ Made at least four starts in this event
Sony Open 2026 Stats Analysis
Any Sony Open pick has to have strong SG Approach and SG: Putting figures this week.
SG: Off The Tee
The last nine winners have ranked 30-1-29-5-44-36-9-107-2 (most recent first). It's not essential to drive it well at Waialae but Grayson Murray capitalised on strong driving in 2024.
SG: Approach
The last nine winners have ranked 4-31-1-25-5-85-7-4-5. Six of the last nine winners have ranked inside the top seven in this category.
SG: Around The Green
The past nine winners have ranked 17-15-13-22-8-21-40-59-39. Not the essential stat this week.
SG: Putting
Nick Taylor, Grayson Murray and Si Woo Kim bucked the trend when winning the past three years. Six of the seven winners before them ranked inside the top six for SG: Putting. It is usually a key stat to success at Waialae and should be factored into any PGA Tour Sony Open picks.
"It's reminiscent of Hilton Head and Colonial, and you know, it's tough on the normal day, and this year, with the rough up, it's really penalizing. So finding fairways is a big part of having success around here. The course is a bit soft. They had huge rain about a month ago and I think some last week but all things considered, you want to say out of this rough. You want to find fairways. If you're in fairways, you have a chance to make birdies." Matt Kuchar, 2022
2026 Sony Open In-play Golf Betting Advice
Tough Holes
The opening six holes are generally the toughest section of the course. Four of the six toughest holes are in this stretch (holes 2, 4, 6 and 1 - in order of difficulty).
Birdie Holes
The two par 5s are must birdie holes, generally playing at least half a shot under par for the week.
Fast or Slow Start
It is possible to play catch up here. Ten of the last eleven winners were at least two shots back after round one. Eight of the last eleven winners were at least three shots back after 36 holes. We can look for lively outsiders from a few shots back each round.
Closing stretch
The final hole (par 5) plays like a par 4 and a birdie is expected. Eagles are possible.
Previous Sony Open Previews
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