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Sony Open in Hawaii: Power ranking the top ten at Waialae

By Mike Randleman

HONOLULU, HI - JANUARY 15: Justin Thomas of the United States, Zach Johnson of the United States and Justin Rose of England walk to the 17th green during the final round of the Sony Open In Hawaii at Waialae Country Club on January 15, 2017 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
HONOLULU, HI - JANUARY 15: Justin Thomas of the United States, Zach Johnson of the United States and Justin Rose of England walk to the 17th green during the final round of the Sony Open In Hawaii at Waialae Country Club on January 15, 2017 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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HONOLULU, HI – JANUARY 15: Jordan Spieth of the United States plays his shot from the 17th tee during the final round of the Sony Open In Hawaii at Waialae Country Club on January 15, 2017 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

Can you ever really go wrong bumping Jordan Spieth up to No. 1 on any given week? It was a coin flip between Spieth and Thomas in this instance, so we’ll go with the man with the better week at the Sentry.

Spieth kicked off 2018 with a solo ninth-place finish, only four strokes behind second place as everyone filed well behind eight-stroke winner Dustin Johnson.

The 24-year-old American Spieth now owns eight top-10 finishes in a row going back to the 2017 FedEx Cup Playoffs. In 36-hole cut events, Spieth’s made the last 10 going back to the spring of 2017, so he’s a safe bet to play all four rounds.

At Waialae, Spieth shook off a missed cut in his debut in 2014 to take solo third last year.

Spieth’s putting (208th in strokes gained) is off to a slow start in 2017-18, but that shouldn’t be a concern quite yet. Perhaps he’ll find another adjustment to make like what helped him here last year.

“I moved ball a little back in my stance. Turned my right toe a little open. I think the right toe open was to get my brain off of my stroke,” Spieth said last year in an ASAP Sports transcription. “Moved the ball a little back in my stance, and felt like I was hitting it early or late or kind of low on the face. I wasn’t hitting it at the right time. I just wanted to try it.”

Next: Rickie Fowler makes a splash with Hawaiian fashion statement

Spieth’s current 2.163 strokes gained tee-to-green stat (sixth on Tour) is tantalizing, as is his No. 1 slot in GIR (81.94).

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