Sony Open: Top 10 power rankings at Waialae Country Club

The PGA Tour island hops from Maui to Oahu for its second Hawaiian event, the Sony Open.

Last week’s 34-player Tournament of Champions was the first PGA Tour event of 2020. Now, we get the first full 144-player field set to tee it up at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu for the Sony Open.

We also have the standard 36-hole cut to top 65 and ties.

These guys will take on a 7,044-yard par 70 track that is shorter, narrower and less undulating than the big par-73 test we saw last week with Kapalua. The Seth Raynor design opened in 1927 and has hosted this event since 1965. It has difficult ryegrass fairways to hit (52% field average), though the rough is relatively benign. A driver isn’t needed too often, either.

The poa annua greens (common on the West Coast, like at Torrey Pines) are fairly slow and easy to hit. That could change if the early weather forecast stays true. Strong, gusty winds defined the final few rounds at Kapalua and could be a factor again this week in the 20s in miles per hour.

This is a second-shot golf course and will become even more so if strong ball-striking through the teeth of the wind is necessary.

Key stats include proximity to the green, proximity from 100-150 yards, strokes gained approach, par-4 scoring, and birdie percentage.

The winning score has been 13-under or better every year since 2006. It’s dipped into the twenties 12 times, including in five of the last seven years.

The last decade featured nine different winners. Jimmy Walker went back to back in 2014 and 2015. Matt Kuchar is the defending champion, firing 22-under to win by four over Andrew Putnam.

Jordan Spieth withdrew from the tournament while battling from a cold, but there’s still some star power in the field. Last week’s winner, Justin Thomas, is the headliner joining the likes of Hideki Matsuyama, Joaquin Niemann, et al.

Let’s get to the rankings: