Sony Open: Top 10 power rankings at Waialae Country Club
It’d be a stretch to put anyone else in the top spot this week. JT is coming in on a hot streak after winning the CJ Cup in the fall and again in the 2019-2020 season last week at the Tournament of Champions.
Thomas nearly let what looked like a sure thing slip away on the back nine at Kapalua, but he rallied to win in a playoff over Patrick Reed and Xander Schauffele. JT fired 67-73-69-69 in blustery conditions. He managed to hit 77.78% greens in regulation for the week. He was also content to lay back off the tee in certain spots, something he’ll employ again at Waialae.
Thomas is seeking his second Sony Open title. His 2017 victory featured an opening 59 for one of what’s now 10 sub-60 rounds ever on the PGA Tour. Thomas closed with 64-65-65 to blitz runner up Justin Rose by seven.
The 12-time PGA Tour winner is making his fifth appearance at Waialae. He finished T-6 in his debut in 2015 when he also went super low (67-61-70-70) and T-14 last year (67-67-66-68).
"“I love this course,” Thomas said in 2017. “A few years ago, I played my rookie year, I said that I love it. It’s just a course that I like when it’s firm fairways. Fairways are a premium. You’ve got to shape it to kind of match the fairways. It’s a lot of grinding. The greens weren’t as firm this year. I wouldn’t have shot 27-under if the greens were firm, that’s for sure. “But it’s just the place I like off the tee. There aren’t very many shots that aren’t comfortable to my eye. And I played well. It all worked out well.”"
Ranking the best of each major championship in the 2010s. dark. Next
Thomas said before the Tournament of Champions that he wants to win more often and squeeze more out of his career. He did just that last week and has a great chance to do so again against a relatively weak field.