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Sony Open: Top 10 power rankings at Waialae Country Club

By Mike Randleman

HONOLULU, HI - JANUARY 13: A detail of the trophy during the final round of the Sony Open In Hawaii at Waialae Country Club on January 13, 2019 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
HONOLULU, HI - JANUARY 13: A detail of the trophy during the final round of the Sony Open In Hawaii at Waialae Country Club on January 13, 2019 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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KAPALUA, HAWAII – JANUARY 05: Joaquin Niemann of Chile plays his shot from the fourth tee during the final round of the Sentry Tournament Of Champions at the Kapalua Plantation Course on January 05, 2020 in Kapalua, Hawaii. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
KAPALUA, HAWAII – JANUARY 05: Joaquin Niemann of Chile plays his shot from the fourth tee during the final round of the Sentry Tournament Of Champions at the Kapalua Plantation Course on January 05, 2020 in Kapalua, Hawaii. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Joaquin Niemann set himself up well for 2019-2020 with a win at the Greenbrier in the season opener. He followed it up with a T-12 at the CJ Cup and bounced back from a disappointing showing at the Presidents Cup with a solid T-5 last week at the Tournament of Champions.

Most notable was his low-trajectory stinger that had golf fans buzzing.

The 21-year-old Chilean posted 66-72-74-70 in tough conditions at Kapalua. He was fairly conservative off the tee (256.4 yards) to give himself chances to let his consistent iron play shine. He hit 78.33% fairways and 73.61% greens in regulation. He’s also been an improved putter this season and gained .872 shots on the greens.

A similar strategy of taking irons and woods off the tee will likely be employed as Niemann sees Waialae for the first time.

He ranked 15th on Tour last season in proximity from the fairway (29’9″) and was 25th from 50-125 yards (17’5″).

Niemann projects to be a star on Tour for years to come. He didn’t have many big names to conquer last fall at the Greenbrier, but he can do that with a win at Waialae.

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