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2021 Sony Open: Top 10 power rankings at Waialae

By Mike Randleman

Jan 14, 2018; Honolulu, HI, USA; A general view of the 17th green with the palm trees forming a W for Waialae Country Club as seen during the final round of the Sony Open golf tournament at Waialae Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2018; Honolulu, HI, USA; A general view of the 17th green with the palm trees forming a W for Waialae Country Club as seen during the final round of the Sony Open golf tournament at Waialae Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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January 7, 2021; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Abraham Ancer walks on the second hole during the first round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament at Kapalua Resort – The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 7, 2021; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Abraham Ancer walks on the second hole during the first round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament at Kapalua Resort – The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

After Tony Finau, Abraham Ancer is one of the first guys I think of among the best to not have a win on the PGA Tour. The 29-year-old Mexican reached his career apex in the Official World Golf Rankings in 2020 by reaching No. 20. He’s slipped ever so slightly to No. 23 this week at the Sony Open.

Ancer makes his hay by hitting the ball straight and being ultra consistent throughout the bag. The former Oklahoma Sooner missed just one cut out of 15 worldwide events last year and had a pair of runner-ups (American Express, Heritage) and two more top-10s in 21 total events.Each of his second-place finishes were one-shot results.

Ancer picked up his third consecutive top-20 last week at the Tournament of Champions, finishing slightly ahead of the middle of the pack at T-17th (70-71-69-66). It’s hard to be too upset with those scores on a par-73, it just wasn’t enough during a birdie fest at a soft Kapalua.

Waialae is a much better fit for a short, precise player like Ancer. At least one would think. I expect him to turn the page this year, but his three results starting in 2018 are MC, T29th and T-38th.

Ancer has been in the 60s in eight of 10 rounds at Waialae, though, so perhaps with more course knowledge he’ll be able to pick more spots to be aggressive and find that low round that’s been lacking.

“It’s a golf course that I like a lot,” Ancer was transcribed by ASAP Sports in 2020. “Got to be really precise off the tee; can get really windy.”

Ancer ranked 10th in SG off the tee (.575) two seasons ago and 33rd (.328) in 2019-20. He was also 45th in SG approach (.335) and 41st in SG putting (.328). When he’s rolling, Ancer is a green in regulation machine.

While without a PGA Tour win, Ancer won the 2018 Australian Open and went 3-1-1 to nearly lead the Internationals to a win at the 2019 Presidents Cup. This week’s field will be among the weakest for the foreseeable future as the Masters already lurks less than four months away.

This is a good chance for Ancer to jump up and get it done.

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