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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 9, 2020; Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; Hideki Matsuyama hits his tee shot on the 17th hole during the first round of the Sony Open in Hawaii golf tournament at Waialae Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 9, 2020; Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; Hideki Matsuyama hits his tee shot on the 17th hole during the first round of the Sony Open in Hawaii golf tournament at Waialae Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

It took some time, but Hideki Matsuyama appears to be getting the hang of Waialae. Japan’s top golfer rattled off three missed cuts at the Sony Open early in his career from 2011-2013. He wasn’t on the PGA Tour full time until 2013, so we’ll cut him some slack in some of his first pro events in the Western Hemisphere.

As his game ascended on the PGA Tour and he became a winner right away, his progress nudged forward in Honolulu. Matsuyama finished T-78th (72-66-72) in 2015. He took a year away before improving to T-27th (66-67-67-69). Another two years off and now he’s up to T-12th (74-67-67-66) in 2020.

This should be the year he vaults into the top 10 against a good, but not elite, field. Matsuyama is hungry for a win since his last of five career PGA Tour wins came back in August 2017 at the WGC-Bridgestone.

The 28 year old hasn’t fallen off a cliff, though. He missed just three cuts in 2020 with a T-2nd at the Houston Open and T-3rd at the BMW Championship) along with two more top-10s.

Matsuyama had a forgettable week last week tying for last at T-41st. The optimistic take on it is he had a good ball striking week and had a putting performance that absolutely cannot get any worse, right?

It’s the everlasting point of consternation for Matsuyama. He was 22nd in strokes gained tee to green (-.240) but 42nd in SG putting (-2.44). Only Mackenzie Hughes lost more than 1.5 strokes per round on the greens.

With just a few adjustments throughout the bag and a course that rewards his usually strong iron game, and Matsuyama will be back to his usual self.

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