Pro Golf Now
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 11
Next
January 9, 2020; Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; Daniel Berger hits his tee shot on the 14th 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; Daniel Berger hits his tee shot on the 14th hole during the first round of the Sony Open in Hawaii golf tournament at Waialae Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

I keep waiting for Daniel Berger to inch back toward the form he showed this summer. His scorching stretch of 1st-T3rd-MC-T2nd-T13th-3rd is a lot to ask of him to replicate, but Berger ought to be contending more often.

After that stretch he still managed seven more top-40s in a row. It wasn’t until last week in a 42-man field that he cracked the top 10. The former Florida State Seminole was solo 10th (69-65-67-72) but in the mix heading into Sunday.

The course did play tougher for the field Sunday and it would have took a really special round for Berger to vault in contention. He kept that in perspective in his postround presser while looking ahead to the Sony Open.

“I think obviously next week’s a little tighter, see how the course sets up in terms of firmness and fastness of the greens, but I’m driving it well and in I make a few putts then that really can be the difference between winning and not winning,” Berger was transcribed by ASAP Sports. “I felt like today or this whole week I played well enough to win, I just didn’t hole enough putts. So that’s a positive for me, I just need to continue to do the things I’m doing and good results will happen.”

Berger is teeing it up for the sixth time at Waialae and has played all but one year since debuting in 2015. T-13th (68-66-68-67) 2015 stands as his high finish. Berger’s made every cut and finished T-42nd or better. He also notched a T-14th (67-68-69-64) in 2018 and was T-38th (70-70-69-69) in 2020.

There’s no course type that doesn’t fit Berger’s well-rounded skill set. He was 34th or better in every strokes gained category last season. That allowed him to miss just one cut and was T-38th or better every time playing the weekend.

I wouldn’t bet the house on Berger to win this week, but he could help you win your weekly DFS game.

Home/Golf Power Rankings