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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 12, 2020; Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; Ryan Palmer hits his tee shot on the fourth hole during the final round of the Sony Open in Hawaii golf tournament at Waialae Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 12, 2020; Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; Ryan Palmer hits his tee shot on the fourth hole during the final round of the Sony Open in Hawaii golf tournament at Waialae Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Ryan Palmer has racked up plenty of frequent flyer miles in his nearly two-decades-long PGA Tour career. A lot of those miles come from trips to the Sony Open.

Since debuting at Waialae in 2004, Palmer’s played every year besides 2008 and 2009. He missed just three cuts and picked up his second of three career PGA Tour individual wins here in 2010 (65-66-68-66).

The 44-year-old Texan might be playing even better golf 10 years later. While he hasn’t won individually since (he did win the 2019 Zurich Classic with Jon Rahm), Palmer is at No. 25 in the world and two spots away from his career peak.

The former Texas A&M Aggie missed just five cuts in 2020 and a runner-up at the Memorial Tournament highlighted five top-10s.

Palmer finished T-4th at the Zozo Championship in November to close out the year. He picked up where he left off last week at the Tournament of Champions. Palmer co-led after 54 holes and fired a closing 2-under 71 to finish solo fourth (67-67-64-71) and two out of a playoff. Two double bogeys on Sunday spoiled what was otherwise impressive golf.

Palmer’s 23-under total would have won or gotten into a playoff three of the last four years and missed a playoff by one in the other. He was top 20 (albeit in a field of 42) in every strokes gained category including fifth in strokes gained tee to green (1.92) an SG approach (1.5).

The season’s still young, but Palmer leads the PGA Tour in birdie average (5.44). Hitting a whopping 75% greens in regulation has him in sixth.

Palmer (67-68-68-68) finished T-4th at the 2020 Sony Open and was one of just two to shoot four rounds in the 60s.

“I know where I want to play the ball on each hole,” Palmer was transcribed by ASAP Sports. “I played it so many times and with the success I’ve had, I’m excited about the way I’m playing, but also going to a course that I love to play and where I’ve had success. So just makes me that much more excited to play again next week and carry over what we did this week and never know.”

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