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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; Cameron Smith hoists the trophy 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; Cameron Smith hoists the trophy during the final round of the Sony Open in Hawaii golf tournament at Waialae Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s not a guarantee on a given week that the defending champion earns a spot in my top 10, but it was an easy decision to give Cameron Smith here.

Let’s start with his history at the Sony Open. The Aussie made the cut (T-81st) in his debut as a PGA Tour rookie in 2016. Smith vastly improved for T-27th (64-68-69-68) in 2017, T-18th in 2018 (66-67-66-70), and all the way to a win (70-65-66-68) in 2020.

Smith faced a three-shot deficit entering Sunday and was still down two going to the 17th hole before coming back to beat Brendan Steele in a one-hole playoff.

It was remarkable how Smith didn’t shoot himself out of the tournament on Thursday. Despite losing 1.591 shots on approach and 1.394 around the green, he gained a whopping 4.839 strokes putting and led that stat on the week. He bounced back to finish in the top 10 in SG around the green, too, to finesse his way to a win.

Smith’s strokes gained around the green stats dipped last season, but the three prior he was top 40. Not to mention the wizard-like recovery shots we know he’s capable of after the Masters a couple of months ago where he finished T-2nd.

Smith’s best major championship finish at Augusta National ended what was a strong end to 2020. Before Augusta earned T-24th at the Shriners Open, 11th at the CJ Cup, and T-4th at the Zozo Championship.

Smith is part of the contingent island hopping from the Tournament of Champions. He had rust to shake off en route to finishing T-24th, but I like him to be ready to contend at the Sony.

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