Sony Open 2021: Three picks to win at Waialae CC

The PGA Tour rolls on in 2021 and for the second consecutive week will tee off in Hawaii for The 2021 Sony Open at Waialae Country Club

Colin Morikawa came close for us at last week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions but in the end, it was Harris English who emerged victorious after a playoff win over Joaquin Neiman. This week’s Sony Open will host the PGA’s second event of 2021 and will play host to a full 144 man field for the first time in the new year.

The Aussie Cameron Smith won this event in 2020 and he will be looking to defend his title this week in one of the strongest fields the Sony Open has seen in quite some time. Smith is joined by tournament favorites Webb Simpson +1100, Harris English +1300, Daniel Berger and Colin Morikawa both at +1500, and Sunjae Im +1850 near the top of the board.

Sony Open at Waialae Country Club

Waialae Country Club is one of the longest-running host courses on the PGA Tour and it has played host to PGA events for over 55 years now making it the 3rd longest host on the tour’s schedule. Waialae CC was established in 1927 and plays as a Par 70 at a rather short 7,044 yards.

With winning scores typically in the low to mid-twenties at the Sony Open the course is very much a scorers paradise whose main defense really comes down to wind and narrow fairways. The greens are also right around tour average so golfers who are dialed in with their irons and putters should do well this week.

Overall Waialae features twelve Par 4’s, two Par 5’s and four Par 3’s. A strong tee to green game and the ability to take advantage of the many Par 4’s this week should also be viewed as a key factor when evaluating potential winners this week.

For a more in-depth look at the key stats for the week make sure you check out Matthew Vincenzi’s excellent article each week.

Three picks to win at the Sony Open

The odds featured in this article can be found online at popular betting sites, for more information on the best books and odds available locally to you check out The Action Network

Daniel Berger +1500

Berger is one of the best Par 70 players on tour and he comes back to the Sony Open this week after some solid performances here in the past. The World number thirteen has two top 15 finishes and has made the cut in each appearance at Waialae.

Daniel was excellent throughout most of 2020 and is a different player now than he may have been when he played the Sony Open in past years. Last week’s performance for Berger showed that he could once again be on the cusp of victory as he gained over four strokes from tee to green and over three with his approach play.

I also like the fact that he played last week as seven of the last nine champions of the Sony Open had played at The Sentry Tournament of Champions the week prior.

Zach Johnson +4500

Zach did not play last week but aside from that, there is much to like about the former major champion this week. Johnson comes into this week top ten in my model for the week and over his last 24 rounds ranks inside the top 15 in strokes-gained approach and Par 4 scoring.

ZJ was 6th in his last start at the RSM Classic at the end of November and he has had plenty of success at the Sony Open in the past including a 28th, 14th, 6th, and 9th finish in four of his last five starts at Waialae.

Johnson is another who has found success on Par 70 courses in the past and he can score with the best of them. If ZJ can shake off the rust early this week he can very well contend after exhibiting form that may be heating up towards the end of 2020.

Sebastian Munoz +5500

The Columbian really had a very nice 2020 season and after a poor round one last week at the Sentry Tournament of Champions really turned his tournament around on route to another top 20 finish.

Munoz really got things going with his approach play towards the back end of last week’s event and it could prove an excellent sign of things to come. Sebastian can score in a hurry and is amongst the best on tour in birdie fest type events.

Munoz had a top ten finish at the Sony Open a couple of years ago and before that, he came in exhibiting similar form after heating up in the event prior. A similar week could be in store for Sebastian at the Sony Open this week.

Next. Brooks Koepka: 2021 FedEx Cup Contender or Pretender?. dark

Sony Open

Daniel Berger +1800

Zach Johnson +4500

Sebastian Munoz +5500

Best of luck this week at the Sony Open and if you are interested in who is coming in hot this week Pro Golf Now has you covered there as well.

Home/PGA