Sony Open in Hawaii
January 14th – 17th, 2016
Waialae C.C.
Honolulu, Ha.
Par: 70 / Yardage:
Purse: $5.8 million
with $1,044,000 to the winner
Defending Champion:
Jimmy Walker

This week’s field includes:
The field includes 14 of the top 50 in the latest Official World Rankings, with no one from the top-ten: The top 50 players are #11 Adam Scott, #12 Zach Johnson, #16 Kevin Kisner, #20 Matt Kuchar, #23 Kevin Na, #25 Jimmy Walker, #26 Marc Leishman, #30 Russell Knox, #31 Emiliano Grillo, #34 Brandt Snedeker, #35 Justin Thomas, #45 Danny Lee, #48 Scott Piercy and #49 Chris Kirk.
Last year 13 of the top-50 played.
The field includes 15 of the Top 25 on the FedEx point standings for 2016. Those players are #1 Kevin Kisner, #2 Russell Knox, #3 Justin Thomas, #4 Graeme McDowell, #6 Kevin Na, #8 Emiliano Grillo, #10 Peter Malnati, #12 Alex Cejka, #14 Adam Scott, #16 William McGirt, #17 Charles Howell III, #18 Patton Kizzire, #19 Fabian Gomez, #T21 Brandt Snedeker and #23 Scott Piercy.
The field includes 15 players in the top 25 on this year’s PGA Tour money list. Those players are #1 Kevin Kisner, #2 Russell Knox, #3 Justin Thomas, #4 Graeme McDowell, #6 Kevin Na, #8 Emiliano Grillo, #10 Peter Malnati, #12 Adam Scott, #13 Alex Cejka, #15 William McGirt, #16 Patton Kizzire, #20 Charles Howell III, #21 Brett Stegmaier, #22 Brandt Snedeker and #25 Scott Piercy.
The field includes 9 past champions: Jimmy Walker (2015 & ’14), Russell Henley (2013), Johnson Wagner (2012), Mark Wilson (2011), Ryan Palmer (2010), Zach Johnson (2009), K.J. Choi (2008), Vijay Singh (2005) and Jerry Kelly (2002).
A perfect way for fantasy golfers to check on the past performance of all the players in the Sony Open in Hawaii field is our performance chart listed by average finish. Another way to check who is the best is through a special formula worked out in Golfstats that gives us the best average performances at the Sony Open in Hawaii in the last five years or check out our sortable 8-year glance at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
A good cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmakers in England.
Another cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmaker in Las Vegas.
**NOTE**
One thing to look for is our new GOLFstats IQ. For those that play in fantasy golf it’s a perfect way to help you pick those players in Draft Kings and Victiv games. You can customize the list of those in the tournaments, to look back a couple or many years of tournament stats and you can go back a couple or ten weeks prior to the tournament. On top of that, all the stats are fully sortable to help you pick your six players, we even give you their value for the week to help you chose.
That’s GOLFstats IQ, give it a try and tell us what you think of it
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Time to look at our who’s hot and who isn’t:
Who’s Hot in the field for the Sony Open in Hawaii
Player | Hyundai | Nedbank Golf | DP World | BMW Masters | Mayakoba | RSM Classic | Turkish Open | WGC-HSBC | Sanderson Farms | CIMB Classic | Hong Kong | Shriners Hospitals | Frys.com Open |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Emiliano Grillo (152.33 pts) |
T18 (32) |
T11 (26) |
T4 (40) |
T24 (8.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T35 (5) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
Win (44) |
Kevin Kisner (135 pts) |
9 (45) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | Win (44) |
DNP | 2 (33.33) |
DNP | T37 (4.33) |
DNP | T25 (8.33) |
DNP |
Russell Knox (128 pts) |
27 (23) |
24 (17.33) |
DNP | DNP | T2 (33.33) |
DNP | DNP | Win (44) |
DNP | T21 (9.67) |
DNP | T38 (4) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Peter Malnati (114 pts) |
T6 (60) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T10 (13.33) |
T75 (0) |
DNP | DNP | Win (44) |
DNP | DNP | T56 (0) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Justin Thomas (110.67 pts) |
T21 (29) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T58 (0) |
DNP | T27 (7.67) |
DNP | Win (44) |
DNP | DNP | T3 (30) |
Graeme McDowell (108 pts) |
T29 (21) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | Win (44) |
3 (30) |
T37 (4.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T24 (8.67) |
DNP | DNP |
Marc Leishman (108 pts) |
DNP | Win (88) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T11 (13) |
DNP | T29 (7) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Kevin Na (96.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 57 (0) |
DNP | T3 (30) |
DNP | T2 (33.33) |
2 (33.33) |
Brandt Snedeker (94.33 pts) |
T3 (90) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
T17 (11) |
Alex Cejka (90 pts) |
T21 (29) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
T6 (20) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T17 (11) |
DNP | T2 (33.33) |
DNP |
Fabian Gomez (84.33 pts) |
T6 (60) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T44 (2) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T16 (11.33) |
T17 (11) |
Scott Piercy (77.67 pts) |
T24 (26) |
20 (20) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T35 (5) |
DNP | T7 (18.33) |
DNP | T25 (8.33) |
DNP |
Patton Kizzire (56.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T58 (0) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | T4 (26.67) |
DNP | DNP | T2 (33.33) |
DNP |
Padraig Harrington (56.67 pts) |
T6 (60) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T56 (0) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP |
William McGirt (56.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T2 (33.33) |
DNP | DNP | T8 (16.67) |
T30 (6.67) |
Steven Bowditch (53.33 pts) |
T10 (40) |
30 (13.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T40 (3.33) |
DNP | 71 (0) |
DNP | 80 (0) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Francesco Molinari (51 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T4 (40) |
T17 (11) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Charles Howell III (50.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T17 (11) |
T9 (15) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T10 (13.33) |
DNP | 70 (0) |
T17 (11) |
David Lingmerth (47 pts) |
T15 (35) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T63 (0) |
DNP | T72 (0) |
DNP | T14 (12) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Brett Stegmaier (45 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T68 (0) |
73 (0) |
DNP | DNP | T15 (11.67) |
DNP | DNP | T2 (33.33) |
T74 (0) |
James Hahn (42 pts) |
T31 (19) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 6 (20) |
DNP | DNP | T41 (3) |
Jimmy Walker (40.33 pts) |
T10 (40) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T50 (0.33) |
DNP |
Danny Lee (39.67 pts) |
T15 (35) |
DNP | DNP | T31 (6.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T58 (0) |
DNP | WD (-1.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Roberto Castro (37.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T25 (8.33) |
T52 (0) |
DNP | DNP | T4 (26.67) |
DNP | DNP | T43 (2.33) |
T69 (0) |
Keegan Bradley (37 pts) |
DNP | T16 (22.67) |
DNP | DNP | T8 (16.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T47 (1) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
How Player Rankings are Computed
Who’s Not Hot in the field for the Sony Open in Hawaii
Player | Hyundai | Nedbank Golf | DP World | BMW Masters | Mayakoba | RSM Classic | Turkish Open | WGC-HSBC | Sanderson Farms | CIMB Classic | Hong Kong | Shriners Hospitals | Frys.com Open |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Robert Allenby (-13.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T68 (0) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Jonas Blixt (-12.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
T48 (0.67) |
Pat Perez (-10 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 63 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Charlie Beljan (-8.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | WD (-1.67) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
T74 (0) |
Tim Clark (-8 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T34 (5.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Whee Kim (-6.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T63 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | T76 (0) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Stuart Appleby (-6.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
T52 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
T69 (0) |
Will MacKenzie (-6.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T58 (0) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | T54 (0) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
T61 (0) |
George McNeill (-6.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
Steve Wheatcroft (-6.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T67 (0) |
T55 (0) |
How Player Rankings are Computed
Who to watch for at the Sony Open in Hawaii
Best Bets:
Kevin Kisner
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
84 | CUT | CUT | CUT |
He may not have played well in his four previous visits in this event, but stats show that he could easily win here. Things like being 30th in strokes gained tee-to-green, 15th in strokes gained putting and 8th in total strokes gained. He has been hot of late, finishing 2nd at WGC-HSBC, winning the RSM Classic and 9th at Kapalua.
Adam Scott
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T8 | CUT | T2 | T18 | T20 | CUT |
His game from tee to green is perfect for Waialae, yes putting is always an issue with him, but he should play very well this week.
Matt Kuchar
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T3 | T8 | T5 | T5 | CUT | CUT | 65 | CUT | CUT |
Has all of the key stats to play well at Waialae, has finished T-3rd last year, T-8th in 2014 and T’5th in 2013 & ’11. Don’t be surprise to see him back in the winners circle this week.
Best of the rest:
Harris English
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T3 | 4 | T9 | T67 |
Has shown that despite not hitting it straight and far, he can putt his way to victory this week.
Justin Thomas
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T6 |
Look for him to have a good week, he finished strong at Kapalua.
Kevin Na
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T64 | T8 | CUT | CUT | T20 | T52 | T5 | T4 | CUT | T41 |
Has the game to play well and has finished in the top-ten, three times.
Russell Henley
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T17 | T51 | Win |
Past champion that has shown he can play on this course, look for him to play well.
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First time playing in this event |
More info:
Solid contenders
Zach Johnson
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T64 | T8 | CUT | T54 | T57 | T12 | Win | T32 | T47 | CUT |
There is a reason he has won here, when he strips it straight he has the command of his game.
Brandt Snedeker
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T69 | CUT |
Played well at Kapalua, hasn’t played here in seven years.
Jason Dufner
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T29 | CUT | 56 | T20 | CUT | T13 | T41 |
His game should be good for this course, surprising that he has no top-tens in seven starts.
Jerry Kelly
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T6 | 3 | CUT | T29 | T9 | WD | T23 | 3 | T13 | T13 | CUT | T5 |
Still has the game and it shines on this course, in 17 starts has finished in the top-ten, 8 times.
Long shots that could come through:
Charles Howell III
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T26 | T8 | T3 | T2 | T68 | T5 | 4 | T69 | T2 | T53 | T3 | T27 |
Always finds a way to contend and I bet he will be in the running this week.
Daniel Berger
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T13 |
Finished T-13th, look for an improvement this week.
Marc Leishman
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T37 | 5 | T9 | T27 | T20 | T12 |
He could be a big surprise this week.
No three-peat
Jimmy Walker
2016 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | Win | T26 | CUT | 4 | CUT | T32 | T61 | CUT |
He has played awesome in this event of late, but just don’t think his game is sharp to contend this week or in the near future.
What are your thoughts on leaving Chris Kirk off of the “who to watch”? He was you winner for this tournament on the 2016 pick your pro article.
Just see him struggle with the game and his driver. Since winning at Colonial he has only finished in the top-25 twice, T-18th at RSM and T-24th at Kapalua last weekend.
The thing that caused me to leave him out was his driver, just not that good.
Yes, Kirk finished T-5th in 2013 and runner-up in 2014 at the Sony, but he also finished T-26th last year. He did shot a third round 74 which blew him out of the water, but still he hasn’t played well of late.
Thanks for the insight Sal. I agree with most of what you wrote, but Howell/Berger/Leishman long shots is a stretch.
I just bought into Hao-Tong Li @ 500-1…now that’s a long shot….but kid can putt the eyes out of it!
I just can’t comprehend Li Haetong, even at 500 to 1.
Yes the guy won four times but in China.
Yes he did finish T-7th at the WGC-HSBC Champions two months ago, which was played in China.
As a regular on the Web.Com Tour he finished 49th on the money list, then played terrible in the playoffs not getting a nod to play on the PGA Tour.
So yes he is a longshot, thus the 500 to 1 odds but frankly I have just about as much chances at winning the powerball jackpot tonight than Haetong has at winning the Sony Open. But that is for this week, not the future which could be good for this kid.
Not to say with another year under his belt on the Web.Com Tour. In looking at his Web.Com tour stats for 2015 he led the tour in greens hit and was 4th in putting average and 2nd in overall putting average. Along with finishing 2nd in birdie average it makes me think that there are certain courses he can kill, but it may be a very long shot for it happening at Waialae, but hey in my time doing golf I have seen guys with less credentials win.