PGA Tour Brunch | SONY Open | R-1
@Preview of the 2022 SONY Open in Hawaii by @PGATourBrunch @DigSportsDesk
The SONY Open in Hawaii - First Round Today
Honolulu, Hawaii - Last week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions had several record-breaking or record-tying performances. Sentry winner, Australia’s Cameron Smith, set the PGA TOUR record for most under par in a 72-hole event (since 1950) at 34-under. Jon Rahm matched the most birdies in a 72-hole event with 32, while Aussie Matt Jones tied the lowest 36-hole score (consecutive) at 123. There were also multiple course record-setters.
What does the Waialae Country Club have in store this weekend?
Smith has won the SONY Open before, taking honors in 2020. Kevin Na is the defending champion.
Entering the SONY Open, there are five Top-10 ranked players in the FedExCup Standings and in the field this week. They include (1) Talor Gooch, (3) Cameron Smith, (4) Sungjae Im, (5) Hideki Matsuyama and (8) Jason Kokrak.
The last eight consecutive winners of the Sony Open in Hawaii competed at Kapalua the week before, including Justin Thomas, who won both events in 2017. The last player to win the Sony Open without playing the Tournament of Champions was Russell Henley in 2013, who won in his first start as a PGA TOUR member.
Bryson DeChambeau withdrew from the Sony Open on Monday. In a Golf Channel report, DeChambeau's agent, Brett Falkoff, said the golfer is battling wrist soreness and will skip the tournament.
The Basics:
The SONY Open Tee Times start today at 7:10am (local)/12:10pm (ET) and players are at the starter to 1:40pm (local)/6:40pm (ET).
Weather: Today’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies. Temperature 75-degrees, but humidity 70% with winds 10 mph. Good weather (partly cloudy/sunny and low winds are expected all weekend. A 10% chance of rain. (link)
PGATourBrunch will post at Noon (ET) Friday.
Next Week: the American Express (LaQuinta) - back to the Mainland (link)
Feel free to forward this edition of PGA Tour Brunch to your friends and/or family who love pro golf. Through January 15th, we’re offering a New Year’s Discount.
Preview | SONY Open in Hawaii
COURSE: Waialae Country Club - (Honolulu, Hawaii)
ARCHITECT: Seth Raynor
YARDS/PAR: 7,044 yards/Par 70
PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $7,500,000/$1,350,000
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Kevin Na
PAST RESULTS: (link)
PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)
FEDEx CUP Points / to Winner: 500
SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @SONYOpenHawaii
OFFICIAL SITE: (SONY Open)
TV COVERAGE: Primetime Golf for the second week in a row. Not a bad thing. Today, January 13 and Friday, January 14: TV coverage from 7:00pm to 10:30pm (ET) on Golf Channel.
On Saturday, January 15, Round 3 coverage 7:00pm to 10:30pm (ET) on Golf Channel. On Sunday, January 16: With NFL Playoff Wild Card weekend dominating programming, the PGA Tour will be on Golf Channel from 6:00pm to 10:00pm (ET)
PGA TOUR LIVE STREAMING on ESPN+: Streaming coverage will be featured on ESPN-Plus for the second week, starting today at 12:00pm Noon (ET) and continuing through 10:30pm (ET) with Featured Hole and Featured Groups.
On Saturday, ESPN+ will stream coverage at 12:00pm Noon to 10:30pm (ET). On Sunday, ESPN+ coverage is online at 4:00pm ET and 10:00pm ET.
PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: SiriusXM Radio will have live radio coverage of the The SONY Open today and Friday broadcasts from 5:00pm to 10:30pm (ET). Weekend coverage on Sirius XM Radio runs from 5:00pm to 10:30pm on Saturday and from 5:00pm to 10:00pm (ET) on Sunday. PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92 or online via PGATour(dot)com.
How to Watch: In case of changes, visit: (PGATourCom)
Last Chance for $ Discount:
SONY Open in Hawaii - Field and Tee Times:
The Field - (link) - First full field event of 2022
Tee Times: (link)
What They’re Saying:
Bryson DeChambeau to skip SONY Open (Golf Channel)
Webb Simpson Looking to Bounce Back (Golf Channel)
Kevin Na’s Love for Waialae; He’s Back for More (Golf Week/USA Today)
Power Rankings for SONY Open (PGATourCom)
How to Watch This Week (PGATourCom)
Golf Industry News
Tributes pour in for “Rosie” - (Golf Channel)
Netflix Reveals PGA Star-Studded Cast for Doc (Golfcom)
DP World and AustralAsian Tour Solidify Links (Associated Press)
Shane Lowry on Saudi International - (Reuters)
Watson to Join Nicklaus, Player at Masters First Tee (ESPN News)
On This Day in Golf History:
January 13, 2013 - Only three months after gaining his PGA TOUR card, Russell Henley won the SONY Open in Hawaii. Henley made birdie on his last five holes to shoot a final round (63). He became the fifth player to win their inaugural PGA TOUR event. - Courtesy of Randy Walker, Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE
