Tournament Notes and Quotes:
Peter Malnati, Jason Kokrak and Joaquin Niemann share the first-round lead after their strong first rounds of 8-under (62). It marked the third time there have been three scores of 62 or better in a round at the Sony Open in Hawaii (since 1983). The other low scoring years were 2015 (second round) and 2017 (second round).
Defending champion Cameron Smith opened with a 3-under (67) in his bid to become the fifth player to win back-to-back at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Harris English posts opening-round 70 in attempt to join Ernie Els (2003) and Justin Thomas (2017) as the only players to win the Sentry Tournament of Champions and Sony Open in Hawaii in consecutive weeks.
Malnati’s 8-under (62) matched his career-best round on the PGA Tour (9-under (62), in R-2 of the 2020 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. He has carded four rounds of (63) or better this season, the most by a player on the tour. He did not shoot 63 or better in his first 450 rounds on Tour but has four such scores in his last 16 rounds.
On Thursday, Kokrak made five putts from outside 10 feet and was 7th in Strokes Gained: Putting (1.61). When he won THE CJ CUP @ SHADOW CREEK in October, he led the field in Strokes Gained: Putting and made a career-best 14 putts from outside 10 feet.
Cutline is currently projected at (-2) but there’s a 37% chance it slides to (-4).
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SONY Open in Hawaii Leaderboard
(After Round 1)
Peter Malnati 62 (-8)
Jason Kokrak 62 (-8)
Joaquin Niemann 62 (-8)
Six players tied at 64 (-6)
Kokrak Made a Run but Missed Ace at 17th:
What They’re Saying:
Three Tied for Lead at SONY Open (Associated Press/ESPN)
Inside Story of How PGA Salvaged Season (Golfworld)
Argentina’s Cabrera Arrested in Brazil (Associated Press/ESPN)
Out-of-Bounds Stakes Added at Last Minute for SONY Open (PGA Tour com) and (Golf Channel)
Kisner: I don’t go unless I think I can win (USA Today)
#SportsBiz and Gold Industry News:
2021 AT&T Pro-Am to be Played without Pro-Am Format (PGA Tour com)
Sorry, Bill Murray, PGA eliminates Pro-Am Format (Golfweek/USA Today)
Losing PGA is Huge Blow, Massive Golf Course/Club Losses (Newsweek)
The Basics:
SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedEXCup @SonyOpenHawaii #SonyOpenHawaii
TV COVERAGE: (All on GOLF CHANNEL) Friday, Jan. 15-Saturday, Jan. 16th: 7pm-10:30pm ET) and Sunday, January 17th (6pm-10:00pm ET)
PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: Fri-Sat - 5:00pm-10:30pm (ET); and Sunday (5:00pm-10:00pm ET) - Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio or online via PGATour.com
On This Day in Golf History:
January 15, 2006 - One day after shooting a court record (61) at Waialae Country Club, David Toms cruised to a five-shot victory at the SONY Open by shooting a five-under (65) in his final round to win his 12th PGA Tour event and $918,000 first prize money. (Courtesy Randy Walker), Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE
Partin’ Putt:
TopGolf? Yep!
