Sony Open in Hawaii 2020: Course and current form stats for Waialae

Andy Swales
06 January 2020

Waialae Country Club: One of the lowest-scoring venues on the PGA Tour

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Andy Swales supplies the stats and words for this week's PGA Tour event in the Hawaiian capital.

"Greens in Regulation have usually been an important statistic at this course, with defending champion Matt Kuchar topping this category 12 months ago."

The PGA Tour heads to Honolulu for the Sony Open in Hawaii, which is being staged at Waialae Country Club for a 55th time.

As many as 23 of the 34 golfers who played at Kapalua on Sunday, have travelled 80 miles west to tee-up on the central Pacific island of Oahu.

Waialae has been in existence since 1927, and is one of the lowest-scoring venues on the pro calendar.

The average winning 72-hole total since the turn of the millennium is 262.3, with four of the last seven champions shooting lower than 260.

The course underwent a revamp during the late 1990s and provides a sharp contrast to the venue which hosted last week's Sentry Tournament of Champions on the island of Maui.

Contrast With Kapalua

From the wide open fairways of Kapalua, the players will now be tested by the shorter, tighter layout of Waialae.

Fairways are narrower and greens are smaller, placing a greater emphasis on accuracy from tee to green.

Unlike the many undulating fairways of the Plantation course, those at Waialae are generally flat.

One feature which should remain constant from last week is the coastal breezes, which blow across these vulnerable Pacific islands.

There are more than 80 bunkers at Waialae, a course which is yet to crown a European champion.

Greens in Regulation have usually been an important statistic at this course, with defending champion Matt Kuchar topping this category 12 months ago. He was also fourth in Driving Accuracy and fifth for Putting (GiR).

It is also worth noting that the last six winners at Waialae, had competed the week before at Kapalua.

Course Form

Winner on Sunday, Justin Thomas, tees-up again as does fellow American Patrick Reed who lost a play-off to his compatriot over the Plantation Course.

Thomas is a former champion at Waialae, while Reed appears to be regaining the sort of form which made him a much-feared opponent earlier in his career.

Check out latest betting ahead of this week's Sony Open in Hawaii

In addition to Thomas, others with decent course histories include Webb Simpson, Kuchar, Chez Reavie, Charles Howell, Brian Stuard and Brian Harman.

Although he is yet to win here, Howell has a remarkable Waialae record that features 10 top-10s, of which four were podium finishes.

With the exception of Howell, who on average belts the ball just over 300 yards, the others in this list cannot be considered long hitters, and the same goes for Jordan Spieth and Brandt Snedeker.

Spieth makes his first FedEx Cup start since early November, while Snedeker hasn't teed up since the first week of October.

Another golfer who doesn't fire the ball long distances is Kevin Na. Although he hasn't got a great record at Waialae, the world No 27 did play at Kapalua last week, so should be better placed than most to hit the ground running on Thursday.

Finally, two other names to consider are Kevin Kisner and Corey Conners, both of whom are teeing-up for the second week in a row.

The consistent Kisner is another of those players who regularly drives the ball less than 290 yards, while the mid-range Connors topped the category for hitting most (77%) Greens or Fringes in Regulation last season.

Twitter: Andy Swales @GolfStatsAlive

MC* - Missed Additional 54-Hole Cut

Note: List Contains Leading Reserves

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Position

1–5
6–15
16–25

Player	W1	W51	W50	W49	W48	W47	W46	W45	W44
Justin Thomas	1			5
Webb Simpson				10		2
Patrick Reed	2			3		28		10	8
Hideki Matsuyama						8			11
Matt Kuchar	14			14		MC	14
Kevin Na	32
Marc Leishman				10
Shugo Imahira				3	39	1	36	2	2
Sung Jae Im									11
Kevin Kisner	14			7		MC	76		28
Chez Reavie	27			13			26		60
Abraham Ancer				33			8		4
Jordan Spieth				16					43
Brandt Snedeker
Andrew Putnam									36
Keegan Bradley							MC		24
Cameron Smith		10		27					60
Charles Howell						MC	20		36
Joaquin Niemann	5						MC
Corey Conners	19								20
Brendon Todd	29					4	1		1
Collin Morikawa	7					5
Alexander Noren						10	44	28	15
JT Poston	11					14	41		24
Rory Sabbatini						53	33
Sung Kang	25
Nate Lashley	19
Ryan Palmer	17
Keith Mitchell	32					14	MC
Matt Jones				1		72	33
Joel Dahmen						MC	6
Dylan Frittelli	31					35	11
Vaughn Taylor						10	2
Sebastian Munoz	17					3	MC
Rikuya Hoshino				8	32	19		49	17
Emiliano Grillo							41
Scott Piercy							26
Russell Knox						20	33		11
Aaron Wise						MC	MC		3
Kyle Stanley						30	MC
Adam Long	23					35	2
Lanto Griffin	13					MC	76		18
Graeme McDowell	23						23
Brian Harman						14	72
Pat Perez							8
Kevin Tway									60
Xin Jun Zhang						MC	48		38
Brian Stuard						10	23		51
Mikumu Horikawa		44		8	58	26	4	MC	49
Harry Higgs						35	33		2
Troy Merritt						30
Carlos Ortiz							2
Luke List						53	MC
Ryuko Tokimatsu				8	18	34	10	8	51
Kazuki Higa				22	MC	13	13	32	MC
Daniel Berger
Doc Redman						23	MC		35
Charley Hoffman							MC
Robby Shelton						MC	6		MC
Zack Sucher						MC			MC
Tyler Duncan	19					1	48		18
Kristoffer Ventura						MC	MC		41
Chesson Hadley						50
Bud Cauley
Brian Gay						MC	14		3
Harris English						MC	5
Mark Hubbard						53	58		41
Ryan Armour						23	33		8
Satoshi Kodaira				8		74	80		3
Stewart Cink		22				43
Zach Johnson						61	23
Brice Garnett						MC	11
Scott Harrington						43	72		53
Michael Thompson						68
Sepp Straka						MC	MC		MC
Talor Gooch						23	55
Sam Burns
Zac Blair						MC	14		57
Adam Schenk						MC	MC
Russell Henley						MC	MC
Kramer Hickok						53	MC		15
Andrew Landry						MC	MC
Jimmy Walker
Fabian Gomez						23	MC		7
Nick Taylor						MC	26
Tom Hoge						MC	MC
Robert Streb						MC	14		35
Roger Sloan							MC		41
Henrik Norlander						5	41		28
Aaron Baddeley						MC	26
Jason Dufner						MC
Sam Ryder						MC	66		MC
Mackenzie Hughes						65	MC
Peter Uihlein						72			MC
Cameron Percy				MC		MC			48
Matthew NeSmith						14	48
JJ Spaun						MC	80
Peter Malnati						MC	58
Wes Roach						61	66		8
Matt Every
Chase Seiffert						23	41		62
Nelson Ledesma						MC	MC		28
Kyoung-Hoon Lee						5	MC		58
Hank Lebioda						30	MC		3
Cameron Davis		3		66		MC			MC
Jim Herman	27					35	80
Patton Kizzire						68	58
Ryan Brehm						50	72		51
DJ Trahan						8			24
Scott Brown						14	76
Shawn Stefani						68	79		11
Bo Hoag						75	20		11
Rhein Gibson		49		MC	MC	43	MC		35
Ted Potter						MC
Martin Trainer	34					MC
Patrick Rodgers						MC	58		MC
Chris Kirk						MC	33
Tyler McCumber						53	Wd		41
Mark Anderson						43	MC
Michael Gellerman						MC			MC
Brendan Steele						MC	41
David Hearn						30	41		8
Anirban Lahiri						50			Wd
Doug Ghim						65			MC
Hudson Swafford						MC	66
Dominic Bozzelli						MC			35
Michael Gligic						MC	MC		53
Chris Baker						MC	26		31
Brandon Hagy						35
Tim Wilkinson						30			48
Joseph Bramlett						MC			31
Vince Covello						MC			MC
Rafael Campos						MC	66		18
Vincent Whaley						65
Ben Taylor						MC	MC		28
Jamie Lovemark				MC
Rob Oppenheim						53	MC		24
Vijay Singh
James Hahn						MC	58
Will Gordon						10	55
Ben Martin						MC	20
Colt Knost
Graham DeLaet							58		MC
Smylie Kaufman		MC	Wd	27					MC
Bo Van Pelt							MC		MC
Parker McLachlin									65
Jerry Kelly
Tyler Ota
Eric Dugas
Alex Beach

Player	`19	`18	`17	`16	`15	`14	`13	`12	`11	`10
Justin Thomas	16	14	1	MC	6
Webb Simpson		4	13	13	13		20	38	46	MC*
Patrick Reed	13						MC
Hideki Matsuyama	51		27		MC*		MC	MC	MC
Matt Kuchar	1			13	3	8	5		5	MC
Kevin Na		MC	36	28	64	8	MC	MC	20	52
Marc Leishman	3	47	20	28	37	5	9		27	20
Shugo Imahira	33	54
Sung Jae Im	16
Kevin Kisner	69	25	4	5	MC*	MC		MC	MC
Chez Reavie	3	18	8	42	26		MC			MC
Abraham Ancer	29	MC
Jordan Spieth	MC	18	3			MC
Brandt Snedeker	16		MC	2
Andrew Putnam	2	69			MC
Keegan Bradley	29	39	MC	MC			49	13	MC
Cameron Smith	22	18	27	MC*
Charles Howell	8	32	8	13	26	8	3	2	MC	5
Joaquin Niemann
Corey Conners	3	39
Brendon Todd				MC	44	20		13
Collin Morikawa
Alexander Noren
JT Poston	20		64
Rory Sabbatini	33	32	45	MC	6	MC	59	29	13	39
Sung Kang	10		MC	MC				MC	MC
Nate Lashley		39
Ryan Palmer		58	MC	13	17	8	66	MC	52	1
Keith Mitchell	16	25
Matt Jones	29	39			70		15		MC	MC
Joel Dahmen	22	73
Dylan Frittelli	51
Vaughn Taylor	MC	76	57
Sebastian Munoz	10
Rikuya Hoshino	67
Emiliano Grillo	22	47		33
Scott Piercy	33	25	57	13	2	MC	15	23		MC
Russell Knox	43	10	11	MC	13	MC	MC	MC
Aaron Wise		MC
Kyle Stanley	22	10	36	13			67	23	MC
Adam Long	MC
Lanto Griffin		58
Graeme McDowell				MC
Brian Harman	MC	4	20	13	13	32	MC	59
Pat Perez	MC		69	MC*	17	8	9	46	MC	46
Kevin Tway	MC	69	MC			MC
Xin Jun Zhang		25
Brian Stuard	8	4	45		MC	6	5			25
Mikumu Horikawa
Harry Higgs
Troy Merritt	MC	MC	MC	MC	30	MC			MC	20
Carlos Ortiz	29			MC	MC
Luke List		MC	13	MC			MC
Ryuko Tokimatsu
Kazuki Higa
Daniel Berger		14	45	42	13
Doc Redman
Charley Hoffman
Robby Shelton
Zack Sucher
Tyler Duncan	57	MC
Kristoffer Ventura
Chesson Hadley						MC
Bud Cauley			MC			MC	MC	29
Brian Gay	22	58	13	MC		32	31	6	13	25
Harris English	22	64	MC	56	3	4	9	67
Mark Hubbard			MC	56	60
Ryan Armour	22	39
Satoshi Kodaira	MC	MC	49	MC*
Stewart Cink	20	32	36	42	37	20	MC	29		52
Zach Johnson	MC	14	6	9	64	8	MC	54	MC	12
Brice Garnett	33	MC			MC	38
Scott Harrington
Michael Thompson	69	MC	20	56		MC	MC	6	MC
Sepp Straka	MC
Talor Gooch	MC	18
Sam Burns	MC
Zac Blair			57	3	6
Adam Schenk	MC	39
Russell Henley	66	MC	13	MC	17	51	1
Kramer Hickok	MC
Andrew Landry	MC	MC
Jimmy Walker	51	MC	MC	13	1	1	26	MC	4	MC
Fabian Gomez	57	MC	72	1	MC*		67		MC
Nick Taylor	MC		MC	74	68
Tom Hoge	MC	3		MC	MC*
Robert Streb	MC	MC	49		17	68	73
Roger Sloan	33				67
Henrik Norlander			20	MC			41
Aaron Baddeley		MC							34
Jason Dufner	MC*	18	MC	9		29		MC	56	20
Sam Ryder	MC	58
Mackenzie Hughes	MC*	MC	27
Peter Uihlein		MC
Cameron Percy			MC*		MC		59			MC
Matthew NeSmith
JJ Spaun		47	MC
Peter Malnati	MC	MC	27	MC*		38
Wes Roach	57					MC
Matt Every		75	MC		Dq	8	MC	6
Chase Seiffert
Nelson Ledesma
Kyoung-Hoon Lee	MC
Hank Lebioda	43
Cameron Davis	MC
Jim Herman	43	MC	10	MC*	MC*	MC	MC		MC
Patton Kizzire	13	1		MC
Ryan Brehm			45
DJ Trahan									MC	MC
Scott Brown	33	65	64		MC	68		MC
Shawn Stefani	MC		36	50	6		59
Bo Hoag
Rhein Gibson
Ted Potter	13	MC				MC	MC	13
Martin Trainer	MC*					MC
Patrick Rodgers	MC	Wd	MC
Chris Kirk	MC	10	MC	MC	26	2	5	38	30
Tyler McCumber
Mark Anderson						MC	54	MC
Michael Gellerman
Brendan Steele									MC
David Hearn	MC		MC	MC*	51	38	31	10	MC
Anirban Lahiri	43		MC
Doug Ghim
Hudson Swafford	3	54	13	9	MC	8
Dominic Bozzelli	33	39
Michael Gligic
Chris Baker
Brandon Hagy			MC*
Tim Wilkinson			36	50	MC	46				Wd
Joseph Bramlett									MC
Vince Covello
Rafael Campos
Vincent Whaley
Ben Taylor
Jamie Lovemark	MC	MC	4	7		MC			MC
Rob Oppenheim		MC		MC
Vijay Singh	MC	MC	57	50	MC	MC	20	46	MC	52
James Hahn	MC	2	36	28	26	46	67
Will Gordon
Ben Martin	MC	7	36	50	51	38			MC
Colt Knost	MC	69	MC	MC*	17		MC	23	34
Graham DeLaet				7	MC		MC	29		25
Smylie Kaufman		MC	MC
Bo Van Pelt						MC			MC	MC
Parker McLachlin			MC	MC				MC		MC
Jerry Kelly	MC	14	MC	9	6	3	MC	29	9	Wd
Tyler Ota		MC
Eric Dugas	MC*	MC				MC*		MC
Alex Beach