We preview the 2026 Sony Open, providing a look at the favourites, tee times and the course.
The Sony Open steps into the spotlight as the PGA Tour’s opening act of 2026, with Waialae Country Club providing a fitting stage for the season’s first test.
A par-70 classic that has crowned legends from Nicklaus to Watson, Waialae remains a haven for precision over power, demanding sharp iron play, disciplined positioning and a deft touch on Bermuda greens.
Often shaped by coastal trade winds, it rewards the same profile year after year: accurate ball-strikers who can plot their way around its tight corridors.
With a stronger-than-usual field assembling in Honolulu and winning scores typically pushing toward the high teens under par, the Sony Open offers an early but revealing measure of form as the FedEx Cup race gets underway.
Check out Niall Lyons Betting Tips for the Sony Open 2026!
Sony Open 2026 Odds
Russell Henley is favourite to win the 2026 Sony Open at a best price of 12/1 with Unibet followed by US Open champion JJ Spaun at 18/1 with bet365.
| Golfer | Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Russell Henley | 12/1 | Unibet |
| J.J. Spaun | 18/1 | bet365 |
| Hideki Matsuyama | 18/1 | bet365 |
| Ben Griffin | 22/1 | AKBets |
| Collin Morikawa | 22/1 | Paddy Power |
| Robert MacIntyre | 25/1 | AKBets |
| Si Woo Kim | 25/1 | AKBets |
| Keegan Bradley | 25/1 | AKBets |
| Corey Conners | 30/1 | SpreadEX |
Last updated on 14/01/2026 at 10:00.
Bet365
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Sony Open 2026 Tee Times
| Tee Time (GMT) | Tee | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5:10 PM | 1 | Brice Garnett | Michael Kim | Jacob Bridgeman |
| 5:10 PM | 10 | Austin Eckroat | Peter Malnati | Keith Mitchell |
| 5:21 PM | 1 | Erik van Rooyen | Gary Woodland | Alex Smalley |
| 5:21 PM | 10 | Matthieu Pavon | Sam Stevens | Matti Schmid |
| 5:32 PM | 1 | Tom Kim | Emiliano Grillo | Denny McCarthy |
| 5:32 PM | 10 | Sahith Theegala | Seamus Power | Kristoffer Reitan |
| 5:43 PM | 1 | Kurt Kitayama | Cam Davis | Taylor Pendrith |
| 5:43 PM | 10 | J.J. Spaun | Collin Morikawa | Adam Scott |
| 5:54 PM | 1 | Brian Campbell | Harry Hall | Corey Conners |
| 5:54 PM | 10 | Ben Griffin | Chris Gotterup | Russell Henley |
| 6:05 PM | 1 | Adam Schenk | Steven Fisk | William Mouw |
| 6:05 PM | 10 | Nick Taylor | Aaron Rai | Robert MacIntyre |
| 6:16 PM | 1 | Patton Kizzire | Nick Dunlap | Rico Hoey |
| 6:16 PM | 10 | Ryo Hisatsune | Danny Walker | David Ford |
| 6:27 PM | 1 | Pierceson Coody | Kevin Roy | Haotong Li |
| 6:27 PM | 10 | Chandler Phillips | John Parry | S.T. Lee |
| 6:38 PM | 1 | Ricky Castillo | Kensei Hirata | Corey Kozuma |
| 6:38 PM | 10 | Alejandro Tosti | Takumi Kanaya | Kota Kaneko |
| 6:49 PM | 1 | John VanDerLaan | Gordon Sargent | Yuta Sugiura |
| 6:49 PM | 10 | Zecheng Dou | Pontus Nyholm | Anson Cabello (a) |
| 9:40 PM | 1 | Lee Hodges | Tom Hoge | Hank Lebioda |
| 9:40 PM | 10 | Adam Svensson | Chad Ramey | Vince Whaley |
| 9:51 PM | 1 | Patrick Rodgers | Bud Cauley | Mark Hubbard |
| 9:51 PM | 10 | Eric Cole | Zac Blair | Dylan Wu |
| 10:02 PM | 1 | Daniel Berger | Webb Simpson | Doug Ghim |
| 10:02 PM | 10 | Rafael Campos | Zach Johnson | Beau Hossler |
| 10:13 PM | 1 | Keegan Bradley | Hideki Matsuyama | Jordan Spieth |
| 10:13 PM | 10 | Joe Highsmith | Nico Echavarria | Davis Riley |
| 10:24 PM | 1 | Michael Brennan | Tony Finau | Johnny Keefer |
| 10:24 PM | 10 | Ryan Gerard | Chris Kirk | Vijay Singh |
| 10:35 PM | 1 | Brian Harman | Maverick McNealy | Si Woo Kim |
| 10:35 PM | 10 | Matt McCarty | Billy Horschel | Jake Knapp |
| 10:46 PM | 1 | S.H. Kim | Mac Meissner | Luke Clanton |
| 10:46 PM | 10 | Austin Smotherman | Adrien Saddier | Chandler Blanchet |
| 10:57 PM | 1 | Max McGreevy | Jordan Smith | A.J. Ewart |
| 10:57 PM | 10 | Adrien Dumont de Chassart | Davis Chatfield | Sudarshan Yellamaraju |
| 11:08 PM | 1 | Neal Shipley | Jeffrey Kang | Taisei Nagasaki (a) |
| 11:08 PM | 10 | Isaiah Salinda | Dan Brown | Keita Nakajima |
| 11:19 PM | 1 | Zach Bauchou | Marcelo Rozo | Kazuki Higa |
| 11:19 PM | 10 | Christo Lamprecht | Emilio Gonzalez | Ren Yonezawa |
Sony Open 2026 Course Preview
Sony Open at Waialae CC: What Wins Here
Precision beats power
Waialae is a short par-70 (7,044 yards) that neutralises bombers. Tight corridors, frequent doglegs and long Bermuda rough (up to 3.5”) place a premium on accuracy, positioning and angle control rather than raw distance.
Think your way around
Seth Raynor’s routing forces players to shape shots in both directions, often with wind blowing against the dogleg. There is usually a preferred miss off the tee, and players who understand which side of the fairway to favour gain a clear edge.
Par-4 scoring is key
With only two par-5s, success hinges on performance across the par-4s - 11 of which fall in the 400–480 yard range. The par-5s are extremely easy (64% birdie-or-better rate), so failing to capitalise is costly.
Elite approach play matters most
Nearly half of all approaches come from 150–200 yards, making mid-iron control crucial. Greens are large and receptive, but pin positions are demanding, and proximity from the rough is among the worst on Tour - another reason fairways matter.
Putting separates contenders
Waialae is a second-shot and putting course. Recent winners and top-25 finishers gain heavily with the putter, particularly on flat but grainy Bermuda greens. Reading the grain correctly is a major advantage.
Short game helps, but isn’t a survival test
Scrambling is easier than Tour average, though Bermuda rough around the greens can still punish poor positioning. Experience on Bermuda surfaces is a plus.
Wind changes everything
Calm conditions turn Waialae into a birdie-friendly test. When the trade winds get up, scoring tightens quickly and patience becomes essential.
Ideal Sony Open Profile
-
Accurate driver who controls ball flight
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Strong mid-iron player (150–200 yards)
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Comfortable on Bermuda greens
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Strategic thinker with course experience
Players who fit the profile:
-
Russell Henley - 12/1
-
Ben Griffin - 20/1
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Corey Conners - 30/1
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J.J. Spaun - 18/1
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Austin Eckroat - 125/1
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Maverick McNealy - 35/1
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Zac Blair - 135/1
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Denny McCarthy - 60/1
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Daniel Berger - 70/1
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Aaron Rai - 40/1
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Mac Meissner - 80/1
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Collin Morikawa - 22/1
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Max McGreevy - 100/1
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Nico Echavarria - 50/1
Paddy Power
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- Competitive pricing
Sony Open 2026 Most Backed Bets
The table below shows the most backed golfers to win the Sony Open 2026 through oddschecker in the last 7 days.
| Most Backed Golfer | % of Bets | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Nico Echavarria | 6.17% | 50/1 |
| Hideki Matsuyama | 5.66% | 18/1 |
| Russell Henley | 5.02% | 12/1 |
| J.J. Spaun | 4.31% | 18/1 |
| Ben Griffin | 3.53% | 20/1 |
| Collin Morikawa | 3.28% | 22/1 |
| Keita Nakajima | 3.21% | 150/1 |
| Robert MacIntyre | 3.15% | 25/1 |
| Ryan Gerard | 3.02% | 60/1 |
| Corey Conners | 2.89% | 30/1 |
Sony Open 2026 Weather Forecast
Thursday, Jan 15:
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Early morning (2–5 AM): Cloudy with light rain, temperatures around 14–15°C, light to moderate winds from the northeast at 7–14 mph.
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Morning (8–11 AM): Clearing skies with sun breaking through, temperatures rising from 15°C to 16°C. Winds remain mild at 7–15 mph.
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Afternoon (2–5 PM): Mostly sunny, highs around 18°C, wind increasing slightly to 18–20 mph.
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Evening (8–11 PM): Partly cloudy, temperatures dropping slightly to 16–17°C, winds easing to 16–17 mph.
Friday, Jan 16:
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Early morning (2–5 AM): Mostly clear skies, temperatures 16–20°C, winds around 16–20 mph.
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Morning to early afternoon (8 AM–2 PM): Sunny intervals, temperatures steadily rising from 20°C to 21°C, wind from the northeast at 18–21 mph.
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Afternoon (2–5 PM): Bright and sunny, highs around 20–21°C, wind holding steady at 18 mph.
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Evening (8–11 PM): Clear skies, temperatures around 20–22°C, winds 20–22 mph.
