Sony Open in Hawaii 2026 Betting Tips: JJ to Spaun another win?

The PGA Tour season gets under way in Hawaii this week, but with the usual season-opener, The Sentry, off the schedule, we begin at Waialae Country Club with the Sony Open.

With a diverse field, including a whole host of newcomers alongside an assortment of established players, it will be an exciting start to the season. One that should provide us with immediate clues about who is ready to thrive in 2026.

Our resident golf tipster Jamie Worsley is back with five more value each-way picks this week, so let's check out his Sony Open in Hawaii 2026 Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights...

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

*You can bet on the tournament and check out the latest Sony Open Odds over on betfred.com

TOURNAMENT HISTORY

The Sony Open in Hawaii debuted in 1965 and has been staged exclusively at Waialae Country Club throughout its history. It has held this spot as the first full-field event on the PGA Tour calendar since 1999.

Despite its longevity on tour, nobody has managed to claim three Sony Open titles. We do have a five-strong list of two-time champions, with Hubert Green (1978, 1979) followed by Corey Pavin (1986, 1987), Lanny Wadkins (1988, 1991), Ernie Els (2003, 2004) and Jimmy Walker (2014, 2015).

Last five winners:

• 2025

Winner: Nick Taylor (-16, playoff)

Runner-up: Nico Echavarria (-16)

• 2024

Winner: Grayson Murray (-17, playoff)

Runners-up: Byeong Hun An, Keegan Bradley (-17)

• 2023

Winner: Si-woo Kim (-18)

Runner-up: Hayden Buckley (-17)

• 2022

Winner: Hideki Matsuyama (-23, playoff)

Runner-up: Russell Henley (-23)

• 2021

Winner: Kevin Na (-21)

Runners-up: Joaquin Niemann, Chris Kirk (-20)

The event went to a playoff for the fourth time in six years in 2025, as Nick Taylor beat Nico Echavarria by birdying the second extra hole to become the first Canadian winner. He returns to defend this week.

THE COURSE

Waialae Country Club

• Opened: 1927
• Original architect: Seth Raynor
• Latest renovation: Tom Doak (2016), restoring Raynor design features
• Par / Yardage: Par 70, 7,044 yards
• Hole breakdown:
  • 4 × Par 3s (176–204 yards)
  • 12 × Par 4s (351–480 yards)
  • 2 × Par 5s (506–551 yards)
• Scoring: Average winning score −19.2 (last 10 editions)
• Course style: Flat, tree-lined and strategic parkland with many doglegs
• Fairways: Bermudagrass; average width; positioning off the tee is key to create angles into the greens
• Greens:
  • Large (averaging 7,100 sq. ft.) bermudagrass surfaces
  • Typically receptive and easy to hit, with subtle, hard-to-read breaks
  • Strongly bunkered
• Defences: Water (in play on five holes); 3.5-inch bermudagrass rough; wind is often a factor due to the coastal location

Overall, Waialae rewards patience and precise ball-striking. Though it is usually scoreable, the challenge quickly stiffens if winds arrive.

THE WEATHER

Around 30mm of rain on Wednesday should soften the course, but conditions are forecast to be bright and warm for the tournament itself, with temperatures around 25°C each day. Winds look set to be a factor early doors, with 12mph breezes and gusts over 25mph on Thursday, before gradually easing through the week to around 8mph by Sunday.

KEY STATS

SG: Approach/Proximity from 150-175 yards

Large and receptive greens call for high-quality approach play in Hawaii. The short-mid irons are especially important, with approaches from 150-175 yards the most common since 2016.

• 2025
  • Nick Taylor (Winner): ranked 4^th in SG: Approach
  • J. Spaun (3^rd): 1^st
  • Stephan Jaeger (3^rd): 8^th
  • Eric Cole (5^th): 5^th

• 2023
  • Si Woo Kim (Winner): 1^st
  • Chris Kirk (3^rd): 5^th
  • David Lipsky (4^th): 4^th

• 2022
  • Russell Henley (2^nd): 2^nd

• 2021
  • Kevin Na (Winner): 5^th
  • Chris Kirk (2^nd): 8^th
  • Marc Leishman (4^th): 4^th

• 2020
  • Brendan Steele (2^nd): 2^nd
  • Webb Simpson (3^rd): 8^th
  • Kevin Kisner (4^th): 5^th

SG: Putting (bermudagrass)

Handling these subtly-breaking bermudagrass greens has often been another key to success at Waialae Country Club.

• 2025
  • Stephan Jaeger (3^rd): ranked 3^rd in SG: Putting
  • Eight of the top nine ranked inside the top 25

• 2023
  • Andrew Putnam (4^th): 1^st

• 2022
  • Hideki Matsuyama (Winner): 1^st
  • Russell Henley (2^nd): 3^rd
  • Seamus Power (3^rd): 5^th

• 2021
  • Webb Simpson (4^th): 1^st

• 2020
  • Cam Smith (Winner): 1^st
  • Brendan Steele (2^nd): 5^th

Par-4 Scoring

Finally, with par-4s making up two-thirds of the 18 holes at Waialae, it's imperative that players score well on these holes.

CORRELATING EVENTS (COURSES)

RSM Classic (Sea Island Resort)

Flat and coastal, the Sea Island Resort is an ideal comp for the Sony Open. The short-game challenge is of a similar level of difficulty, and it also compares closely in approach into the large bermudagrass greens, with many approaches coming in that 150-175-yard range.

Notable correlating form:

• Russell Henley: Sony Open (1^st, 2^nd) / RSM (4^th, 6^th)
• Si Woo Kim: Sony Open (1^st) / RSM (4^th)
• Charles Howell III: Sony Open (2^nd, 2^nd, 3^rd, 3^rd) / RSM (1^st)
• Chris Kirk: Sony Open (2^nd, 2^nd, 3^rd) / RSM (1^st)
• Nico Echavarria: Sony Open (2^nd) / RSM (2^nd, 4^th)
• Kevin Kisner: Sony Open (3^rd, 4^th, 4^th) / RSM (1^st, 2^nd)
• Webb Simpson: Sony Open (3^rd, 4^th, 4^th) / RSM (2^nd, 2^nd)
• J. Spaun: Sony Open (3^rd) / RSM (2^nd)
• Tom Hoge: Sony Open (3^rd) / RSM (4^th)
• Seamus Power: Sony Open (3^rd) / RSM (4^th, 5^th)
• Brian Harman: Sony Open (4^th) / RSM (2^nd, 4^th)
• Eric Cole: Sony Open (5^th) / RSM (3^rd)

Cognizant Classic (PGA National)

PGA National is another flat, coastal course with large bermudagrass greens. With the demands of the test eased there in recent years – bringing it much closer to the challenge at Waialae from a ball-striking perspective – it serves as an extremely useful comp.

Notable correlating form:

• Russell Henley: Sony Open (1^st, 2^nd) / Cognizant (1^st, 3^rd)
• Ryan Palmer: Sony Open (1^st, 4^th) / Cognizant (2^nd, 4^th)
• Chris Kirk: Sony Open (2^nd, 2^nd, 3^rd) / Cognizant (1^st)
• Rory Sabbatini: Sony Open (2^nd, 2^nd) / Cognizant (1^st)
• Brendan Steele: Sony Open (2^nd, 4^th) / Cognizant (3^rd, 4^th)
• Byeong Hun An: Sony Open (2^nd) / Cognizant (4^th, 5^th)
• Gary Woodland: Sony Open (3^rd, 6^th, 7^th) / Cognizant (2^nd, 5^th, 6^th)
• J. Spaun: Sony Open (3^rd) / Cognizant (2^nd)
• Ben Taylor: Sony Open (4^th) / Cognizant (5^th)
• Michael Thompson: Sony Open (5^th, 6^th) / Cognizant (1^st)
• Eric Cole: Sony Open (5^th) / Cognizant (2^nd)

Bermuda Championship (Port Royal Golf Course)

Possessing similar driving accuracy, GIR and scrambling percentages, Port Royal's tee-to-green challenge mirrors what we can find at Waialae. Alongside being a short island course with strongly bunkered bermudagrass greens, it's a must among this week's correlating courses.

Notable correlating form:

• Ryan Palmer: Sony Open (1^st, 4^th) / Bermuda (8^th)
• Seamus Power: Sony Open (3^rd) / Bermuda (1^st)
• J. Spaun: Sony Open (3^rd) / Bermuda (7^th)
• Carl Yuan: Sony Open (4^th) / Bermuda (4^th)
• Brian Gay: Sony Open (5^th, 6^th) / Bermuda (1^st, 3^rd)
• Adam Schenk: Sony Open (6^th) / Bermuda (1^st)

Wyndham Championship (Sedgefield Country Club)

Sedgefield Country Club is a short, tree-lined par-70 course with large bermudagrass greens. Approaches from 150-175 yards are the most frequent, and with the ball-striking demands akin to what we typically see in Hawaii, it's a worthwhile comp.

Notable correlating form:

• Si Woo Kim: Sony Open (1^st) / Wyndham (1^st, 2^nd)
• Kevin Na: Sony Open (1^st) / Wyndham (2^nd, 4^th)
• Russell Henley: Sony Open (1^st, 2^nd) / Wyndham (2^nd, 5^th)
• Brandt Snedeker: Sony Open (2^nd) / Wyndham (1^st)
• Byeong Hun An: Sony Open (2^nd) / Wyndham (2^nd, 3^rd)
• Webb Simpson: Sony Open (3^rd, 4^th, 4^th) / Wyndham (1^st, 2^nd, 2^nd)
• Kevin Kisner: Sony Open (3^rd, 4^th, 4^th) / Wyndham (1^st)
• J. Spaun: Sony Open (3^rd) / Wyndham (3^rd)
• Brian Harman: Sony Open (4^th) / Wyndham (3^rd, 6^th)

Charles Schwab Challenge (Colonial Country Club)

Colonial Country Club is a strategic, tree-lined course with many doglegging holes. It also offers players a comparable challenge in approach, with short-mid irons carrying the most importance.

Notable correlating form:

• Kevin Na: Sony Open (1^st) / Charles Schwab (1^st)
• Matt Kuchar: Sony Open (1^st) / Charles Schwab (2^nd)
• Patton Kizzire: Sony Open (1^st) / Charles Schwab (3^rd)
• Ryan Palmer: Sony Open (1^st, 4^th) / Charles Schwab (3^rd, 5^th, 5^th)
• Chris Kirk: Sony Open (2^nd, 2^nd, 3^rd) / Charles Schwab (1^st)
• Rory Sabbatini: Sony Open (2^nd, 2^nd) / Charles Schwab (1^st)
• Keegan Bradley: Sony Open (2^nd) / Charles Schwab (2^nd)
• Brandt Snedeker: Sony Open (2^nd) / Charles Schwab (2^nd)
• Andrew Putnam: Sony Open (2^nd, 4^th) / Charles Schwab (3^rd)
• Hayden Buckley: Sony Open (2^nd) / Charles Schwab (5^th)
• Kevin Kisner: Sony Open (3^rd, 4^th, 4^th) / Charles Schwab (1^st)
• Harris English: Sony Open (3^rd, 4^th) / Charles Schwab (2^nd, 5^th)
• Webb Simpson: Sony Open (3^rd, 4^th, 4^th) / Charles Schwab (3^rd, 5^th)

THE FIELD

Former Sony Open winner Russell Henley is the top-ranked player in attendance this week at No. 5 in the world. He is one of four players from inside the top 10, alongside J.J. Spaun (No. 6), Robert MacIntyre (No. 7), and Ben Griffin (No. 8). Waialae welcomes nine of the world's top 25 and 20 of the top 50 in total.

Nick Taylor returns to defend, and he is joined by another six past champions: Si Woo Kim (2023), Hideki Matsuyama (2022), Patton Kizzire (2018), Russell Henley (2013), Zach Johnson (2009), and Vijay Singh (2005).

The first full-field event of the year always gives us an opportunity to check out a broad selection of newcomers to the PGA Tour. Seven of the 10 players who earned their card via the DP World Tour are in action, headed by two-time winner on that tour in 2025 Kristoffer Reitan.

Johnny Keefer heads the 19 Korn Ferry Tour graduates teeing it up in Hawaii and we also have each of the five players who came through Q-School in December – Canada's A.J. Ewart topped that leaderboard to secure his first stab at this level.

SELECTIONS 

Market leaders (1/4 5 places): Russell Henley 11/1, Ben Griffin 16/1, Keegan Bradley 18/1, Hideki Matsuyama 22/1, Robert MacIntyre 22/1, Collin Morikawa 22/1, J.J. Spaun 22/1

2.5 pts J.J. Spaun each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 18/1

J.J. Spaun arrives in Hawaii after the best season of his career in 2025, which took him to a career-high No. 6 in the world. The reigning U.S. Open champion has really started to get to grips with Waialae Country Club in recent years (he was the solo 54-hole leader in 2025), and as a player who relies on a precision-based ball-striking game, I expect him to be among the leading contenders this week.

Spaun's early displays last year were littered with quality, as he finished 2^nd in THE PLAYERS Championship and Cognizant Classic, and 3^rd here. That said, his victory at Oakmont courtesy of that incredible 72^nd-hole putt still came as a shock.

Avoiding the type of blowout that many players suffer after such a big win, he maintained impressive form thereafter. He hit the top 25 on eight occasions over his last nine starts of the year, including a runner-up finish in the St. Jude Championship.

An incredible week with the putter earned him that major breakthrough, but it was in SG: Approach that he excelled most season-long, ranking 5^th on the PGA Tour. He's also made gains with the driver over the last 12 months and ranking 16^th in par-4 scoring, this layout sets up perfectly for him.

Spaun failed to record a top-40 over his first five Sony Open starts, but he's since produced finishes of 12^th (2023) and 3^rd (2025) in the previous three years. When combined with strong correlating form of 2^nd in the Cognizant Classic, 2^nd in the RSM Classic, 3^rd in the Wyndham Championship, and top-10s in the Charles Schwab Challenge and Bermuda Championship, he makes a compelling case to claim the first title of the year.

1.25 pts Nico Echavarria each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 40/1

Signing off 2025 with a 4^th-place finish in the RSM Classic, Nico Echavarria again highlighted his ability to perform in coastal conditions. He did little wrong when losing a playoff to Nick Taylor in this event last year and is well worth having on side at Waialae.

Although that runner-up finish here was his highest of the year, he did most of his best work in the latter part of 2025, hitting the top 25 in six of his last 11 starts. This included finishes of 6^th in the Rocket Classic, 9^th in the Baycurrent Classic, and that season-ending 4^th in the RSM Classic.

The putter was his biggest weapon, ranking 5^th on the PGA Tour, and each of his four strongest displays came on bermudagrass. He finds plenty of fairways, ranking 40^th in driving accuracy, and while his iron play is inconsistent, he excels in that 150-175-yard range, ranking 30^th last year.

Echavarria was 12^th on his Sony Open debut in 2023 and prior to his 2^nd-place finish in 2025, he was 66^th in 2024 – firing 11/12 rounds in the 60s at the course. He’s finished 2^nd and 4^th in the RSM Classic and having recorded his first PGA Tour win in the 2023 Puerto Rico Open, the Florida resident is clearly at his best by the coast.

1 pt Ryan Gerard each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 60/1

Ryan Gerard ended 2025 with a runner-up finish in Mauritius to earn his way into the world’s top 50 and in turn, this year’s Masters. As a proven wind performer who displayed plenty of promise at Waialae last year, he represents terrific value to get 2026 off to a flying start.

Gerard continually impressed throughout 2025, finishing 2^nd on a windy week in the Texas Open, and then securing his first major top-10 in the PGA Championship when 8^th at Quail Hollow. He claimed his breakthrough PGA Tour title in the Barracuda Championship, and while he generally struggled for form following that success, it was encouraging to see him find form by the coast in Mauritius.

He's a fine player from tee-to-green, ranking 28^th on the PGA Tour in 2025. His iron play was particularly strong, ranking 26^th in SG: Approach, and he was also a steady 55^th from 150-175 yards.

Gerard first caught everyone’s attention when he was 4^th in the 2023 Cognizant Classic. His ability in the wind was again showcased in Texas and sitting 11^th here on debut last year before a final-round 72 saw him drop to 37^th on Sunday, this type of test evidently suits his game.

1 pt Tom Kim each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 90/1

The start of a new season represents a fresh start for everyone and can often see out-of-form players spring back into life. With that thinking, I’m going to take Tom Kim to rediscover his touch at a course that is a great fit on paper.

Kim regressed considerably in 2025, recording just three top-20s as opposed to securing 12 and 17 in the previous two years. It is noteworthy that his standout result came at the short and coastal Pebble Beach, where he finished 7^th, and he was looking a little better towards the end of the season, finishing 11^th in the Sanderson Farms Championship on his second-to-last start.

He’s an excellent iron player at his best and despite those subdued displays last year, he still gained strokes in this area and was particularly strong from 150-175 yards, ranking 16^th. The putter was largely consistent at the end of the campaign and while we’ll have to hope he’s got that once trusty driver back under control, I’m happy to take that chance at the price.

Kim hasn’t fired on two previous visits here, missing the cut in 2023 and finishing 65^th in 2025. However, he is a former winner of the Wyndham Championship and as an accurate ball-striker who can manage the wind, I’m confident he has the game for this test.

1 pt Adam Svensson each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 150/1

After Nick Taylor became the first Canadian to win this event last year, I’m taking Adam Svensson to follow his compatriot into the winner’s circle this week. He retained his playing privileges thanks to an excellent 2^nd-place finish at Q-School and with coastal form in abundance, he should be relishing getting back to action in Hawaii.

Svensson had just three top-25s in 2025 but two of them came at seaside locations – 21^st in the World Wide Technology Championship and 24^th in the Corales Puntacana Championship.

Despite these underwhelming results, he hit the ball reasonably accurately, ranking 29^th in driving accuracy and 39^th in GIR. He was also 57^th in SG: Approach – aided by his quality from 150-175 yards, ranking 38^th – and whilst the putter was a significant weakness, he is more settled on bermudagrass.

Svensson hasn’t missed a cut in five Sony Open starts, recording a best of 7^th in 2022. His solo PGA Tour win came in the 2022 RSM Classic and having also won in The Bahamas on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2016, it’s in these surroundings that he regularly flourishes.

You can access all our latest Golf Odds over on betfred.com

Find all Jamie's latest Golf Betting Tips over on our dedicated golf Insights hub