Last year rookie, Russell Henley birdied his last five holes in the final round on Sunday to win in his very first PGA Tour start. He went on to add two more top-10 finishes and earn over $2 million in 2013.
The Sony Open has been held at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu since 1965. Famed golf architect, Seth Raynor originally designed Waialae and it opened for play in 1927. At 7,044 yards, it is a par 70 and is not one of the longer golf courses on tour. It puts a premium on accuracy and iron play. Long-hitters will be forced to hit hybrids and irons off many of the tees.
Looking back over the last 20 winners of this event shot-makers dominate the list. Johnson Wagner, Mark Wilson, Ryan Palmer, Zach Johnson, K.J. Choi, Paul Goydos, David Toms, Jerry Kelly and Brad Faxon are all examples of professionals that are distance challenged, but can play a shorter golf course.
Back when the top players of the day made the trek to Hawaii to start their season, Lee Trevino won here in 1968 and Jack Nicklaus was the winner in 1974.
Henley will be trying to join a very short list of players that have won consecutive Sony Opens. Perhaps one of the finest shot-makers of all time, Corey Pavin won consecutive Sony Opens in 1986-87. Another great shot-maker Hubert Green won back-to-back Hawaiian Opens in 1978-79 and Ernie Els won in both 2003 and 2004.
In the past the Sony Open was the first full-field event of the year. With the new wrap-around schedule, it is now the eighth tournament of the 2014 tour season, but will still attract a host of hopeful rookies seeking the bright lights and big purses available on the PGA Tour.
Here are four rookies that bear watching this week.
Hideki Matsuyama won five events in Japan last year and posted top-10 finishes in both the U.S. Open and the Open Championship in 2013.
Chesson Hadley won twice on the Web.com Tour last year including the Web.com Tour Championship. He has made four starts on the 2013-14 wrap-around schedule. He finished T-5 at the Shriners in Las Vegas and has earned $220,000 thus far in 2014.
Kevin Tway will be making his fourth start on the 2014 PGA Tour. He has missed two cuts and posted a T-40 finish at the Frys.com. He is the son of former major champion, Bob Tway and had one win on the 2013 Web.com Tour.
Hudson Swofford is making his fifth start on the PGA Tour this week at Waialae. He has missed three cuts with his best finish a T-30 coming at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas in October.
John Daly will be one of the 144 players trying to grab a piece of the $5.6 million purse and the $1 million that goes to the winner.
Charles Howell III is in the field again this year at the Sony Open and has several top-10 finishes over the past few years here. He could be someone to watch on Sunday.
Other top names in the field include, Adam Scott, Jason Dufner, Matt Kuchar, Zach Johnson and Jordan Spieth