Betting Tips: Sony Open

The PGA Tour stays in Hawaii for the Sony Open this week: Here’s how to watch and who to back

The Sony Open marks the first full field event of 2020 on the PGA Tour, following Justin Thomas’ play-off victory at the Sentry Tournament of Champions last week. 

At World No.4, Thomas is the highest ranked player in the field this week – and is also a former champion here, having won the trophy in 2017 during the week he recorded a 59. 

He’s joined by defending champion Matt Kuchar, who recovered last year from a poor start to win by four shots, as well as fellow Presidents Cup players Patrick Reed, Webb Simpson, Hideki Matsuyama, Sungjae Im, Joaquin Niemann, Marc Leishman, Abraham Ancer and Cameron Smith.

◆ Date: Jan 9 -12
◆ Course: Waialae CC,  Honolulu,  HI
◆ FedEx Cup Points: 500
◆ Prize Fund: $6,600,000
◆ Defending Champion: Matt Kuchar 

Sony Open: TV Times

Friday 10th Jan: Sky Sports Golf (00:00), Sky Sports Main Event (00:00)

Saturday 11th Jan: Sky Sports Main Event (00:00), Sky Sports Golf (00:00)

Sunday 12th Jan: Sky Sports Golf (00:00), Sky Sports Golf (23:00)

Betting Tips: Sony Open

Justin Thomas: 5/1

The World No.4 is the overwhelming bookies favourite this week. Three wins in his last seven starts on Tour, which include last week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions, where he triumphed in a playoff against Xander Schauffele and Patrick Reed. He’s also the course record holder here – the site of his 59 in 2017 –  when he claimed the title by seven shots, and has since gone T14-T16. Hasn’t finished worse than T17 in his last 11 starts on Tour. 

Webb Simpson: 11/1

Like many in the field week, making his first start of 2020, having last teed up at the Hero World Challenge (excluding Presidents Cup), where he finished T10. Prior to that he finished 2nd at the RSM Classic (play-off loss), and T7 at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Skipped this event in 2019 but finished T4 here in 2018 and had three T13s before that. 

Patrick Reed: 12/1

Despite being shrouded in controversy of late, Patrick Reed has been one of the most consistent players on Tour in the past six months, having not finished outside of the top 30 anywhere since a T32 at the U.S Open. That includes victory, and a second place last week after being beaten by Justin Thomas on the third play-off hole at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. T13 here last year. 

Hideki Matsuyama: 16/1

Mastuyama heads to the Sony Open in great form, having gone T16-3-2-T11-T8 on Tour before winning 2.5 points in the narrow International loss at the Presidents Cup. Despite that, Mastuyama is still looking to improve on his performances here – currently holding a best of T27 from six starts. 

Collin Morikawa: 20/1

The young PGA Tour winner is making his first Sony Open start, having finished T7 in last week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions – which followed a T5 at the Japan Tour’s Dunlop Phoenix Open in December. 

Matt Kuchar: 20/1

The defending champion hasn’t cracked the top 10 since June, but has three top 15s in his last four starts – including last week in Kapalua. That being said, his game clearly suits the course in Hawaii, having gone T5-T8-T4-T13-1 in his last five appearances. 

Sungjae Im: 33/1

The 2019 PGA Tour Rookie of the year picked up his first win at the Genesis Open, and has since had a T3 at the ZOZO Championship and T11 at the HSBC Champions. He took a spell off before the Presidents Cup, where he returned to win 3.5 points- tying the most of anyone all week. Was T16 on his debut here last year. 

Corey Conners: 40/1

The Canadian player has had a strong start to the new PGA Tour season, having not finished outside the top 20 in five starts since a MC at the Sanderson Farms – and was T19 last week. He was also T3 here last year, following a T39 on his debut in 2018. 

Kevin Kisner: 40/1

Finished T7 at the Hero World Challenge before a T14 at last week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions. Had back to back top-fives here in 2016 and 2017 before a T25 in 2018 and T69 last year. 

Cameron Smith: 50/1

Smith finished T10 in his last start at the Australian PGA Championship just before Christmas, which followed his Presidents Cup debut – where he won 1.5 points that included a singles win over Justin Thomas. In his last three starts at the Sony Open has gone T27-T18-T22.