The first event of the PGA Tour season is a lot like the first day of school. Players show up with shiny new toys, transfers and new students join in, and everyone tries to figure out the atmosphere in the classroom and whether they have friends taking the same course. Oh yeah, there’s an old man (Vijay Singh) who’s back after a year.
The 2026 PGA Tour season is already off to a unique start, even though the Sony Open will feature a stronger field than usual, considering it won’t start this year at its usual field, the Sentry in Kapalua.
With no traditional event held on Maui, the Sony Open will step into the box as the leadoff batter. While the entire Hawaii swing may be on the upswing for the upcoming season, this year’s tournament at Waialae Country Club will feature seven of the top 20 players in the Official World Golf Ranking, as well as some of the biggest names in the game.
Members of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, including Russell Henry, Ben Griffin, J.J. Spawn and Collin Morikawa, lead the field along with captain Keegan Bradley. European players such as Robert McIntyre, Aaron Rai and Harry Hall will represent the continent, while international players such as Hideki Matsuyama, Siu Kim, Corey Connors, defending champion Nick Taylor and Adam Scott will join the field.
While these players enter the new year with a full understanding of their position, there are many others who don’t and need more than just a fast start. This group of players includes Korn Ferry Tour alums like Johnny Keefer, who many are hoping will do well, and DP World Tour alums like Christopher Reitan. PGA Tour sophomores Matt McCarty, Ryan Gerrard and Michael Brennan all have high expectations for next year, as do Maverick McNeely and Chris Gottapp, who have had strong seasons.
Players like Billy Horschel and Sahit Segala have also returned from injuries after turbulent seasons. Jordan Spieth had a good, if not great, 2025 after undergoing wrist surgery last offseason. They’re all trying to put the pedal to the metal like Tony Finau, Tom Kim, and Nick Dunlap, who all had seasons to forget in 2025.
It’s a whole new season. Hope will be renewed. When the ball starts flying on Thursday morning, everyone will have a chance to achieve their annual goals. Waialae CC is a classic golf course, but despite its lack of length, it offers challenges for players and interests for viewers. The PGA Tour is back. It’s time to enjoy it.
2026 Sony Open Schedule
date: January 15th to 18th
position: Waiaua Halei Country Cliffs – Honolulu, Hawaii
Par: 70 | Yardage: 7,044 | Architect: Seth Rayner
wallet: $9.1 million
2026 Sony Open Field, Odds
Odds from FanDuel Sportsbook
- Russell Henry (11-1): There’s probably no bigger Henry fan than you. I drove Russ’ bus a few years ago and declared him a top 10 player in the world, and in 2025 I was finally proven right. Unfortunately, there may only be one direction Henry can go from here. It’s the opposite. But the good news is that the backup will have to wait, as Waialae CC is the ideal place for him to start the season in style. He won in 2013, lost to Matsuyama in the playoffs in 2022, and has finished T4 and T10 the past two years. His blend of accuracy and precision pays off on this old-school course.
- Ben Griffin (16-1): It’s hard to be so pessimistic at the beginning of a new year, but that’s where we are. Griffin enters 2026 fresh off a transformative season in which he won three championships, finished in the top 10 in two major championships and played on the U.S. Ryder Cup team. That may be the best for the 29-year-old, but that doesn’t mean he’ll slow down anytime soon. He has never missed the cut in three trips to Waialae.
- JJ Spawn (20-1): For some reason, Spawn didn’t fit in at Waialae early in his career, but he seems to have turned a corner last year. The U.S. Open champion finished one stroke outside of the playoffs and carried that form into the defining season of his career. Like Henry, Spawn’s driving and wedge play will set him up for success here.
- Collin Morikawa (20-1): There’s a reason Morikawa is making his first start since 2021 at the Sony Open. The two-time major champion hasn’t won since the fall of 2023, but is aiming to advance in early 2026, hoping his patented iron play will be on full display. His problem last year wasn’t his iron play, it was Morikawa’s short game, an underrated key to his success at Waialae. A look at the par 70 course should give you an idea of Morikawa’s position.
- Keegan Bradley (22-1): The former U.S. Ryder Cup captain is, in my opinion, the most notable player this year. Without the weight of captaincy and impending decisions about whether to play or not, Bradley would be able to play more freely. He has been impressive for Waialae over the past four seasons, finishing T12 or higher in three of those outings. Bradley’s ball striking is still world class, and his chipping and pitching improved significantly last year.
- Hideki Matsuyama (22-1)
- Robert McIntyre (22-1)
- Maverick McNeely (25-1)
- Similarly (25)
- Harry Hall (25-1)
Players selected for the 2026 Sony Open
Who will win the Sony Open in Hawaii, and who will be the long shot that will shock the golf world? Visit SportsLine now to see the entire predicted leaderboard for the 16-win golf major model heading into the weekend.
