With the cancellation of the Sentry at Kapalua, the PGA Tour officially kicks off its 2026 season in Honolulu at the Sony Open. Waialae Country Club has served as the tournament's home for decades, and it once again provides a familiar test to open the year.
Let's get ready for the first PGA Tour event of the season with our Sony Open betting preview, prediction and picks.
You can find odds for the entire PGA season at the best online sportsbooks available in the U.S.
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Odds to Win the Sony Open
Odds are courtesy of Lucky Rebel:
- Russell Henley (+1100)
- Hideki Matsuyama (+1800)
- J.J. Spaun (+1800)
- Ben Griffin (+2000)
- Collin Morikawa (+2000)
- Si Woo Kim (+2200)
- Keegan Bradley (+2500)
- Robert MacIntyre (+2500)
- Corey Conners (+3000)
- Maverick McNealy (+3500)
- Nico Echavarria (+3500)
- Rico Hoey (+3500)
- Aaron Rai (+4000)
- Harry Hall (+4000)
Sony Open Betting Preview
Nick Taylor claimed last year's title after edging Nico Echavarria in a playoff, with both players finishing at 16-under par. That result fits the mold of what we've come to expect at Waialae, a venue that has hosted this event since 1965 and stands as one of the longest-tenured courses on the PGA Tour.
This par-70 layout measures just over 7,000 yards and consistently minimizes any edge gained through sheer power. Narrow fairways, sharp doglegs and firm Bermuda greens demand precision from tee to green, while ever-present trade winds force players to think carefully about shot shape and trajectory.
Although Waialae yields scoring opportunities – with the average winning total sitting around 19-under across recent editions – it is far from forgiving. Missed fairways often lead to difficult recoveries from Bermuda rough, placing a premium on approach play, driving accuracy and putting on Bermuda surfaces. It's no coincidence that this is one of the more predictive courses on the schedule, where players with strong course history tend to resurface on leaderboards year after year.
Sony Open Predictions & Picks
Below, I've listed five golfers I'm backing in Hawaii. I'm playing each of them to win outright, along with a Top-20 finish. As always, make sure to shop around for the best numbers, as PGA odds can vary significantly from book to book.
J.J. Spaun: To Win (18/1) | Top 20 (+100)
Coming off the best season of his career, 35-year-old J.J. Spaun will look to carry that momentum into 2026 with a hot start in Hawaii. He's played 22 total rounds at this venue, highlighted by a T-3 finish last season, along with a missed cut in 2024 and a T-12 in 2023.
Based on the strides Spaun made last year, there's no reason he shouldn't be in the hunt come Sunday. He finished 16th in Par 4 scoring average, which is a crucial area to excel in here, considering there are 12 Par 4s on the card. If you're going to contend at this track, you need to take advantage of those holes.
Statistically, Spaun checks just about every box. Among this group of contenders, he ranks first in overall strokes gained, fifth in SG: Approach, ninth off the tee, 13th around the green, and a respectable 32nd in putting. His accuracy off the tee should play well on a course that can get windy and forces you to shape shots, and the confidence he built last season feels like it should carry over right away.
Ben Griffin: To Win (18/1) | Top 20 (+105)
Another player coming off a strong 2025 season is Ben Griffin. Last year, he ranked 32nd on Tour in Greens in Regulation and 38th in Birdie or Better percentage, showing the kind of steady ball-striking and scoring profile you want at a course like this. He's also got solid history at Waialae, with 12 career rounds and a +0.90 True Strokes Gained mark at the venue. His finishes have been respectable as well: T-12 in 2023, T-30 in 2024 and T-45 last year.
The experience is there, and so is the skill set. Among this week's field, Griffin ranks second in SG: Total and sixth in both SG: Approach and Putting, which puts him in a great spot to contend. While his outright odds aren't quite as appealing as they usually are, that's more a reflection of a relatively weaker field than anything else. And in this case, that just means there's a clearer path to a win for Griffin – and one I'm looking to take advantage of.
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Corey Conners: To Win (30/1) | Top 20 (+150)
As we know, experience and course history are imperative when handicapping which golfers will stand out at the Sony Open, and Corey Conners brings plenty of both. The Canadian has played a total of 26 rounds at Waialae Country Club and has managed an impressive true strokes gained mark of +1.23 during that span.
He's also coming off a solid 2025 season, finishing 42nd in Par 4 scoring. Among this week's contenders, he sits 19th in SG: Approach and 24th in SG: Total. He was also very precise off the tee, ranking 20th in SG: Off the Tee and 24th in overall driving accuracy.
There's no reason to doubt that the Sony Open veteran can contend this weekend.
Nico Echavarria: To Win (46/1) | Top 20 (+225)
Make sure you do your shopping, because the odds on last year's Sony Open runner-up are all over the place. At anywhere from +4000 or higher, it's worth a play on Echavarria.
Despite losing in a playoff at Waialae to Nick Taylor last year, it ended up igniting a spark in the 31-year-old's game. Following his trip to Hawaii, the Colombian posted 11 top-40 finishes over the rest of the season.
A large part of that success has come from his flat stick, as he ranks 15th in SG: Putting. He's also been solid off the tee, ranking 25th in driving accuracy, and finished 33rd among all golfers in Birdie or Better percentage last season. He's played a total of 12 rounds at the Sony Open, recording a +1.24 True Strokes Gained mark, so another chance at contention shouldn't come as a surprise. Echavarria treated me extremely well from a betting perspective last year, and I'm hoping he can do the same to kick off our 2026 card.
Harry Hall: To Win (45/1) | Top 20 (+200)
Harry Hall is another golfer who, at odds of +4000 or better, is worth a play. Hall stacks up extremely well for this track: SG: Putting (1st), SG: Total (6th), SG: Around the Green (6th) and SG: Approach (34th).
He also finished last season third in Birdie or Better percentage and fourth in Par 4 scoring average. Hall has played 12 total rounds at the Sony Open, posting a +1.07 True Strokes Gained mark. His three appearances resulted in T-28, T-42, and T-10 finishes. Harry Hall feels like a golfer who's flying under the radar at sportsbooks this week – let's look to take advantage.
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