Course: Waialae County Club, measuring at just over 7,000 yards. Waialae is celebrating it's 50th year as host of this tournament, and it still looks as stunning as ever. Wayward tee shots are not as penalized as they were in Kapalua, but that does not make this an automatic lock for the bombers, either. Short game and putting will be the make or break here. Still, expect low scores, somewhere around twenty under par once again.
Strength Of Field: C+. Six of the top 25 in the world doesn't sound incredibly impressive, but the field is bunched up. Players like Matt Kuchar, Hideki Matsuyama and Jason Day make up the top of the field, but a bunch of rookies, several Japan Tour pros, and aged veterans make this an interesting field to watch. Waialae marks the perfect spot for someone to earn some much needed FedEx Cup points before the field strengths start to pick up.
Extra Tidbits: Sony Open has always been great to Asian players, as they invite several players from the Japan and Asian Tours to participate. This year, 6 players from Japan, 5 from South Korea, and 2 from China tee it up. Two notables missing? Ryo Ishikawa, who is exempt on the PGA Tour, and Koumei Oda, leading money winner on the Japan Tour...Curtis Thompson, Trey Mullinax, Roger Sloan, and Tom Johnson are your Monday qualifiers...This used to be the first full field event of the season, but with the new wrap around schedule, several rookies have already gotten a taste of the PGA Tour...Of the last 15 Sony Open champions, 10 of them played in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions the week before, though Ernie Els is the only man to sweep both events...Hawaii is a great trip for everyone, whether you're a rookie playing in their second or third tournament, or a veteran who has been on Tour for years. Five players in the field are over the age of 50 - Davis Love III, Vijay Singh, Fred Funk, Kenny Perry, and Paul Goydos. Singh and Love are life members, Perry is using a lifetime money exemption to play a full season on Tour, Goydos is in the field as a past champion, and Funk had a top 10 in Mayakoba.
Fantasy Four:
(NOTE: These are based off my selections for the PGATour.com fantasy game, which does not allow you to pick non-members in any events outside the WGCs or majors. If it did, Hiroshi Iwata would find a place on my team. A big week could put him on the path towards special temporary membership.)
Zach Johnson - This is one of the places where Johnson is an automatic start no matter how he's playing, and his game last week showed me that he has the potential to win here once again. Putting was off in round 2, which was the only thing that kept him from possibly challenging for the championship. Winner in 2007 and a top 10 last year.
Charles Howell III - You have to think he will win this tournament some day. Eight top 10's in thirteen starts. His window in this tournament may be closing, so he will be pressing for a victory.
Ryuji Imada - Sleeper pick. Playing this season on a past champion's status like he has last couple of seasons. Never notched a top 10 in this event, but was one stoke off from breaking that streak last year. Has made a surprising nine cuts in his eleven starts in this event. Course familiarity coupled with a need to have a good week should translate into success.
Jimmy Walker - Really wish he hasn't blown that lead last week, or else this would be an automatic pick. Winner last year, coming off a big season, and a second place finish last week. It should be a soft landing onto familiar grounds, but where his head is at will determine his performance this week.
Last Week's Team:
Bubba Watson: 10
Jason Day: T3
Geoff Ogilvy: T27
Angel Cabrera: T29
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