Sony Open in Hawaii

Course: Waialae Country Club, Honolulu, Hawaii
Yardage: 7060
Par: 70  (two par-fives)
USGA Rating: 74.8
Greens: Tifdwarf Bermudagrass - 5,000 sq.ft  (Tour average: 6,000 sq.ft)

GCSAA Tournament Fact Sheet

Weather Forecast

Best Players Last 10 Years

Past Winners:
2001 - Brad Faxon
2000 - Paul Azinger
1999 - Jeff Sluman
1998 - John Huston
1997 - Paul Stankowski
1996 - Jim Furyk
1995 - John Morse
1994 - Brett Ogle
1993 - Howard Twitty
1992 - John Cook

Outright plays:

Jim Furyk 16/1 e.w. @ Victor Chandler or Heathorns (0.5 units)  [15/1 @ Olympic]
Would normally look to avoid players to competed in such strong winds in the previous week - it can be very disruptive to the swing - but Jolly Jim just can't miss an event in Hawaii. In fact, he's even buying a house there. A solid display last week to finish 4th and with an excellent record in this part of the world, he is an obvious contender for any short-list.

Tom Lehman 24/1 e.w. [win & show] @ Olympic (0.5 units)
Now to players who didn't suffer the buffering of the Trade Winds last week. Lehman has a great record on this course: 6th in 1997 and even better once it was tightened up ... 6th and 2nd in the last two years. On these grainy Bermuda greens, good course form is vital and he is the 2nd of three selections who share that characteristic.

Stuart Appleby 40/1 e.w. [win & show] @ Olympic or Heathorns (0.5 units)
Fresh and coming off a victory in the prestigious Australian Open, albeit six weeks ago, Appleby is another who should contend again this week. Finishes of 16th, 2nd and 37th in the last three years are enough evidence that he can cope with the winds and greens in Honolulu.

72-hole plays:

Kenny Perry to beat Robert Allenby -111 @ Ladbrokes (0.5 units)
Perry topped the greens in regulation stats last week and finished just one shot out of the playoff. Don't expect him to repeat such a performance this week, but he should be able to beat Allenby who must be very frustrated by his very poor putting last week (ranked last).

Joel Edwards to beat Brian Gay -120 @ Camelot (0.5 units)
The Texan showed he could play in wind last week - Edwards was in contention until the last day. He surpassed many people's expectations and could carry that forward to a decent showing this week. Opposing Gay who, while he did finish 10th last year, had missed the two previous cuts here and finished the 2001 season poorly.

David Frost to beat Rory Sabbatini +105 @ Camelot (1.5 units)
2001 was a much better season for the South African and on this short course, he looks much more suited to this venue. Sabbatini is not suited to the new narrow course and has missed the cut on two of three occasions. He may have a 'hot' week - he finished in the top-5 three times last year - but he blows more cold than not - he did not have another top-20 finish

Jim Furyk to beat Charles Howell -135 @ Camelot (0.5 units)
A great deal is expected of Howell for the new season and with that there is much pressure on him before a ball has been struck, it will be no surprise if he has a quiet week. Not expecting the same from outright selection, Furyk 

Loren Roberts to beat J.J. Henry -120 @ Victor Chandler (0.5 units)
One of the Tour's best putters against one of its worst and on these Bermuda greens, that is a crucial difference. It can be seen in the players' course form as well: two top-10 finishes in the three years since the course changes for Roberts; 66th last year for Henry

Mid-point update:

Perry/Allenby All Square
Edwards/Gay Leads by 1
Frost/Sabbatini LOST by 1
Furyk/Howell Trails by 1
Roberts/Henry WON by 7

Furyk 12th
Lehman 23rd
Appleby 53rd

Looks like being a break-even tournament at best with the one sizeable 72-hole play losing ... Frost was leading by one until Sabbatini birdied the last two holes

Final Update:

Matchups: 2-2-1; -1.18 units

Perry/Allenby All Square
Edwards/Gay WON by 3
Furyk/Howell LOST by 1

Outrights: 0-3; -1.50 units

Furyk 7th
Lehman 38th
Appleby 54th

Always struggle to finish in Hawaii and this year is no exception. Furyk disappointed in the final round to fall one shot out of a place finish and one shot behind Howell. Looking forward to the mainland!