Sony Open 2025: Full Preview, Prop Picks, and Betting Favorites
The 2025 PGA Tour season kicks into high gear with the Sony Open of Hawaii at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. As the first full-field event of the year, it marks the start of critical milestones, including the AON Swing 5 race and the chase for PGA Tour cards. Here’s everything you need to know about this week’s event, along with expert prop picks and betting favorites.
Event Details
- Location: Waialae Country Club, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Dates: January 9-12, 2025
- Course: Par 70, 7,044 yards
- Purse: $8.7M (Winner: $1.566M)
- Defending Champion: Grayson Murray
- FedEx Cup Leader: Hideki Matsuyama
How to Watch
- TV:
- Thursday-Friday: 7-10:30 p.m. (Golf Channel)
- Saturday-Sunday: 4-6 p.m. (NBC/Peacock), 6-8 p.m. (Golf Channel)
- Streaming (ESPN+):
- Thursday-Friday: 12-10:30 p.m. ET
- Saturday-Sunday: 1-8 p.m. ET
Prop Picks
- Billy Horschel to Beat Matt Kuchar (-110)
Horschel, ranked 15th in the world, holds a significant edge over Kuchar (124th). Both players excel with straight driving, which is key at Waialae, but Horschel’s consistency makes him the safer pick. - Ben An Top 20 (+110)
An lost last year’s playoff to Grayson Murray and has shown strong form recently, with a T32 at The Sentry and wins at the Genesis Championship. He’s well-positioned for another strong showing. - Nico Echavarria Top South American (+160)
With a career-high 66th world ranking, Echavarria has momentum from his recent T2 at the RSM Classic and a win at the Zozo Championship. His competitors in this category lack his recent consistency.
Betting Favorites
- Hideki Matsuyama (+900)
Matsuyama, the 2022 Sony Open champion, is fresh off a record-setting win at Kapalua. Ranked No. 5 in the world, he’s the top player in the field and has drawn significant public backing (11% of all money). - Corey Conners (+1400)
Conners has been consistent worldwide, finishing T5 at Kapalua for his third consecutive top-7 finish. - Tom Kim (+2000)
Kim has two runner-up finishes in his past three starts and remains a popular pick, drawing 8% of the total money. - Russell Henley (+2000)
Henley’s stellar history at Waialae includes a win (2013), runner-up (2022), and T4 (2024), making him a reliable choice. - Ben An (+2800)
An’s T2 finish here last year, with four rounds of 68 or better, makes him a strong bet for a breakthrough. - Luke Clanton (+3000)
The world’s top-ranked amateur, Clanton has two top-5 finishes in his past three PGA Tour starts, drawing 6% of bets. - Austin Eckroat (+3500)
Eckroat, a two-time tour winner, is coming off a T15 at Kapalua and looks to continue his strong form.
Notable Storylines
Grayson Murray Tribute:
The event pays homage to 2024 champion Grayson Murray, who tragically passed away last May. His family announced the formation of the Grayson Murray Foundation, dedicated to mental health awareness.
New Faces to Watch:
Ricky Castillo: Former University of Florida star and tour rookie, competing in front of family in Hawaii.
Nick Dunlap: The first player in tour history to win as both an amateur and professional in a single season, making his Sony Open debut.
Japanese Rookies: Rikuya Hoshino, Kaito Onishi, and Takumi Kanaya add international intrigue.
Justin Thomas’ Record:
Thomas set a course record of 59 in 2017, winning with a 72-hole score of 253. Can anyone challenge that historic performance this year?
The Sony Open promises thrilling action as players vie for critical milestones in the new season. Will a favorite like Matsuyama or Conners rise to the occasion, or could an emerging star like Clanton or Echavarria steal the spotlight? All eyes turn to Waialae as the drama unfolds.
