The 2025 PGA Tour season kicked off last weekend with a bang at the Sentry, where Hideki Matsuyama broke the 72-hole score record with a mammoth 35-under-par effort in Hawaii.
The Japanese superstar was electric all week but what makes the win even more remarkable is that -35 was only enough to win by three strokes.
It was a further signal that perhaps PGA courses on the whole need revamping and making more difficult and discussions around that are unlikely to disappear this week given the players are once again playing on a resort course in Hawaii.
The Sony Open has been around now for 60 years and plenty of big names have enjoyed success around the par-70 course at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. Justin Thomas has the 72-hole record with his effort of -27 in 2017 while Ernie Els is a two-time champion.
Many of the current superstars on the PGA Tour are sitting this one out but there are still some big names taking part, including Hideki Matsuyama, who is going for back-to-back wins and USA Ryder Cup captain, Keegan Bradley.
Ahead of the first tee times tomorrow, here are our Sony Open betting tips.
The Sentry betting tips
Hideki Matsuyama EW (Eight places) – 8/1
Hideki Matsuyama is a man to watch out for this season and he proved that last weekend when he ran riot at Kapalua with a record-breaking score of -35.
The former Masters champion has had to overcome injuries and a loss of form that resulted in no wins in 2023 but showed glimpses of his best last season, winning the Genesis Invitational and St Jude Championship in addition to picking up an Olympic Bronze Medal.
History tells us that form in Kapalua usually translates to form in Hanalulu with eight of the last 11 winners of this event also competing at the Sentry a week prior. Matsuyama will be out to match Justin Thomas' achievement of winning the ‘Hawaii Double' and at 8/1, he's a fantastic price.
The world number five also has a good previous record at this event after beating Russell Henley in a play-off in 2022.
Maverick McNealy EW (Eight places) – 20/1
It's set to be another low-scoring week on the PGA Tour with the last four winners all shooting -17 or lower around Waialae Country Club. As a result, creating as many birdie and eagle opportunities as possible is going to be key and the best way to do that is to hit greens in regulation.
Sounds simple, right? Well, if it was then we'd all be professional golfers. However, one man who did make this look easy last week was Maverick McNealy who could be in for a breakthrough year on the PGA Tour.
Only three players had a higher GIR % than McNealy last week and none of them are competing this week which makes him a player to watch out for and his price of 30/1 with most golf betting sites is a steal.
It's not as if his form at this tournament is bad, either. He has never missed the cut in three starts in Honolulu and finished in a tie for seventh just two years ago.
Taylor Pendrith EW (Eight places) – 35/1
When two tournaments in similar climates, conditions and putting surfaces are wedged just a week apart, it is smart to back the hot putter. Last week, Taylor Pendrith put in a great display with the flat stick last week at the Sentry, finishing with a score of -22 and a tie for 14th.
He ranked seventh for the seeking for putting average but only one of the six players who ranked higher are competing this week (Hideki Matsuyama).
Pendrith is also a man in great nick. He ended 2024 with two top-five and three top-15 finishes in his final six appearances and looked very much at that same level in the season opener last week.
Sony Open tips
- Hideki Matsuyama EW – 8/1 @ BoyleSports
- Maverick McNealy EW– 20/1 @ BoyleSports
- Taylor Pendrith EW – 35/1 @ BoyleSports
Andy is tipster who has been calling Golf tournaments for several years across many different platforms. He has covered all tournaments from the Asian Tour to the Masters.
