Sony Open History and Past Winners

The Sony Open has been played—in its various incarnations—at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Hawaii since 1965. First known as the Hawaii Open, it later acquired first United Airlines and then Sony as title sponsors. It’s been the Sony Open since 1999. Prior to 1965, four Tour-recognized events were held, in 1928-1929 and 1947-1948.

The current purse is $5,600,000. Waialae Country Club is a par 70 clocking in at 7068 yards.

The Sony Open has gained some notoriety in recent years for the inclusion of young Michelle Wie as a sponsor’s exemption in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Waialae was her home course, but she did not manage to make the cut in any of those plays.

In 2007, 16 year old amateur Tadd Fujikawa became the second youngest player to make the 36-hole cut in an official PGA Tour event. (The youngest was Bob Panasik—age 15—in the 1957 Canadian Open). Two years later, Fujikawa set a course record with a 62.

Another first: Isao Aoki was Japan’s first winner on the PGA Tour in 1983.

Multiple Winners
Ernie Els: 2003, 2004
Hubert Green: 1978, 1979
Corey Pavin: 1986, 1987
Lanny Wadkins: 1988, 1991

Tournament record: 260 (John Huston, 1998; Brad Faxon, 2001)

The complete list of winners for the Sony Open is listed below: