Golf degenerates, your wait is finally over. After The Sentry at Kapalua got cancelled due to drought conditions on Maui, the Sony Open has become the de facto 2026 PGA Tour season opener. That means a stacked field, fresh betting markets, and four days of action from Honolulu starting Thursday.

The Quick Hit

• Event: Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club
• Dates: January 15-18, 2026
• Field: 120 players (stronger than usual due to Sentry cancellation)
• Purse: $9.1 million, 500 FedEx Cup points
• Favorite: Russell Henley at +1200

The Betting Board

Russell Henley earned the favorite tag after a stellar 2025 season—he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, added two runner-ups, and posted 10 top-10 finishes. The guy is consistent, which matters on a course like Waialae that rewards precision over power.

Why the Field Is Stacked

Normally the Sony Open features a decent but not spectacular field. Players who competed at Kapalua the week before often skip it. But since The Sentry got axed, a bunch of guys who would've been in Maui are now teeing it up in Honolulu instead.

That means better competition and potentially more value in the betting markets. The books had to price this field differently than usual, and there could be edges to exploit if you know where to look.

Course Breakdown

Waialae Country Club is a par-70 that plays around 7,044 yards. It's not particularly long, which is why bombers don't always dominate here. The course rewards:

• Accuracy off the tee: Tight fairways punish wayward drives
• Approach play: Small greens demand precision
• Putting on Bermuda: The greens are grainy and tricky

Players who've had success here tend to be steady ball-strikers rather than grip-it-and-rip-it types. That's why Henley, who's one of the most accurate players on Tour, is the favorite.

Where's the Value?

Nick Taylor at +4000 is interesting. The defending champion knows this course, and while he hasn't replicated last year's form, champion's equity is real in golf.

Hideki Matsuyama at +2000 is always dangerous in Hawaii. He's won at Kapalua before and tends to play well in the islands. If his putter cooperates, he can beat anyone.

For the true degenerates, scroll down to guys like Seamus Power (+5500) or Taylor Montgomery (+8000). Both have the games to contend on this course, and at those odds, a top-5 finish pays handsomely.

The Bottom Line

After weeks of no live golf betting, we're finally back in action. The Sony Open might not have the prestige of a major, but it's got a quality field, an interesting betting market, and four days of action to sweat. Henley is the deserving favorite, but at +1200, you're not getting rich backing chalk. The value is in the mid-tier and longshots who match up well with Waialae's demands. Let's get this 2026 season started.