Sony Open Prediction and Betting Preview

The PGA Tour is halfway through it\s Hawaii swing. Cameron Smith captured the Sentry Tournament of Champions last week, and now the golfing world will turn its attention to the Sony Open, the first full field event of the calendar year.

Kevin Na will enter the event as the defending champion, having won the 2021 edition of the tournament.

Let's look at the top 10 names on the odds list at WynnBET to win the event.

Odds to Win the Sony Open

• Cameron Smith +900
• Webb Simpson +1400
• Hideki Matsuyama +1600
• Sungjae Im +1600
• Marc Leishman +2200
• Corey Conners +2500
• Kevin Na +2500
• Abraham Ancer +2800
• Talor Gooch +2800
• Harris English +2800

How to Handicap Waialae Country Club

Despite this week's event also taking place in Hawaii, it's a significantly different set up than last week's Plantation Course. Whereas bombers could hit their tee-shots with little-to-no concern of missing the fairway, this Waialae Country Club demands more careful and accurate shots.

The course features several dog legs where setting yourself up for a good second shot is paramount. Distance is less important than placing it in the right spot. Avoid any golfers this week who struggle with an iron in their hand. There were plenty of wedges used to approach greens last week, but this week will feature mid and long irons more than anything else.

Key Stats for the Sony Open

• Ball Striking
• Strokes gained: approach the green
• Approach proximity from 150-175 yards
• Strokes gained: around the green
• Strokes gained: putting

Picks to Win the Sony Open

Hideki Matsuyama +1600 (1 unit)

Hideki Matsuyama showed flashes of greatness at last week's Tournament of Champions, and he wrapped up with a solid T13 finish. He should be able to shine in this weeks weaker field, and he should have an advantage on the other golfers who will be making their 2022 debut.

Matsuyama's iron play is never going to be a concern, but his putter always seems to be what lets him down. With that being said, I think it's always better to bet on a good ball striker and hope they get hot with their putter, than to wager on a bad ball striker who's consistent with the flat stick.

Weaker field, ball strikers course, I'll take a shot at Hideki Matsuyama.

Corey Conners +2500 (0.5 unit)

Of course I'm going to bet on my fellow Canadian at the Sony Open, the course fits his strengths to perfection, and he's always had success at this event. He finished T3 here in 2019 and T12 in 2020.

Much like Matsuyama, he's always been fantastic with an iron in his hand, but he's struggled at times with his putter, but he's been hot with the flat stick whenever he's competed at Waialae Country Club. If there's ever a time that being biased towards my Canadian brethren, it's this week. He's a fantastic bet at +2500.

Russell Henley +3300 (0.5 unit)

Russell Henley is going to be a popular dark horse bet for this week's event, and for good reason. He's already competed in five events this season, and he's finished in the top 25 in four of them with his best finish coming in a T7 at the Houston Open.

If you want someone who isn't a long driver, but who is accurate off the tee and with his irons, Henley is your guy. He ranks 17th in drive accuracy, fourth in strokes gained: approach the green, and eighth in scoring average this season. He also won this event back in 2013. He's certainly worth a sprinkle at +3300.