Sony Open in Hawaii · Derived from round-level strokes gained, 2022–2023–2024–2025 · ~75 players per field
Across 4 recent editions (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), the players who finished top-10 at Waialae Country Club separated from the field most through putting (47% of the total separation), with approach play second at 31%. Off the tee mattered least — 7% — which is worth knowing when the broadcast narrative says otherwise.
The winners tell their own version: in 2 of the last 4 editions, the champion's best category for the week was approach play. That differs from what separates the whole top-10 (putting) — winning weeks are outlier weeks, usually powered by a hot week in one skill on top of the baseline the course demands.
Course notes: Waialae — wind, scoring, short game around small greens.
Strokes gained per round for each recent champion, by category. The green number is that winner's best skill for the week.
| Year | Winner | To Par | OTT | APP | ARG | PUTT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Nick Taylor | -16 | +0.22 | +1.47 | +0.37 | +0.62 | +2.68 |
| 2024 | Grayson Murray | -17 | +1.28 | +0.47 | +0.50 | +0.69 | +2.94 |
| 2023 | Si Woo Kim | -18 | +0.29 | +2.06 | +0.59 | +0.23 | +3.16 |
| 2022 | Hideki Matsuyama | -23 | +0.91 | +0.65 | +0.29 | +1.82 | +3.67 |
Every tournament week we score the full field against the venue's weights. The free pick lands Wednesday — by email, before tee times.
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