The Sony Open in Hawaii opens the 2026 PGA season at Waialae Nation Membership, a course that emphasizes precision, iron play and endurance over energy.
We’re on the lookout for gamers who can revenue from their approaches, keep away from errors, and accumulate birdie alternatives with out overdoing it. It is also the primary week, so the golf season is lengthy and you do not have to scatter your bets far and wide.
Be selective, shield your bankroll, and do not forget that the NFL Playoff and School Soccer Playoff title video games are nonetheless value watching.
Russell Henry: Prime 10 (+115)
Full odds:
Prime 20: -185
Prime 10: +115
Prime 5: +230
To win: +1100
1st spherical chief: +2800
I do not usually contact prime 10 markets until your identify is Rory McIlroy, however Henry together with his expertise on this space is well worth the danger. He’s the reliable favourite as he has led the sector in strokes gained strategy and tee-to-green by means of the final 32 rounds. That is the core talent that this course rewards.
His outcomes at Waialae are virtually completely tied to the iron. He is aggressive relating to the strategy benefit right here and has loads of course historical past to show it. He persistently positive aspects 4-6 strokes together with his irons on this course and has a number of top-10 finishes, together with a win, runner-up, and one T4. Its repeatability tends to position it close to the highest of the leaderboard.
Ben Griffin: Prime 20 (-130)
Full odds:
Prime 20: -130
Prime 10: +165
Prime 5: +330
To win: +1700
1RL: +3500
Griffin leads in bogey avoidance and scrambles, which is a big accomplishment at Waialae, the place a inexperienced miss does not robotically imply bogey, however unhealthy judgment. He is additionally been within the prime 15 in weight strategy over the previous few months, so his irons are holding up. A wager on Griffin is a wager on a participant who will not make errors on a course that rewards endurance. He does not have a deep historical past at Waialae, however his expertise right here is telling. In three begins, he is gotten to the tee-to-green every time, and his irons and drives are flying to this course each time. His top-20 value is affordable as a wager on stability moderately than identify recognition.
Chris Kirk: Prime 30 (+100)
Full odds:
Prime 30: +100
Prime 20: +145
Prime 10: +320
Prime 5: +650
To win: +4000
1RL: +5500
Kirk is an efficient wager on the course, backed by precise Waialae outcomes. All through his profession right here, Kirk has recorded a number of prime 10 finishes and several other runner-up finishes. When he is taking part in nicely, it is coming from huge positive aspects on his strategy and tee-to-green, not some random placing spike. He usually hits the ball and returns it on the inexperienced, even with a middling end. On brief place tracks, his profile permits him to be within the prime 30.
Gamers to think about for day by day fantasy
Play fantasy golf each day with DraftKings.
Keegan Bradley $9,300: He is a pure tee-to-green participant. His irons are top-notch irrespective of the venue, and at Waialae he values repeatable ball strikes over creativity. If Captain Keegan is worthwhile together with his strategy, fantasy factors will accumulate quietly and steadily.
Kurt Kitayama $8,900: He is a ceiling-skilled participant. He both wins or finishes thirty eighth, there’s actually no center floor. He is erratic, however erratic is ok when it comes from ball strikes that flip issues round greater than birdies. On programs that do not require distance, Kitayama’s strategy recreation does the heavy lifting.
Mac Meisner $7,500: In betting, I search for a minimum of one elite trait. Meisner does not have that, however as a fantasy he is general stable. He has excessive numbers in scrambles and bogey avoidance, and a minimum of at Windham he spikes with numerous mid-finishing. I am not chasing wins with Meissner, however I can get 4 rounds and get a clear rating with no draw back mines.
Matt McCarty $7,500: The scrambles are authorized, the irons are straightforward to make use of, and the Waialae shield him from publicity. McCarty is not a sky-high participant, however he can survive on a decrease wage and might delegate work to the remainder of the lineup.
Fade: Gary Woodland $7,400: It is a identify click on, not an information click on. His profile has declined general, with negatives across the greens, poor scrambling, and repeated failures at comparable programs like Havertown and Colonial. Waialae exposes its weaknesses. If he’s in your group, it is a identify bias. fade.
