The 2026 Sony Open tees off with its first round on Thursday morning from Waialae Country Club in Honolulu.
This event gets the PGA Tour's 2026 season started, and there are a number of top players in the field and, of course, a number of ways to bet them.
From favorites to long-shots, props, and more, these are our staff's 2026 Sony Open best bets and favorite golf picks.
2026 Sony Open Best Bets: Props, PGA Tour Expert Picks
Collin Morikawa
Outright Winner +2200 | Top 20 +110 | Top 5 +490 | First Round Leader +3300
By Kyle Murray
Collin Morikawa was on the receiving end of a lot of criticism last season, as his elite past play has created some pretty lofty expectations, but he really didn't have that bad of a year.
I'm sure he would have expected more of himself, but he still remains one of the most elite ball-strikers in the game, especially when it comes to his precision off-the-tee and with his irons.
Morikawa hasn't played the Sony Open in a while, but he has had a lot of success in Hawaii, as he has six straight T7 finishes or better at the Sentry.
He did play this course in 2021, and he turned in a T7 finish that year as well, as he clearly enjoys playing on the islands.
That shows up in the data as well, as no player gains more total strokes on Coastal courses with Bermuda putting surfaces than Morikawa. And while his putting obviously catches a lot of heat, he is the eighth-best putter on Bermuda greens in this field.
Eric Cole
Outright Winner +9000 | Top 40 +105
Eric Cole has only performed better and better the more he plays at Waialae.
He made his debut in 2023, coming in T61. In 2024, he notched a top-20 finish. Last year, he finished 5th.
He has totaled +1.15 strokes gained at this track, and his skill profile fits the course well.
The fact that we are getting plus-money for Cole to finish top-40 is surprising.
Emiliano Grillo
Outright Winner +8000 | Top 20 +320 | Top 40 +100
By Kyle Murray
I have probably bet on Emiliano Grillo too many times in my life, and although it almost paid off when we were on him during his playoff loss last year, it has been a roller coaster nonetheless.
However, 80-1 feels too long for Grillo in this kind of field, and it certainly is a solid course fit for him, as Waialae requires accuracy rather than distance in a pretty significant way.
It also sets up well for his approach game, as over 50% of approach shots come in the 150-175 or 175-200 yard buckets. Grillo ranks in the top 10 in SG: Approach from both of those buckets, and he also ranks fourth in this field in proximity in the 150-175 range.
The big weakness for Grillo is putting, but he has actually had a lot of success putting here, as he has gained strokes on the greens in four of his last five trips here, and he also ranks 47th in this field in SG: putting on Bermuda surfaces.
Webb Simpson
Top 40 -110
Webb Simpson is one of my favorite sleeper picks for this tournament. His skill profile fits the course well, and he has a history of performing well at Waialae Country Club.
In the last five years he has played in this event, he has two top-20 finishes. He has played 57 rounds at this course in his career and boasts +1.02 strokes gained.
It is clear that Simpson loves Hawaii and this track and I think he will find success this week at the Sony Open.
Mac Meissner
Outright Winner +6600 | Top 20 +250 | Top 10 +700
By Kyle Murray
I would actually say that Mac Meissner had a disappointing year last season when you look at some of the underlying numbers he put on paper.
When comparing him to the players in this field, he ranked 22nd in approach, 10th in around-the-green and tee-to-green, 26th in off-the-tee and 16th in total strokes gained. He also made birdies at an above-average clip, as he ranks 18th in birdie-or-better%.
All of these good numbers but having just one top-10 finish has me thinking we could see a breakout season for Meissner, and what better place to start than in Hawaii, where he did have some success last year, as he shot 68 twice and 67 twice.
Beau Hossler
Top 40 +125
Beau Hossler has a skill profile that fits well at Waialae Country Club. This is a course that requires touch and performance around the green, and he has that.
Hossler ranks 19th in the field in strokes gained around the green dating back to June. That flat-stick has also been strong. He ranks 29th in the field in strokes gained: putting.
Hossler has been staying active, playing in the last three PGA Tour sanctioned events. I can see him keeping the momentum going and notching a top-40 finish this week.
J.J. Spaun
Outright Winner +1800 | Top 20 +100 | Top 10 +220
By Kyle Murray
J.J. Spaun obviously had a massive breakout season last year, and that actually all started here with this T3 finish at the Sony Open.
Spaun was dominant at times last year, as he ranks top-3 in approach, tee-to-green, and total strokes gained in this field over the last year.
He did have some struggles with the putter toward the end of the year, but it is worth noting that since 2016, only three winners of the Sony Open have come into the week gaining strokes putting.
Spaun is one of the most precise ball-strikers in the field and he is also top-10 in this field in strokes gained on Coastal courses.
