Large field of Australasians at Sony Open
IN: News | US PGA | Sony Open in Hawaii (2005) | Preview | by Bruce Young | 12 Jan 2005
In what must be one of the strongest representation of Australasians in a USPGA Tour event, fifteen Australians and one New Zealander take to the fairways of the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu on Thursday with two of them looking to start their PGA Tour careers, hopefully in style.
Brendan Jones and Euan Walters play their first events on the USPGA Tour as card holders, Jones having played the US Open and the USPGA in 2004 as a Nationwide Tour member. Despite that experience for Jones, this is a big week for both him and Walters, who will be looking to capitalise on their fine seasons in 2004 where they both graduated from the Nationwide Tour.
No other Australasians are rookies as such, but for two others the event signals a return to the USPGA Tour after having lost full playing status at various times over the last few years.
Paul Gow had full status in 2001 and 2002, before playing on limited status in 2003 then losing that for the 2004 season. Last year he played a full season on the Nationwide Tour where in twenty seven starts he recorded seven top tens including three playoff losses. That performance gained him 11th position on the Nationwide Tour money list in 2004. While that was good enough to earn the right to play the PGA Tour in 2005 he, like others in his category, will need a good start to the year to be in a position to benefit from the re rank that takes place following the first seven or so events. Gow has played here just twice, missing the cut on both occasions.
Bradley Hughes, like Gow, is an ex-PGA Tour player who has played the Nationwide Tour over the last two years. He clung to USPGA Tour status for several seasons before joining the Nationwide Tour in 2003. In that first season he struggled making just US$21,000 in twenty starts but in 2004 the quality game he possesses began to re-emerge. In finishing 12th on the Nationwide Tour, including his win in Wichita, and playing well in Australia at season's end he is back to where he once was. Hughes has played here three times finishing 22nd, the last time in 2001.
The Waialae Country Club was initially built in 1927, although it underwent significant redesign in 1966 by Bob Baldock. The defending champion is Ernie Els who managed to edge out Harrison Frazar on the third extra playoff hole last year. For Els it was the second consecutive year he had been forced to survive a playoff after having beaten rookie Aaron Baddeley in 2003 for the title.
The event has always been played at the Waialae Country Club, its first staging back in 1965 when Gay Brewer won over Bob Goalby. It became the Sony Open in 1999 having had Hawaiian Airlines as its main sponsor for several years prior.
Following a good week last week, Els arrives here as perhaps the favourite just ahead of Singh, who lost a great opportunity last week with one bad hole down the stretch. Two time winner Els' record here speaks for itself. He has also been third and fifth in his only two appearances other than the wins. For Singh however, his performances here, by his very high standard at least, have not been great. In his last five visits his 10th place last year has been his best. It is even more reason for Els to be the favourite.
Retief Goosen was solid last week at the Mercedes Championships. He shared 10th here last year with Singh and in 2003 was 20th. Stewart Cink will be one of the favourites based on his very good week last week, but his record here is abysmal having missed the cut in his only three starts.
David Toms did well last week when 8th and in his only time here, in recent years at least, was 4th in 2002.
Jim Furyk dabbled in a little commentary work last week as he did not qualify for the Mercedes but he is here in Hawaii this week. He has played well here on occasions including a win in 1996 and a runner up in 1997, so if he is tournament ready then a good week would not unduly surprise. Several of his nine wins on the USPGA Tour have come in either Florida or Hawaii suggesting this environment suits his game.
Of the Australasians, other than those mentioned above, Adam Scott missed the cut here last year but did finish strongly last week at the Mercedes. Mind you he did that in 2004 also and still had the weekend off here last year.
Robert Allenby has been off the boil with his game of late but he did finish 4th here in 2003 and often plays well in the type of conditions that will prevail this week. Craig Parry played well last week but has not had a good record at Waialae.
Hot golfer, Peter Lonard was 12th here in 2003 and 44th on debut in 2002. Aaron Baddeley followed up his playoff loss on debut in 2003 with a 15th place last year but his current record and form suggest that anything better would be a major surprise.
Steve Allan, Geoff Ogilvy, Rod Pampling, John Senden, Andre Stolz and New Zealander Craig Perks make up the rest of the Australasians in the field.
It is hard to go past Els wining from Goosen and Toms, but if you were looking for some longer odds, then previous winner and Hawaii/Florida specialist John Huston might be worth consideration.
Photo - Anthony Powter
