Sony Open signals new beginning for many
IN: News | US PGA | Sony Open in Hawaii (2003) | Preview | by Bruce Young | 13 Jan 2003
For those golfers not fortunate enough to win on the US Tour in 2002 and get a place in last week's Mercedes Championships, many will start their 2003 campaign this week in Honolulu when the Sony Open is staged at the Waialae Country Club.
Jerry Kelly returns to defend the title he picked up last year when winning for the first time on the USPGA Tour. He won by just the one shot over John Cook. Kelly went on to win again at the Western Open and had by far his best year winning close to $US3,000,000.
The Waialae Country Club was opened in 1927 and was designed by Reth Saynor. It has hosted this event, or various versions of this event, since Gay Brewer won the inaugural Hawaiian Open back in 1965.
The event signals the arrival to the USPGA Tour of many rookies and players who have regained their playing privileges either through the Q School or the Buy.Com Tour. Even some of those who gained a card in California are on the alternate list, highlighting the popularity of this event and that so many higher ranked players are keen to get back into the fray after a break.
The tournament record holders are John Huston who won by seven in 1998 beating Tom Watson by seven shots, and Brad Faxon who won by four when beating Tom Lehman in 2001. They returned seventy-two hole scores of 260. Other recent winners include Paul Azinger in 2000, Jeff Sluman in 1999, Paul Stankowski in 1997 and Jim Furyk in 1996.
Leading ranked players entered as this is posted include Els, Singh, Goosen, Garcia, and Furyk.
Fifteen Australasians are entered with several playing the USPGA Tour for the first time so there are likely to be some nervous debutants on the first tee on Thursday.
Steve Alker, Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Aaron Baddeley, Greg Chalmers, Gavin Coles, Scott Laycock, Peter Lonard, James McLean, Geoff Ogilvy, Anthony Painter, Rod Pampling, Craig Parry, Craig Perks and John Senden are all scheduled to tee it up. Only Bruce Crampton in 1969 and Brett Ogle in 1994 have won representing this part of the world.
The tournament carries prizemoney of $US4,500,000 with a first prize of $US810,000.
