Sony Open 2026

Outrights

One player stands out as value from the top end of the market, and that is our old friend JJ Spaun (3 units, +1800). Now a major champion, second in the field in the world rankings, just behind Henley, and second in the field for overall strokes gained during 2025, Spaun has exactly the neat-and-tidy game that should be well suited to the demands of Waialae. A T3 last year illustrates that, while he can be expected to improve courtesy of the confidence he must have gained from his breakthrough season. At around the same price as several players who were somewhat disappointing last yeah, he is very easy to include in the staking plan.
There’s probably a little value in backing last year’s winner Nick Taylor (1.5 units, +4000) to make a decent run at retaining his title. We know his ceiling is high enough to take out events with a solid field and although he had a disappointing end to 2025, the seasonal rest may have allowed him the chance to reset, while last year proved that he’s very capable of hitting the ground running in the early part of the season.
One player who carries some positive momentum into the new year and should be very well suited to Waialaie is Eric Cole (1 unit, +6000). Cole has consistently lost ground off the tee, primarily due to lack of length, which ought to be less of an issue than usual at this tight, tree-lined track (indeed he secured a top 5 finish here last year and a top 15 the year before), while the rest of his game was ticking over nicely towards the back end of the season. There is a little +9000 available at the time of writing, which you should take if you can, however +6000 is more readily available, and is perfectly acceptable, so he goes on the P&L at that price.
Matt McCarty (2 units, +5500) had a decent 2025, picking up three top 10 finishes, and now sits just outside the top 50 in the world. Exceptional putting has been his strength and while he’ll need to have a better-than-typical week with his irons and scrambling to really contend, he has some improvement potential compared to most of the field.
Finally, Nico Echavarria (1.5 units, +4500) merits a small-stakes play, being another who performed well in this event in 2025 and having shown on numerous occasions that he can compete and even win when on his A-game.

Player/ Units/ Odds/ Top 5 (Optional)/ UK Odds/ Bet Type
JJ Spaun 3 +1800 +450 20/1 Each Way
Nick Taylor 1.5 +4000 +900 40/1 Each Way
Eric Cole 1 +6000 +1700 60/1 Each Way
Matt McCarty 2 +5500 +1100 55/1 Each Way
Nico Echavarria 1.5 +4500 +1000 40/1 Each Way