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The PGA Tour isn’t entirely abandoning Hawaii.
The Tour and Sony announced Wednesday that the Sony Open in Hawaii will transition to a PGA Tour Champions event starting in 2027. The newly named Sony Championship Hawaii will be held the week of Jan. 11-16 at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu and feature a purse of $3 million.
“Sony has been an incredible PGA Tour partner since 1999, and we are looking forward to beginning this new era with the legends of the game competing on a truly iconic venue in Waialae Country Club,” said PGA Tour Champions President Miller Brady.
The Tour previously ended its long-running Hawaiian Swing, consisting of The Sentry at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course on Maui and the Sony Open, which had been held at Waialae every year since 1965 and won in January by Chris Gotterup. The latter had been the setting for some of the Tour’s most memorable moments, delivering champions such as Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino, as well as current Champions Tour stars Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Vijay Singh, Zach Johnson and K.J. Choi. The Sony Championship Hawaii will be the sixth PGA Tour Champions event to be contested on a course that formerly hosted a Tour event.
Over its 28-year partnership with the Sony Open in Hawaii, Sony has contributed more than $27 million to Hawaii nonprofit organizations, benefiting hundreds of local charities that serve vulnerable working families, seniors, under-resourced children, and economically disadvantaged communities.
“We are delighted to continue Sony’s longstanding commitment to Hawaii and to the meaningful economic, charitable, and community impact that professional golf brings to the region,” said Hiroki Totoki, President and CEO of Sony Group Corporation. “Since 1999, the tournament has provided a unique opportunity for our employees, clients, and guests to experience the spirit of Hawaii alongside world-class golf competition. As we transition to PGA Tour Champions, we look forward to continuing our commitment to the State of Hawaii and also, to welcoming back many of the players and champions who have been such an important part of our history. We relish the opportunity to create new opportunities to deepen the connection between the tournament, our business community, and the people of Hawaii. Most importantly, this event has always been about giving back. Supporting Hawaii’s charitable organizations remains our highest priority, and we are proud of the positive impact the tournament has made across the islands over the years.”
The Sony Championship Hawaii will feature a field of 78 players, with pro-ams on Tuesday and Wednesday followed by competition rounds beginning Thursday, Jan. 14, and concluding with a Saturday finish. All three rounds will be televised on Golf Channel. It will pair with the Mitsubishi Electric Championship held on the Big Island at Hualalai as a two-week kickoff to the Champions Tour season much as it previously did on the regular tour.
“Welcoming the Sony Championship Hawaii to Waialae is more than hosting a world class golf event — it’s an opportunity to showcase the spirit of aloha and strengthen the community impact that has uplifted our islands for decades,” said Hawaii Governor Josh Green. “We are proud to see this next chapter unfold and grateful for partners who share our commitment to Hawaii’s people and future. Mahalo to the PGA Tour Champions and Sony Group Corporation leadership for perpetuating professional golf in the Hawaiian Islands.”
Global sports marketing agency, IMG, has been appointed as the tournament operator to deliver all aspects of the Sony Championship Hawaii.
Adam Schupak is a senior writer for Golfweek, covering the PGA Tour.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Sony Open returns as a PGA Tour Champions event
Continue reading...
The Tour and Sony announced Wednesday that the Sony Open in Hawaii will transition to a PGA Tour Champions event starting in 2027. The newly named Sony Championship Hawaii will be held the week of Jan. 11-16 at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu and feature a purse of $3 million.
“Sony has been an incredible PGA Tour partner since 1999, and we are looking forward to beginning this new era with the legends of the game competing on a truly iconic venue in Waialae Country Club,” said PGA Tour Champions President Miller Brady.
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The Tour previously ended its long-running Hawaiian Swing, consisting of The Sentry at Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course on Maui and the Sony Open, which had been held at Waialae every year since 1965 and won in January by Chris Gotterup. The latter had been the setting for some of the Tour’s most memorable moments, delivering champions such as Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino, as well as current Champions Tour stars Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Vijay Singh, Zach Johnson and K.J. Choi. The Sony Championship Hawaii will be the sixth PGA Tour Champions event to be contested on a course that formerly hosted a Tour event.
Over its 28-year partnership with the Sony Open in Hawaii, Sony has contributed more than $27 million to Hawaii nonprofit organizations, benefiting hundreds of local charities that serve vulnerable working families, seniors, under-resourced children, and economically disadvantaged communities.
“We are delighted to continue Sony’s longstanding commitment to Hawaii and to the meaningful economic, charitable, and community impact that professional golf brings to the region,” said Hiroki Totoki, President and CEO of Sony Group Corporation. “Since 1999, the tournament has provided a unique opportunity for our employees, clients, and guests to experience the spirit of Hawaii alongside world-class golf competition. As we transition to PGA Tour Champions, we look forward to continuing our commitment to the State of Hawaii and also, to welcoming back many of the players and champions who have been such an important part of our history. We relish the opportunity to create new opportunities to deepen the connection between the tournament, our business community, and the people of Hawaii. Most importantly, this event has always been about giving back. Supporting Hawaii’s charitable organizations remains our highest priority, and we are proud of the positive impact the tournament has made across the islands over the years.”
The Sony Championship Hawaii will feature a field of 78 players, with pro-ams on Tuesday and Wednesday followed by competition rounds beginning Thursday, Jan. 14, and concluding with a Saturday finish. All three rounds will be televised on Golf Channel. It will pair with the Mitsubishi Electric Championship held on the Big Island at Hualalai as a two-week kickoff to the Champions Tour season much as it previously did on the regular tour.
“Welcoming the Sony Championship Hawaii to Waialae is more than hosting a world class golf event — it’s an opportunity to showcase the spirit of aloha and strengthen the community impact that has uplifted our islands for decades,” said Hawaii Governor Josh Green. “We are proud to see this next chapter unfold and grateful for partners who share our commitment to Hawaii’s people and future. Mahalo to the PGA Tour Champions and Sony Group Corporation leadership for perpetuating professional golf in the Hawaiian Islands.”
Global sports marketing agency, IMG, has been appointed as the tournament operator to deliver all aspects of the Sony Championship Hawaii.
Adam Schupak is a senior writer for Golfweek, covering the PGA Tour.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Sony Open returns as a PGA Tour Champions event
Continue reading...
