GOLF
2024 Sony Open in Hawaii: Round 1 Thursday tee times, pairings, and featured groups
Chris Kirk has a good track record at this course, which could help him perform well again despite the possibility of a blow after his recent win at Sentry.
Let’s take a closer look at the upcoming golf tournament that will be held at Waialae Country Club, with a par-70 course renowned for its unique challenges and peculiarities. Although the course’s length may appear short with two par-fives that are within reach, certain factors, such as wind, can make the gameplay quite tricky. Fortunately, the wind is not expected to be a significant factor this week, potentially leading to lower scores.
The golf course has undergone changes to its rough zones, making it more forgiving for players who hit off the fairway. This adjustment could encourage the big hitters to take more chances, as the penalty for hitting into the rough has been reduced. The strategic element comes into play, and the focus will likely shift to mid-iron to wedge play, especially on the shorter par-3s and par-4s.
The tournament field may not have as many top players as the previous week, resulting in a weaker lineup. The top three favorites for betting, namely Ludvig Aberg, Matthew Fitzpatrick, and Tyrell Hatton, have not previously played on this course, which adds an intriguing element to their performance.
Recent form shows that Brian Harman and JT Poston are the top two in total strokes gained over the last six months. Their consistent putting performances make them strong contenders in this field. However, it’s important to be wary of the three players who could potentially cause an upset: Ludvig Aberg, Will Zalatoris, and Si Woo Kim.
In the betting notes, Chris Kirk, who has recently won, has a solid track record at this course. While a letdown is always possible after a victory, Kirk’s familiarity with the venue could fuel another strong performance. Unfortunately, Matsuyama continues to struggle, making him a consistent fade until he proves otherwise.
2024 Sony Open in Hawaii: Round 1 Thursday tee times
Tee 1
| Time (ET) | Group of Players |
|---|---|
| 12:10 p.m. | Denny McCarthy, Alex Noren, Taylor Montgomery |
| 12:20 p.m. | Aaron Rai, Callum Tarren, Austin Eckroat |
| 12:30 p.m. | Tyler Duncan, Patrick Rodgers, Tyler McCumber |
| 12:40 p.m. | Vincent Norrman, Cameron Champ, Zach Johnson |
| 12:50 p.m. | Luke List, Kurt Kitayama, Patton Kizzire |
| 1 p.m. | K.H. Lee, J.J. Spaun, Chad Ramey |
| 1:10 p.m. | Matt Wallace, Adam Svensson, Andrew Putnam |
| 1:20 p.m. | Russell Henley, Billy Horschel, Ryan Brehm |
| 1:30 p.m. | Lanto Griffin, Grayson Murray, Matti Schmid |
| 1:40 p.m. | Joel Dahmen, Robert Streb, Peter Malnati |
| 1:50 p.m. | Robert MacIntyre, Rico Hoey, Adrien Dumont de Chassart |
| 2 p.m. | Alejandro Tosti, Sami Valimaki, Taiga Semikawa |
| 4:50 p.m. | Troy Merritt, Robby Shelton, Ben Taylor |
| 5 p.m. | Ben Martin, Brandon Wu, Joseph Bramlett |
| 5:10 p.m. | Garrick Higgo, Mark Hubbard, Will Gordon |
| 5:20 p.m. | Emiliano Grillo, Stewart Cink, Brandt Snedeker |
| 5:30 p.m. | Keegan Bradley, Will Zalatoris, Eric Cole |
| 5:40 p.m. | Ludvig Aberg, Sahith Theegala, Akshay Bhatia |
| 5:50 p.m. | Erik van Rooyen, David Riley, Matt Kuchar |
| 6 p.m. | Cam Davis, David Lingmerth, Justin Suh |
| 6:10 p.m. | Keith Mitchell, Michael Kim, Harry Hall |
| 6:20 p.m. | Vince Whaley, Chandler Phillips, Hunter Larson |
| 6:30 p.m. | Ben Kohles, Alexander Bjork, Aguri Iwasaki |
| 6:40 p.m. | Norman Xiong, Jimmy Stanger, Blaze Akana |
Tee 10
| Time (ET) | Group of Players |
|---|---|
| 12:10 p.m. | Aaron Baddeley, Charley Hoffman, Tyson Alexander |
| 12:20 p.m. | Kevin Streelman, Maverick McNealy, Davis Thompson |
| 12:30 p.m. | Byeong Hun An, Zac Blair, Andrew Novak |
| 12:40 p.m. | Kevin Kisner, Tyrrell Hatton, Hary Woodland |
| 12:50 p.m. | Brian Harman, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose |
| 1 p.m. | Chris Kirk, Si Woo Kim, Hideki Matsuyama |
| 1:10 p.m. | Nick Taylor, Nico Echavarria, Brendon Todd |
| 1:20 p.m. | Ryan Palmer, Carson Young, Kevin Yu |
| 1:30 p.m. | Jhonattan Vegas, Ryan Moore, Matt NeSmith |
| 1:40 p.m. | Jhonattan Vegas, Ryan Moore, Matt NeSmith |
| 1:50 p.m. | Ben Silverman, Matthieu Pavon, Yuto Katsuragawa |
| 2 p.m. | Paul Barjon, David Skinns, Kensei Hirata |
| 4:50 p.m. | David Lipsky, Ben Griffin, Justin Lower |
| 5 p.m. | Hayden Buckley, Greyson Sigg, S.H. Kim |
| 5:10 p.m. | Martin Laird, Nate Lashley, C.T. Pan |
| 5:20 p.m. | J.T. Poston, Tom Hoge, Adam Hadwin |
| 5:30 p.m. | Nick Hardy, Webb Simpson, Scott Stallings |
| 5:40 p.m. | Seamus Power, Chez Reavie, Harris English |
| 5:50 p.m. | Camilo Villegas, Lucas Glover, Corey Conners |
| 6 p.m. | Taylor Pendrith, Sam Stevens, Dylan Wu |
| 6:10 p.m. | Martin Trainer, Josh Teater, Carl Yuan |
| 6:20 p.m. | Chan Kim, Ryo Hisatsune, Pierceson Coody |
| 6:30 p.m. | Jake Knapp, Max Greyserman, Takumi Kanaya |
| 6:40 p.m. | Jacob Bridgeman, Parker Coody, Rintaro Nakano |