No one likes to leave Hawaii, but that’s exactly what we must now do after Sunday’s Sony Open concluded the PGA Tour’s two-week stint at the tropical paradise. But before we say aloha, here’s what you missed at Waialae Country Club on Sunday in Honolulu.
Who won: Matt Kuchar (four-under 66, 22 under overall)
How it happened: Kuchar opened the day with a two-shot lead but struggled early, and Andrew Putnam jumped out ahead and took a one-shot lead at the turn. They were tied at 19 under after 13, but Putnam made bogey on 14 and Kuchar didn’t look back. Kuchar made birdies on 15 and 16 to extend his lead and cruise to a four-shot win.
What it matters: It’s Kuchar’s ninth career PGA Tour victory and second in the last three months. He also won the Mayakoba Golf Classic in November, and that came with a local, fill-in caddie. He won this week with regular looper John Wood on the bag.
Best quote: “I think it might have been Jay-Z who said 40 is the new 20.” — 40-year-old Matt Kuchar
Best shot when it mattered: Putnam tied Kuchar with a birdie on 13 but then fell back with a bogey on 14. Kuchar didn’t let the momentum slip on the next hole when he drained a 13-footer for birdie to take a two-shot lead. A fist-pump from the usually composed Kuchar said it all.
KUUUUUUCH.
Huge putt. 💪
He leads by 2 with 3 to play @SonyOpenHawaii.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/qhmShvebfq
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 14, 2019
Best round: Five players — Marc Leishman, Hudson Swafford, Corey Conners, Sung Kang and Carlos Ortiz — all shot six-under 64s.
Best shot: A strong finish from J.T. Poston (with an assist from the pin).
Signed.
Sealed.
Delivered.Enter @JT_ThePostman. 📬#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/Z0Ua9HBnXt
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 14, 2019
Best finish by a 54-year-old: Davis Love closed with a 65 to finish 16 under overall and take seventh place. Per the Golf Channel broadcast, it’s his 180th career top 10.
Up next: The PGA Tour heads back to the states for the Desert Classic in La Quinta, Calif. Phil Mickelson, Justin Rose and defending champ Jon Rahm highlight the field. On the European Tour, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Tommy Fleetwood are the centerpieces of next week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
