After spending the first weekend on Maui, the PGA Tour will stop at O’ahu for the Sony Open. The Sony Open is as much different from the Sentry as the Waialae Country Club is from the Kapalua Plantation Course. Yes, the field is bigger and less loaded. PGA Tour’s bigwigs flew back to the mainland after the Signature event. But that’s not all, the format of the two Hawaiian tournaments is also markedly different. 

Firstly, let’s talk about the field size. The Sony Open is the PGA Tour’s first full field with 144 players teeing off on Thursday. It’s also the first event with a Monday qualifier. Alejandro Tosti, who went viral for his on-course feud with Tony Finau last year, earned a chance via that route. Moreover, unlike the top 50 in the prior year’s FedEx Cup and the past winners of 2024 who were eligible at the Sentry, the Sony Open has broader criteria in place.

The Sony Open also invites the PGA Club Professional Champion and the PGA Section Champion to the tournament, along with the top 70 in last year’s FedEx Cup points list and the top 125 in the FedEx Fall points list. Along with that, there is a sponsor exemption as well. Since the field is 144, there is a 36-hole cut like regular PGA Tour events.

The field will be trimmed to top-65 and tied after Friday. Last year, the cut line was at even par. Sahith Theegala, Lucas Glover, Matt Fitzpatrick, and a bunch of other bigwigs failed to book a weekend spot last year. A top finish at the $8.7M purse even becomes important because of recent structural changes in the Tour.

Top Stories

Tiger Woods’ Treatment of Caddies Set Him Apart from PGA Tour Rivals, Confesses Steve Williams

Exclusive: Megan Khang – What Bryson DeChambeau Is Doing That Others Can’t Ignore

Rickie Fowler Comes Clean on Health Issue Stopping Him from Playing PGA Tour Events

Phil Mickelson Is Unimpressed With LIV Golf Revamp as Jon Rahm Gives His Stamp of Approval

Is There a Cut at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship 2025? Format of DP World Tour Event Explained

What’s at stake in the Sony Open Hawaii?

For a bunch of players, the Sony Open provides an avenue to the lucrative $20M purse Signature events. The second signature event, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, is about a month away. But the three PGA Tour events between the Sentry and Pebble Beach will determine the eligibility for the signature event. The Sony Open marks the beginning of that four-event stretch that includes the American Express and the Farmers Insurance Open.

Only the top five FedEx Cup points earners across these three tournaments will punch their tickets to Pebble Beach. Named Aon Swing 5, this provides additional avenues to fill the limited field signature events. Aside from that, winning the tournament obviously guarantees a spot across all the signature events in the calendar year.

Moreover, the top five point earners across this stretch along with the WM Phoenix Open, will get an exemption for the Genesis Invitational. Notably, the status of Genesis Invitational is under doubt after a massive wildfire engulfed Pacific Passilades where the venue, Riviera Country Club is located. Nevertheless, that doesn’t reduce the importance of the Sony Open for those hunting for a spot at $20 purse events.