New Sony golf event expects to be a big community contributor

Sony Championship golf tournament, set to replace the popular Sony Open in Hawaii, is anticipated to contribute a minimum of $500,000 to the local community following the 2027 event. PGA Tour Champions president Miller Brady made this announcement at a reception held at Waialae Country Club. The Sony Group Corporation, PGA Tour Champions, IMG, and the state of Hawaii have committed to a four-year partnership for this debut event, scheduled from January 11-16.

Brady expressed confidence that they will surpass the previous charity numbers set by Sony. He commended Sony for its commitment to Hawaii, stating that they could have easily decided against continuing, but chose to invest in the community instead. Paul Goydos, a five-time PGA Tour winner, including the 2007 Sony Open, attended the event.

Goydos emphasized that golf is a community sport, not just an individual one, and the real story of the PGA Tour is about helping people. The tournament will feature Champions Tour legends such as Fred Couples, Jerry Kelly, Justin Leonard, John Daly, Zach Johnson, David Toms, Corey Pavin, Boo Weekley, Bernhard Langer, and Steve Stricker, who sent video messages of excitement about the event at Waialae.

Goydos also mentioned that the ropes will be brought closer to accommodate the veteran players, as it is one of the shorter courses on the PGA Tour, but no significant changes are needed. Tournament director Travis Steiner, with 19 years of PGA Tour experience and nine years in Asia, expressed enthusiasm for the event. The 78-player field will compete for a $3 million purse.

Following the event in Hawaii, most players will travel to the Big Island to compete at Hualalai, which has a contract with Mitsubishi through 2030. In April, the PGA Tour confirmed that the Sony Open would no longer be a regular event, but may become part of the Champions Tour, alongside the Mitsubishi event, and that The Sentry at Kapalua on Maui would not return.