The Sony Open in Hawaii is the state’s premier PGA TOUR event and the first full-field tournament of the new year. Every January, 144 of the world’s greatest golf professionals gather at Waialae Country Club on the island of Oahu to compete for a share of the $6.4 million purse with the champion’s prize of $1,152,000. Defending champion Patton Kizzire, Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas (2017 champion), Bubba Watson, Hideki Matsuyama, Webb Simpson, Brandt Snedeker and Emiliano Grillo are already scheduled to appear in the 2019 tournament. The event is the largest charity golf event in Hawaii and has raised over $18 million dollars for over 350 local not-for-profits since 1999. The 2018 tournament marked the 20th anniverary of Sony’s title sponsorship of the event.  Patton Kizzire parred the sixth playoff hole to capture the 2018 title after James Hahn lipped out an 8-foot par putt. Both finished regulation at 17-under 263. During the event, the PGA TOUR and Sony announced the extension of their partnership by another four years, through 2022, tying it for the third-longest tenured title sponsor on the TOUR.