When Paradise Meets Putts: The Drama You Won't Believe at Waialae

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Good morning. This is your Happy Valley Golf Team newsletter. Let’s get it!

Here’s what we’ve got for you today:

• How fixing your backswing can improve your golf game

• Why players are wearing "GM" buttons this week - a touching tribute that will have you reaching for the tissues faster than a shanked drive into the Pacific

• Waialae Course Intel: Tight fairways, palm-tree magnets, and winds that could blow your hat off—discover what makes this paradise a challenge.

• One And Done is back!

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Unsolicited Golf Tips

Watch: This SHORTER BACKSWING MOVE Is Changing SO MANY Golf Swings!

Golf Trivia

Paradise, Putts, and Pure Drama: The 2025 Sony Open Preview

The PGA Tour's Hawaiian swing continues, and like your uncle at the family luau after one too many Mai Tais, things are about to get interesting at Waialae Country Club.

The air at Waialae carries extra weight this year as the tournament honors defending champion Grayson Murray in what promises to be an emotionally charged week. A traditional Hawaiian celebration of life was held Tuesday morning on the beach by the 16th hole, where family, players, and Tour officials gathered to remember a champion gone too soon.

A Legacy Lives On

The newly established Grayson Murray Foundation launches this week, focusing on mental health awareness and addiction support. Players and caddies will wear "GM" buttons throughout the tournament, a touching tribute to last year's champion who electrified the crowd with a magical 39-foot playoff putt to claim victory.

The Main Event

For the next four days, 144 of golf's finest will trade their winter wardrobe for Hawaiian shirts and battle for an $8.7 million purse. Waialae Country Club, that gorgeous slice of paradise that makes your local muni look like a mini-golf course, plays host once again.

The Man on Fire

Speaking of heat, Hideki Matsuyama is entering this tournament hotter than a jalapeno in a sauna. Last week at The Sentry, he didn't just break the PGA Tour scoring record - he obliterated it with a mind-boggling 35-under par. The only thing more impressive than his golf was his trademark bow, which at this point deserves its own sponsorship deal. At 9-1 odds, he's looking to pull off the Hawaiian double, something not seen since Justin Thomas did it in 2017 while wearing cargo shorts (okay, that last part isn't true).

The Challengers

The field is stacked like a pancake breakfast at the clubhouse:

• Corey Conners (14-1) is swinging so well lately, he could probably hit a fairway from his hotel balcony

• Tom Kim (20-1) makes his 2025 debut, presumably after spending the offseason perfecting his already legendary victory celebrations

• Keegan Bradley (25-1) returns with more pre-shot routines than a gymnast's floor exercise. The aim point putting is getting old..

The Course

Waialae Country Club is playing as a par 70, and like your ex's mood swings, the Hawaiian trade winds can change everything in an instant. The course is tighter than airport security. With palm trees that seem to have a magnetic attraction to golf balls. Pro tip: if you hear "Fore!" in Hawaiian, it's already too late.

Weather Watch

Expect temperatures in the 80s with the occasional passing shower Thursday, and Friday - because apparently, even paradise needs a car wash now and then. The wind forecast suggests players will need everything from a light breeze calculation to advanced calculus to figure out their club selection. The wind will pick up significantly on the weekend, with the peak coming Sunday afternoon. Should make for an exciting finish!

Fun Facts & Prophecies

Only one rookie has conquered Waialae in their debut during the FedExCup era - Russell Henley in 2013. Before that, you'd have to go back to 1977 when Bruce Lietzke did it, back when plaid pants were considered fashionable (some things are better left in the past, Bruce).

The Bottom Line

Whether you're a die-hard golf fan. Or just someone who enjoys watching professionals occasionally make the same mistakes you do (albeit with much higher stakes). The Sony Open promises to deliver. Will Matsuyama continue his Hawaiian heat wave? Will someone emerge from the pack like a turtle surprising sunbathers on Waikiki Beach?

One thing's for certain - for four days Waialae Country Club will be the center of the golf universe, and we're here for every fist pump, frustrated club toss, and perfectly executed bow. Grab your favorite beverage, settle into your couch, and prepare for what promises to be more entertaining than watching tourists attempt the hula at their first luau.

One and Done

One and done season is back! If you don’t know what that is here is a quick rundown:

THE RULES (Simple Enough for a Three-Putt Champion to Understand)

Rule #1: The One-and-Done Dance

• Pick one golfer before each tournament tees off

• Like your first marriage, you get to use each golfer exactly ONCE per season

• Choose wisely - once they're picked, they're off the board faster than a shanked drive into the water

Rule #2: Show Me The Money!

• Your points = Your golfer's prize money ($1 = 1 point)

• If your chosen pro wins $500,000 at that tournament, you get 500,000 points

• If they miss the cut, well... let's just say you'll be as empty-handed as a caddie without a tip

The Grand Finale The player who accumulates the most points (aka cold, hard virtual cash) over the season wins the GRAND PRIZE! Think of it as getting rich vicariously through professional golfers - without having to work on your short game.

Pro Tip: Don't be that person who uses all their top players in January and ends up picking from the "Who's That?" section of the player guide during the majors. Nobody wants that kind of regret... it's like choosing the wrong club for your approach shot, but for an entire season.

You can join a season long One and Done contest here! The season long contest starts Thursday, so today is your last day to get in there!

Disclaimer: No actual golf skills required. Just good judgment and a dash of luck (okay, maybe a lot of luck).

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, on to this weeks picks.

There are 3 players that jump out -

Russell Henley - Waialae's design demands precision over power, a perfect match for Henley's accurate driving and sharp iron play. His history here speaks volumes - a win in 2013, second place three years ago, and fourth last year. On these narrow fairways, his precise game consistently delivers results. He’s going to be popular!

Corey Conners - Conners' track record at Waialae is impressive, having finished in the top 12 four times in his last five appearances. His recent form is equally compelling - he placed fifth at The Sentry last week while leading the field in putting, suggesting his game is firing on all cylinders.

Keegan Bradley - Bradley's accurate driving and precise iron play make him a natural fit for Waialae's tight layout. While he hasn't won here yet, his consistent form and ability to handle small greens make him a strong contender in this field.

News You Need to Know

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Meme of the Week

Thanks for reading!

Enjoy the rest of your week,

Cody.

PS - writing this while watching the TGL. This might be an unpopular take, but I like it! It will never replace the PGA as we know it, but its a refreshing change.