Sunday Swing | Si Woo Kim Rallies for Sony Open win

Welcome back to another edition of the Sunday Swing presented by 2nd Swing Golf. This week the PGA Tour concluded the Hawaii swing at the Sony Open from Honolulu’s Waialae Country Club. Looking ahead to next week, the LPGA Tour is back for the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions. 

Sony Open - Tournament History 

The Sony Open in Hawaii has been a staple on tour since the early 1970’s, and Sony has been the title sponsor since 1999. Waialae Country Club is a short 7,125 yard par 72, and typically yields plenty of birdies to the world's best. Last year, Hideki Matsuyama fired a blistering Sunday 65 and ended up winning in a playoff over Russell Henley when he eagled the first playoff hole. This year he looked to defend his title in a field that featured Tom Kim, Sungjae Im, Tom Hoge, and Jordan Spieth. The previous five champions of this event are as follows: 

• 2023- Si Woo Kim (-18)
• 2022 - Hideki Matsuyma (-23)
• 2021- Kevin Na (-21)
• 2020- Cameron Smith (-11)
• 2019- Matt Kuchar (-22)

The Big Swing

This week, the Big Swing goes to former Players champion Si Woo Kim. He shot rounds of 67, 67, 64, and 64, good enough to win his fourth PGA Tour event by one shot over Hayden Buckley. Buckley led the entire field by two shots and Kim by three entering the final round Sunday afternoon, but Kim was able to quickly rally by making birdies on the first three holes of the day. The comeback was highlighted by an incredible chip-in for birdie from behind the 17th green, which tied him for the lead before a closing birdie at the par-5 18th awarded him the lead. 

Winner’s Bag - Si Woo Kim 

The Callaway Paradym series is off to a hot start, with wins on the PGA Tour in each of the first two events of the 2023 calendar year. It was Jon Rahm last week, and it was Si Woo Kim this week. Kim games the Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond driver (8.5 degrees) and two Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond fairway woods (15 degree 3-wood and 18-degree 5-wood). It was Kim's approach play with his Callaway X Forged CB irons, however, that really carried him above the competition, gaining 8.25 strokes on the field in strokes gained: approach. He also plays two Callaway Jaws Raw wedges (54 and 60 degrees). On the greens Kim rolls an Odyssey 2-Ball Ten (long) - a change he made last season.