
The only similarity between the 2025 Sony Open at Waialae Country Club in East Honolulu on the island of O’ahu and last week’s Sentry Tournament at Kapalua Resorts Plantation Course in Lahaina on the island of Maui was that they both took place in Hawaii.
The par 70, 7,044 yards Waialae Course is a traditional course that favored accuracy more than distance. It’s tree lined fairways, gnarly Bermuda roughs, multiple doglegs and strategically placed bunkers required a variety of different club selections and attention to detail on almost every shot.
Heading into final round the leaderboard had 14 players within 3 shots of the lead with J.J. Spaun 13-under (66-66-65) standing alone at the top. Close behind were Eric Cole, Patrick Fishburn and Stephan Jaeger at 12-under
Once again, this year’s 2025 Sony Open final round had to deal with trying to muster up a respectable viewing audience with the NFL Eagles/Packers “Wild Card” game competing for spectators during the same time slot.
With NickTaylor (65) and Nicolas Echavarria (65), both finishing at 16-under par, they were leaders in the clubhouse. Spaun and Jaeger, tied at 15-under par, headed down the 18th fairway each needing a birdie to be in a playoff with the early finishers. Neither Spaun nor Jaeger managed to birdie the hole to join Taylor and Echavarria heading back to the 18th tee for the playoff.
It took overtime, but Nick Taylor is the winner of the 2025 Sony Open with a birdie putt on the 2nd playoff hole against Nicolas Echavarria. Taylor managed to win the Sony Open with a birdie putt on his 3rd trip to the 18th green. It was his first trip that produced the real winning shot when he chipped in for eagle on the par 5 18th to move him to 16-under and a tie for 1st.
Nick Taylor, who finished with 16-under par (66-68-65-65), earned a check for $1.566 million and his name on the Sony Open trophy. This is his 5th career victory, bringing his career earnings to $19,455,566 and he joined the PGA Tour in 2015.
“It’s a tough day. I was 1-over through 7 and not really thinking about winning,” he said in the post round interview, “Got on a birdie streak there and then I missed two short putts on 15 and 16. To be able to make eagle on 18 to have a chance, I really didn’t. I was a little down after the two missed putts. It was just tricky with the wind. Yeah, I’m a bit stunned this worked out this way.”
Runner-up Nicolas Echavarria (66-67-66-65) picked a check for $948,300.
“As of lately I’ve been able to put myself in the mix and I’ve been able to stay there and compete for the tournaments,” said Echvarria. “Even starting bogey-bogey today, I fought hard and shot 7-under in the last 16 holes, so, it shows a lot. I’m playing really good golf, and hopefully I can carry it on.”
NOTABLE: Lasts year’s Sony Open saw Keegan Bradley needing a birdie on the par 5 18th hole to win the tournament ending with a par to forcing a 3 way tie an extra holes. Bradley, Greyson Murray, and Byeong Hun An headed back to the 18th tee. On the first extra hole Murray drop a 60’ birdie putt to steal the win. An Oceanside memorial service was held this week in remembrance of Greyson Murray attended by his family along with players and friends attending this week’s Sony Open.
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