Hawaii is once again receiving the attention of a national television audience.
Sixteen-year-old John Oda, a sophomore at Moanalua High School, is joining 144 professionals in the first full-field event of the PGA season, including 2010 Sony Open Champion Ryan Palmer, who closed with a birdie on his way to a first round 69.
"I tell you what, I love it. I love coming here, I love starting the year here. We enjoy Waikiki, my wife and I. You have some great restaurants but I always look forward to coming here every year," said Palmer.
The Sony Open comes just three days after the final round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions on Maui. The Golf Channel said an average of 659,000 viewers were tuning in on Monday, the most watched final round since 2008.
The Sony Open is expected to be seen in more than 450 million homes around the globe.
"It's fantastic. I love coming to Hawaii and playing here. It really is a fantastic place to come play. The people are great, coming out watching, (and) you know you can't ask for better weather," said Rory Sabbatini, who opened round 67.
"Some of the foreigners, especially like Korean (and) Japanese, they always admire about this place. We're in paradise," said Hyon Paek, a staff member at the Waialae Country Club.
The event will also generate a million dollars for Friends of Hawaii Charities. Since 1999, the Sony Open has raised more than $11 million to support more than 160 local charities and non-profit organizations, thanks to visitors like Andrew Bolton of Australia.
"I absolutely love it. Last week I went to the Plantation Course, went everyday, had an absolute ball and I followed it up with the Sony Open this week. The U.S. PGA, it's the greatest tour in the world of golf and I thoroughly enjoy it," said Bolton.
