Welcome back to the 2026 edition of Crush & Fade on Sandman Sports. This weekly series takes a look at the current PGA Tour event, along with a brief recap of the previous tournament and the latest news in the world of golf.

This morning, I woke up with a real pep in my golf fandom step. The 2026 PGA Tour season is officially here.

Due to complications from the devastating fires on Maui, the Tournament of Champions, traditionally held at Kapalua, was removed from the schedule this year. That is definitely disappointing, as the event has long served as both a victory parade for the previous season’s winners and the official kickoff of the new golf campaign. We at Sandman Sports continue to wish the residents of Maui the very best as they heal and recover, and we hope the Tour returns to the island in 2027, bringing much-needed dollars and support to the local community and economy.

Without the usual season-opening event, we turn our attention to the Sony Open at Waialae Country Club on Oahu, which always seems to deliver plenty of drama. This week marks the 61st edition of the tournament.

 

2026 and the Return of Brooks Koepka

I did not expect breaking news to hit while putting this piece together, but we got exactly that this morning as the PGA Tour announced the return of Brooks Koepka.

New commissioner Brian Rolapp continues to put his stamp on the Tour and appears to be responding to fans who have long wanted the best players in the world back under one umbrella. In addition to Koepka’s return, a window now exists for several other high-profile names, including Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, and Cameron Smith, to rejoin through the Returning Member Program.

Koepka will pay $5 million to charity and will not be eligible for certain player incentive programs, but he is able to rejoin immediately. He is also scheduled to tee it up at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines later this month.

For those of us who have wanted to see the game’s biggest names reunited, this is outstanding news. As fans of the sport, this feels like a solid compromise for both PGA Tour membership and the people who simply want to watch the best players compete against one another again.

Golf continues to evolve in its effort to appeal to a broader audience, and it will be fascinating to see how future schedule and format changes shape the game.

 

Sony Open

Golf is officially back.

Nick Taylor enters as the defending champion after posting 16-under and defeating Nico Echavarria in a playoff last year. Played in Honolulu on the island of Oahu, Waialae Country Club is a par-70 that tips out at just 7,044 yards. It is one of the shorter tracks on Tour, ranking 36th in distance.

Russell Henley currently sits atop the Vegas odds board in what is a very strong field.

That makes sense when you consider how important driving accuracy is at Waialae, along with Strokes Gained: Approach and Tee to Green.

 

Sandman’s Crush Card

It is hard to think of another venue with such wide fluctuation in winning scores relative to par over the past decade. Weather and wind, rough length, and fairway and green firmness all play major roles here.

That gives us a pretty clear framework for what this week should look like. With scoring likely in the mid-teens again, accuracy, approach play, and consistency are what I’m prioritizing. With that in mind, here are my top bets for the Sony Open.

Nico Echavarria +5500 to WIN

Why not start the 2026 season with a longshot? Nico played extremely well here last year before falling just short to UW Husky alum Nick Taylor in a playoff. I like his game and love the value.

Hideki Matsuyama +360 to finish Top 5

Hideki has historically played very well in Hawaii. He is also coming off a victory in the Fall Series at the Hero World Challenge in early December.

Robert MacIntyre +200 to finish Top 10

Lefty Bob will need to stay lathered in sunscreen and avoid a repeat of his T53 from 2025, but I think he continues to rise in the world golf ranks and see no reason he cannot open 2026 with a solid Top 10.

Nick Taylor +160 to finish Top 20

I love backing the guy who steps onto the property with the best vibes of anyone as the defending champion. Nick is a strong approach player and a solid enough driver to contend for a Top 20 this week.

 

Sandman’s Fade List

Fading players can be trickier since there is no bet being placed. Instead, I focus on some of the chalkier options I believe could struggle this week.

This week, my Fade is Russell Henley. At +1000 to win, +230 for a Top 10, and +115 for a Top 20, I just don’t see the value anywhere on the board.

Henley is a very good player, but I do not believe his recent consistency fully justifies his price in this field. He does have a solid track record at Waialae, so caveat emptor, Sandman Nation. He could absolutely show up and win this thing. That said, I am leaning toward a more modest 2026 debut, something closer to a Top 50.

Good luck this season, Sandman Nation, and may all your bets land squarely on the green.

 

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