Sony Open in Hawaii

Twenty-three year old rookie Russell Henley captured his first PGA TOUR win at the Sony Open in Hawaii 2013 on Sunday, January 13!  He also earned the winner's check of $1,008,000.   (From left) Ray Stosik, Sony Open tournament director, Kiyoshi Shikano, senior vice president, Sony Corporation, Russell Henley and Corbett Kalama, president of Friends of Hawaii Charities.  Photo by Ross Hamamura.

Each January, the Sony Open in Hawaii attracts 144 of the world's greatest golf professionals to the island of Oahu. The signature fundraising event for Friends of Hawaii Charities, the 2013 Sony Open in Hawaii kicked off January 7-13 at Waialae Country Club.  

In just 15 years, the Sony Open has emerged as the largest charity sporting event in the islands and a leader in charitable giving in the state of Hawaii, raising over $12 million dollars for the community with the support of its community partner, The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. With a significant start of generating $256,000 for 43 charities in 1999, tournament charity proceeds now surpass the $1 million mark annually benefiting more than 100 not-for-profit organizations each year.

The event reachs over 560 million homes in some 220 countries and territories via multiple national and international broadcast networks, and contributes an estimated $100 million in marketing and economic impact to Hawaii. One of the most international events on the PGA TOUR schedule, the Sony Open showcases international golf talent and camaraderie against the backdrop of Hawaii's natural beauty to the world. The rounds of professional tournament competition are nationally broadcast live by Golf Channel and the Sony Open is the only PGA TOUR tournament with live broadcasts to Japan provided by NHK and Jupiter Sports Network.  In 2007 the Sony Open debuted live event coverage to China and India making it one of the most internationally-televised golf events in the world.

Golf fans were able to experience the 2013 Sony Open in Augmented Reality by downloading the Sony Open SmartAR app “SonyOpenAR” on Google Play or Apple AppStore.