Canadians in contention at Sony Open.. round two tee times/ live scoring

 Sony Open Round 2 tee times, live scoreboard here.

The venerable Waialae GC is playing with dry firm fairways, smooth greens and an unformidable breeze so far this week, and the little course (by today's standards) was left to the mercy of this years Sony Open's 144 man field.

Only 30 of the field did nor break par, most of the par fours were left with wedges from the fairway for the approach shots as a result -8 62 is the leading score shared by Columbian Joaquin Niemann, Jason Kokrak and Peter Malinati.

Of the six Canadians David Hearn and Mac Hughes begin play today T10 with -5 65's, Nick Taylor T23 -4 66, Roger Sloan T43, -3 67, Mike Weir T55 -2 68 and Michael Gligic struggled, T129 +2 72. 

The field is tightly bunched, so I expect the pins to be tucked today with the average score at just under 68, and the cut projected at -2 as the round begins, but that will drop for sure.

Weather forecast: Perfect day for the beach. Clear blue skies, little or no wind, ideal for low scoring.

(Michael Gligic needs a great round today)

Bryan Angus

Mike Weir joins Canadians at the 2021 Sony Open.... full tee times

 Sony Open Thursday tee times 2021 Sony Open in Hawaii

Mike Weir joins Michael Gligic, Roger Sloan, Nick Taylor, Mac Hughes and David Hearn at the 2021 Sony Open on Waialae GC, for the traditional first full field event of the year.

Aussie Cameron Smith defends his title.

Bryan Angus

Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press

All tee times click link above.

Aussie Cameron Smith defends his title.

Bryan Angus

Taylor, Hughes out of contention at Tournament of Champions... live scoreboard

 Sentry Tournament of Champions leaderboard  here

Nick Taylor T21, 67 71 69 -12 and Mac Hughes 40th -3, 73 71 72 won't be winning this week's Sentry Tournament of Champions, however being at the Plantation Course at Kapalua on the west coast of  Maui is the place to do it.

In my dim and distant past I had the good fortune to travel to Hawaii several times, it was always a dream come true. Kapalua (means "arms to the sea")  Resort is very expensive, on the stunning hills overlooking the Pacific between two little peninsula's that represent the arms..

A round at the Plantation GC will cost you $335 and up, premier villas are as much as $5000us per night, a room at the Ritz Carelton begins around $350 per night for example.

It's not an issue for the invited pros and their families, it's the reward for their wins in 2020, this year others from the top 30 were also invited.

With a round to go in unusually calm conditions, Harris English 65 67 66 -21 is tied with Ryan Palmer 67 67 64 -21, with Collin Morikawa a shot behind 69 65 65 -20. 

Guys like Sungjae Im and Justin Thomas are at -17, John Rahm and DJ are back at -14.

There is rain/breeze in the forecast for Sunday.

Bryan Angus

Taylor, Hughes shoot 71's at Sentry Tour Championship.. live Saturday scoreboard

 Sentry Tournament of Champions leaderboard  here

If you've ever been lucky enough to fly out across the Pacific to Hawaii you'll soon find out the lowest temperature recorded was 55*f, and the wind is always blowing, keeping the humidity away from these ancient volcanic outbreaks that make up the 6 main islands.

On one of them called Kapalua, the island's famous hilly Plantation course sits on the hills, above the cliffs where humpback whales, dolphins, sea turtles, sharks and all manor of sea life dwell, often putting on aerial displays fitting of the magnificent scenery.

Yesterday the whales were breaching, but the wind was flat calm leaving the par 73 course at the players mercy, the highest round 2 two days my Tony Finau is 74, the average score for the field is -3 70.

Harris English 65,67 -14 leads this Tournament of Champions sponored by Sentry. He has moved from 369th in the world into the top 30 last year, which is why he's here this week. Four guys are at -12 including Justin Thomas and Colin Morikawa. The two Canadians shot -2 71. Nick Taylor (click on More images to see below)T22 67,71 -8 and Mac Hughes who isn't in contention 41st 73 71 -2.

More images

 Bryan Angus

Sentry Tournament of Champions tournament kicks off 2021 despite chaos on the US mainland ... live scoreboard

Sentry Tournament of Champions leaderboard  here

It may well be a working holiday in lotus land for 42 of the PGA Tour and their families, a far cry from the anarchy and COVID chaos raging on the US mainland, but an agreed upon schedule of tournaments will go on until further notice, no fans of course, a made for TV event that those closest to the action feel may have some entertainment value, and what else would you expect them to say.

A handful of media and a broadcast crew will be in Hawaii for the next 2 weeks that was kicked off at the Sentry sponsored Tournament of Champions on Thursday with Canada's Nick Taylor posting a bogey free -6 67 on the par 73 Plantation course in Kapalua that sees him T3, 2 shots off the lead -8 65 of Harris English and Justin Thomas.

Nick Taylor (courtesy Jeff Gross Getty Images)

Sergio Garcia ,Ryan Palmer, Robert Streb, Sungjae Im, Patrick Reed all join Taylor T3. Mac Hughes is T37 after an E 73.

For many this event doesn't sit well considering the political nonsense that has gripped America, and put it front and center in the eyes of the world, where the COVID virus continues to spread with unprecedented vigor forcing countries including Canada to lockdown their populations, installing curfews in many instances, while these guys and their families frolic in the sun and sand and palatial surroundings of one of the world's most sought after vacation destinations, and that is completely understandable.

My view is that as long as golf, football, soccer etal are going to be scheduled in their respective bubbles, you can't blame the players for honoring their contracts. Any who feel unsafe, or morally wrong do have the right to withdraw their services.

The rights and wrongs of these decisions were debated back in March, April and May, and with vaccines on their way over the next 6 months, I don't see any of these pro sports discontinuing play, in fact there would be an unholy outcry if the NFL was to stop with the playoffs about to begin this weekend, and NHL training camps set to open.

Bryan Angus

Brooke Henderson, Mac Hughes named Canadian players of the year...... Live scoreboard Sentry Tournament of Champions

 It's that time of year for awards and the Golf Journalists of Canada have awarded amateurs Brigitte Thibault and Laurent Desmarchais both from Quebec as their female and male golfers of the year.

(Bernard Brault photo)

On the professional side Brooke Henderson and MacKenzie Hughes were the no surprise winners.

Hughes and Nick Taylor are playing today in the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, live leaderboard is here

Bryan Angus

Mac Hughes, Nick Taylor play this week's Sentry Tournament of Champions..Thursday Tee Times

Tee times here here

Winners from the 2020 season on the PGA Tour have been invited to play the traditional season opener, the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Kapalua, Hawaii, in addition the top 30 who advanced to the 2020 Tour Championship have been included due to COVID restrictions.

Nick Taylor you may remember won the AT&T at Pebble Beach last February, and Mac Hughes was 29th in the Fed Ex standings, so he got the invite because of that. There are 42 of the 45 invited players in the field this year, most will hang around to play next week as well, on Oahu for the Sony Open and as a result bring their wives and family along for a nice working holiday to begin their campaign.

In world rankings, Hughes leads the way 49th, Corey Connors is 54th, Adam Hadwin is 79th, Taylor Pendrith (Korn Ferry Tour) 128th and Nick Taylor 136th. David Hearn (451), Michael Gligic and Roger Sloan (346) will also find some playing time on tour this year.

Bryan Angus