In the last few years, the Sony Open has become famous for the appearances of the talented, young, female LPGA Tour player, Michelle Wie, who made her first tournament appearance in 2004. While she was unable to make the cut in many of her attempts, she still provided fans some excitement, as well as contributing to outstanding ticket sales.

In 2008, 17 year old Alex Ching, a former classmate of Wie's, received a sponsor exemption much as she did in her previous appearances. The local area was proud to see another Hawaiian competing in the tournament and interest remained high, as well as did ticket sales. Besides seeing some local talent, the style of play and the fact that many high profile players travel to Hawaii to play in the event, helps in contributing to the Sony Open's success year after year. A highlight of the tournament's history, was in 1983, when Isao Aoki became Japan's first winner in a PGA tour, winning the event by one stroke on the 72nd hole. Aoki already had a reputation of being a great golfer and the local Japanese-American population came out in great numbers to support the tournament that year.

Moving ahead, a notable event in the tournament's history happened recently in 2007, when the second youngest player ever to make a 36 hole cut on the PGA tour did so at the Sony Open. 16 year old Tadd Fujikawa, who played as an amateur, had an excellent day, making a 15 foot Eagle pot on the course's 551-yard par-5 18th hole. Once again, the fact that such a young and interesting player was performing so well at the tournament, contributed to spike ticket sales in the second day of the event, as well as for the remainder of the tournament. Since the Sony Open began, there have been only four players who have been able to win it more than once. Those four golfers are all well-known and accomplished players, including Ernie Els and Lanny Wadkins, both of whom displayed great efforts to win their tournaments and helped to sell many Sony Open tickets along the way. As for the 18-hole tournament's low score record, that belongs to Davis Love III, who shot a spectacular 12 under par 60 on the par 72 course. His accomplishment that day convinced many PGA fans to return and grab more tickets.

Besides the previously mentioned players, other great names in the PGA have made the trip out to Hawaii for the tournament, such as Lee Trevino and Vijay Singh. Besides all the great moments in the tournament's past and its impressive line up of golfers, the beautiful and world-renowned course at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, is a major draw for fans as well. The tournament has been played on this same course since the event began, in 1965, when golfer Gay Brewer won the first competition. At this time, the tournament was called the Hawaiian Open, before Sony became the title sponsor in 1999.

The Sony Open takes place in early to mid January and follows the Mercedes-Benz Championship. The event's most recent winner in 2009, Zach Johnson, posted a 5-under 65 to defeat Adam Scott and 2006 champion David Toms. It's also important to mention that annually, over $1,000,000 is raised through the efforts of Friends of Hawaii Charities and charity partner The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc. benefiting Hawaii's women, children, elderly and needy. Golf and Hawaii make the perfect combination and ticket sales for future Sony Open tournaments are sure to be strong. In fact, attendance in 2009 was up 44% over the previous year, with 12,900 fans showing up the day before the event's finale.