January 14- 17, 1999 Defending Champion: John Huston Purse: $2.6 million Host course: Waialae Golf Course Where: Honolulu, Hawaii

Huston returns to record breaking course

Tournament Field

The Sony Open in Hawaii golf tournament at Waialae Country Club on January 11-17 will be memorable for many reasons including its position as the first full-field 1999 PGA Tour golf tournament while celebrating Waialae's 34th year of hosting a premier class PGA Tour event.

A roster of 144 PGA Tour pros are sure to pursue the $2,600,000 purse which also marks another milestone record with a purse $800,000 more than the purse for the 1998 PGA Tour Hawaiian Open. The Sony Open champion will receive $468,000 from the record purse.

Bringing the Sony Open initiates the 47 notable golf tournaments in the 1999 official PGA Tour schedule with purses exceeding an estimated $100 million.

According to Ryozo Sakai, president of Sony Hawaii, the Sony Open in Hawaii will provide a week long event utilising high-tech products for visitors, Hawaii residents and TV viewers all over the world to enjoy.

Two 300-inch Jumbotron display screens will monitor various events around the golf course and a mini-FM radio broadcast system and PlayStation video games for fans to enjoy are planned.

Most importantly, Mr. Sakai emphasises, the Sony Open in Hawaii will receive funding that will go directly to benefit Hawaii charities.

In 1999, the Sony Open in Hawaii will direct $200,000 in contributions to the Friends of Hawaii Charities Inc, the sponsor of record for the event, which will benefit non-profit organisations that serve island families, youth and the community.