Golf analysts reveal Nico Echavarria’s secrets to his exceptional play at the 2025 Sony Open in Hawaii

Nico Echavarria's performance at the 2025 Sony Open in Hawaii left golf fans and enthusiasts buzzing for his performance. The 30-year-old totaled 16 under par through 72 holes at the Waialae Country Club and proceeded to a sudden-death playoff with Nick Taylor that lasted two holes. On the second hole, he carded in a par while his fellow competitor took home the win with a birdie.

The Colombian golfer's impressive skill and confidence stood out in a field comprised of the PGA Tour's best players. According to Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio's The First Cut Golf podcast by CBS Sports, Echavarria's secret to contention lies in a critical putting adjustment he made before the 2024 Zozo Championship.

The PGA Tour star switched to a claw grip for his putting last year. The change promoted a smoother and more consistent putting stroke by alleviating Echavarria of tension in his upper body. More than helping him technically, the change has transformed his mindset.

The podcast hosted by Rick Gehman, Mark Immelman, Greg DuCharme, and Patrick McDonald, dived the new technique. They said (via Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio):

“Something has changed with Nico Echavarria. And that’s that when he went to the claw grip at the Zozo Championship, it changed his entire game. It’s an amazing thing. And it was so evident in this final round where he’s not perfect. He’s making some mistakes, but he still believes he has a chance because he thinks he can hole putts. He thinks he can make putts. And just thinking that you can keeps you in it. And all of a sudden, you start to see a four-in-a-row birdie streak from 7 to 10 really helps. You’re starting to see fist pumps and you’re starting to see some shots. Some really good shots."

The hosts referred back to Echavarria's streak of birdies from the seventh to the 10th hole during the final round of the 2025 Sony Open in Hawaii. The two-time PGA Tour winner went on to win the Zozo Championship last year aided by his new putting technique and has since recorded three finishes inside the top-six in five starts.

The PGA Tour sensation's newfound mental fortitude was on full display last week in Hawaii. Analysts believe his strong confidence and resilience are the by-product of his improved putting. The hosts commented (via Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio):

"But when he misses one, it’s not the end of the world. He doesn’t lose confidence. He doesn’t think he’s out of it. He just keeps going because he feels like a shooter that’s about to get really hot. So there’s a completely different attitude in Nico Echavarria that I’m seeing. That I’ve seen since the Zozo Championship where he thinks he can win. He thinks he belongs. He thinks he’s going to win. And I attribute so much of that to the putter improvement with that grip change.”

The golf analysts highlighted the 2025 Sony Open in Hawaii's ability to get into a zone-like state of mind that helped him reach the playoff. Echavarria's next start on the PGA Tour is scheduled to be the American Express from January 16 to 19 in La Quinta, California.

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Nico Echavarria 2025 Sony Open in Hawaii Stats

Here's a look into Nico Echavarria's performance at the Sony Open in Hawaii last week (via PGA Tour):

Scores

• Round 1: 66
• Round 2: 67
• Round 3: 66
• Round 4: 65
• Total: 16 under par

Strokes Gained: Off the Tee

• Total: 1.384 (23)

Strokes Gained: Approach to the Green

• Total: 2.201 (26)

Strokes Gained: Around the Green

• Total: 3.272 (5)

Strokes Gained: Putting

• Total: 3.844 (14)

Strokes Gained: Total

• Total: 10.701 (T1)

Driving Accuracy

• Total - 55.17% [32/58] (56)

Average Driving Distance

• Total - 314.80 yards (20)

Longest Drive

• Total - 357 yards (T29)

Greens in Regulation

• Total - 72.97% [54/74] (33)

Sand Saves

• Total - 80% [8/10] (T9)

Scrambling

• Total - 85% [17/20] (3)

Putts per GIR

• Total - 1.67 putts (9)

Total Feet of Putts Made

• Total - 71 feet (46)

Birdies

• Total - 21 (T6)

Pars

• Total - 49 (T20)

Bogeys

• Total - 4 (T3)