HONOLULU, HAWAII – JANUARY 18: Chris Gotterup of the United States and caddie Brady Stockton pose with the trophy on the 18th green after their winning round of the final round of the Sony Open in Hawaii 2026 at Waialae Country Club on January 18, 2026 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
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Chris Gotterup won the Sony Open at Waialae Country Club to kick off the 2026 PGA Tour season, securing his third victory in three years.
Gotterup finished the tournament at 16-under par, two strokes ahead of a charging Ryan Gerard, who birdied the final two holes to move into sole second place.
“I just felt like this week I was in a good frame of mind, just happy to be here,” Gotterup said. “I felt like I was in control of my brain, which is the most important thing. I drove it great and made some putts when it mattered.”
Source: ESPN
Gotterup shot a 3-under-par 32 on the front nine, carding birdies on holes 2, 3, 7, and 9, putting him in a battle with Patrick Rodgers. Three additional birdies on the back nine helped him build a comfortable lead as Rodgers stalled, parring every hole on his inward nine.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t have a hot putter today,” said Rodgers, who now has nine top-three finishes since 2015.
Source: ESPN
With the win, Gotterup moved to 17th in the Official World Golf Ranking. Gerard climbed to just outside the top 30, while Rodgers continues his search for his first PGA Tour victory.
HONOLULU, HAWAII – JANUARY 18: Ryan Gerard of the United States plays his shot from the seventh tee during the final round of the Sony Open in Hawaii 2026 at Waialae Country Club on January 18, 2026 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
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Robert MacIntyre was also in contention, finishing at 12-under par, four shots off the lead after a strong final round. His chances were diminished on Friday after snapping his putter on the 18th green.
“Doing that cost me a shot,” MacIntyre said. “My attitude cost me this golf tournament, and I can’t allow that. It’s a big reminder that my attitude has to be right for 72 holes, not just 36.”
Source: BBC
Playing on a career money exemption, 62-year-old Vijay Singh made the cut and finished 40th. Some golf pundits criticized Singh’s inclusion in the field prior to the tournament, arguing that younger players should be given opportunities. Meanwhile, up-and-coming rookie Kristoffer Reitan, 27, missed the cut after finishing at 15-over par through two rounds.
Gotterup earned $1.638 million for the victory.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/break80/2026/01/19/gotterup-captures-the-2026-pga-tours-opening-drive-at-the-sony-open/
