If you’re staring at the leaderboard of pga golf tournament action this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii, you probably noticed something weird. The scores are low. Like, absurdly low. We’re talking about world-class athletes dismantling Waialae Country Club like it’s a local municipal course on a Tuesday afternoon.
Nick Taylor is leading the pack. Well, technically he’s sharing that top spot with Kevin Roy, but Taylor is the one everyone is watching because he’s the defending champ. He shot a 62. That is 8-under par in a single trip around the track. Most of us would be happy to shoot a 62 on the front nine alone, but for these guys, it’s just another day at the office.
The Current State of the Sony Open Leaderboard
It’s Thursday, January 15, 2026, and the first round just wrapped up with some massive numbers—or small numbers, depending on how you look at it. Taylor and Roy are sitting at -8. Right behind them, breathing down their necks, are Ben Griffin, Chris Gotterup, and John VanDerLaan at -7.
Honestly, the leaderboard of pga golf tournament play in Hawaii is always a bit of a shootout. Waialae isn't the longest course on tour. It doesn't have the terrifying cliffs of Pebble Beach or the suffocating rough of a U.S. Open setup. If the wind doesn't blow, these guys are going to hunt pins.
Who is Making Moves?
Nick Taylor’s 62 was basically a masterclass in "not making mistakes." He went bogey-free. When you don't drop a shot at this level, you're going to be near the top. He actually mentioned after the round that the wind direction—which Michael Kim apparently tweeted about earlier—made some of the doglegs a bit easier to navigate than usual.
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Then you’ve got Kevin Roy. He’s matching Taylor stroke for stroke. It’s the kind of start that changes a season's trajectory. Behind them, Ben Griffin is continuing his hot streak from late 2025. He won the World Wide Technology Championship recently, and that confidence is clearly leaking into 2026.
Why This Leaderboard of PGA Golf Tournament Matters
You might think, "It’s just the first round, who cares?" But the Sony Open is actually the season opener for 2026 because The Sentry was canceled this year. This is the first time these guys are playing for real FedExCup points in months.
Every stroke on that leaderboard of pga golf tournament is worth thousands of dollars and, more importantly, job security. A win here earns you a two-year exemption. It gets you into the Masters. It basically solves all your professional problems for the next 24 months.
The Afternoon Wave Struggle
Golf is rarely fair. The guys who played early this morning had it easy. The air was still, the greens were fresh, and the humidity hadn't quite kicked in yet. By the time the afternoon groups teed off, the Pacific breeze started kicking up.
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Look at Hideki Matsuyama. He’s a former winner here. He struggled to a 69. Jordan Spieth and Keegan Bradley—the current U.S. Ryder Cup captain—both turned in 68s. Those aren't bad scores, but when the leaders are at -8, a -2 feels like you're standing still. It’s frustrating. You feel like you're playing well, but you're losing ground to the field.
Strategic Insights from the Front Runners
Waialae is a positional course. You can't just bomb it everywhere. If you miss the fairway here, the Bermuda grass grabby-ness makes it almost impossible to control your spin into the greens.
- Iron Play is King: Taylor mentioned his irons were "sharp." At the Sony, you need to be hitting it to 15 feet all day.
- Reading the Grain: Hawaii greens are notorious for the "mountain effect." The ball wants to pull toward the ocean. If you can't read that, you're toast.
- Patience: With so many birdies being made, it’s easy to start chasing. That's when the bogeys happen.
The leaderboard of pga golf tournament results we see today are the product of extreme precision. Chris Gotterup credited his time in the TGL (the tech-infused golf league) for keeping his competitive juices flowing during the break. It seems to have worked. He looked like he hadn't missed a beat.
Looking Ahead to Friday’s Cut
Tomorrow is moving day, but it’s also "stay home" day for half the field. The cut line is likely going to be deep. If you aren't at least 3-under or 4-under by tomorrow evening, you're probably heading to the airport.
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Keep an eye on Russell Henley. He’s a favorite for a reason. He shot a 65 today, which is a very solid "boring" round that keeps him right in the mix. He’s one of those guys who can put up a 63 tomorrow and suddenly be the man to beat.
The leaderboard of pga golf tournament drama is just getting started. We’ve got three more days of island golf, and if the wind stays down, we might see someone flirt with a 59. It’s that kind of week.
To stay ahead of the action, monitor the live scoring updates specifically for the "afternoon wave" tomorrow, as their performance in the wind will likely dictate the final cut line. If you're tracking specific players for fantasy or betting, focus on "Strokes Gained: Approach" rather than driving distance; Waialae rewards the surgeons, not the bombers.