TV time for golf today: Why the Sony Open and Dubai are Must-Watch Saturday

TV time for golf today: Why the Sony Open and Dubai are Must-Watch Saturday

If you’re hunting for the tv time for golf today, you’re probably already aware that January is a sneaky-good month for the sport. Most people assume things don’t get interesting until the Florida swing or The Masters. Honestly? They’re wrong.

Today is Saturday, January 17, 2026, and we are right in the thick of the "Hawaii Swing" and some massive international action. Whether you want to see if a 62-year-old legend can keep defying physics or you just want to see some lush green fairways while it's freezing outside, the schedule is packed. We’ve got the PGA Tour out in Honolulu and the DP World Tour over in Dubai. It’s a literal 24-hour cycle of golf if you have enough coffee.

The Sony Open: Prime Time from Waialae

The main event for most U.S. viewers is the third round of the Sony Open in Hawaii. This isn't just another tournament; it’s the first full-field event of the 2026 season. We entered the weekend with a wild five-way tie for the lead. Seriously, five guys.

The story everyone is talking about, though, is Vijay Singh. The man is 62 years old and he didn't just make the cut; he’s actually competing. Watching him keep pace with guys a third of his age is basically the best "old man strength" advertisement ever made.

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Saturday TV Schedule for Sony Open (Eastern Time)

The tv time for golf today for the PGA Tour is split between streaming and traditional cable.

  • 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Live coverage on Golf Channel.
  • 12:15 PM – 10:00 PM: Featured Groups and Featured Holes on ESPN+.

If you're a die-hard, ESPN+ is the way to go. They start way earlier. You get to see the guys who just barely made the cut grinding to get back into the top 20 before the leaders even warm up. If you just want the "meat" of the broadcast with the lead groups, wait for the sun to go down on the East Coast and flip to Golf Channel at 7.

Breakfast Golf: The Dubai Invitational

If you’re reading this early in the morning, you might have already missed some of the live action from the DP World Tour. The Dubai Invitational is running on a totally different clock.

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For those of us in the States, this is "breakfast golf." The third-round coverage actually started in the middle of the night (around 2:30 AM ET). However, Golf Channel usually runs replays or "Golf Central" updates throughout the morning.

The field in Dubai is always top-heavy. You’ve got the likes of Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood usually hovering around the top of the leaderboard in these UAE events. It's a different vibe—very pristine, very desert-modern—compared to the windy, oceanside grind of Waialae.

What to Watch For: The "Moving Day" Magic

Saturday is traditionally called "Moving Day" for a reason. In the tv time for golf today window, you’re looking for the guys who take massive risks to jump from T-30 into the top 5.

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At the Sony Open, Waialae Country Club is a classic par-70. It’s not a "bomber’s paradise." You have to hit fairways. If the wind picks up off the Pacific, those 7:00 PM TV slots are going to be chaotic. Watch the 17th hole—a long par 3 that can absolutely wreck a scorecard if you miss the green.

Key Pairings to Circle

  • Vijay Singh & Zach Johnson: A combined age that probably exceeds the rest of the top 10. This is pure nostalgia.
  • Hideki Matsuyama & Johnny Keefer: The former Masters champ vs. the hot-streaking rookie.
  • Jordan Spieth & Brian Harman: Expect some "Spieth-y" moments. He’s either going to hole a 50-footer or hit it into a backyard. There is no in-between.

How to Stream if You’re Away from the Couch

Look, it’s Saturday. You might be at a kid’s soccer game or running errands. You don’t need to be glued to your living room.

The NBC Sports App and Peacock usually mirror the Golf Channel feed. If you have a cable login, you’re golden. If you’re a cord-cutter, ESPN+ is your best friend for the PGA Tour because they have the rights to the "main feed" during specific windows and those all-day featured groups.

Actionable Tips for Golf Fans Today

To get the most out of your viewing, don't just passively watch.

  1. Check the wind reports for Honolulu: If it's over 15 mph, the scores will balloon. This makes the late-night broadcast much more entertaining.
  2. Monitor the Live Leaderboard: Use the PGA Tour app or website. Often, the TV broadcast is "tape-delayed" by a few minutes or misses smaller players making a run.
  3. Watch the Rookies: Keep an eye on guys like Johnny Keefer. These January tournaments are where the next stars of the 2026 season establish themselves before the big-money signature events kick in.

The tv time for golf today offers a perfect bridge from late afternoon into the late night. Grab some snacks, settle in for the Hawaii sunset shots, and see if the old guard can hold off the young guns for one more day.