You wake up on a Sunday morning in mid-January, coffee in hand, ready to see who is making a charge on the back nine. But if you're looking for the usual early-morning PGA Tour drama, you might be staring at an empty leaderboard for a few hours. Finding out exactly when is golf on today has become a bit of a puzzle, especially with the 2026 season's unique rhythm and the heavy hitters playing across different time zones.
Right now, we are in the thick of the "International Swing" for the DP World Tour and the West Coast (plus Hawaii) vibes for the PGA Tour. Today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, is actually a massive day for the sport, but the timing depends entirely on whether you want to watch Rory McIlroy chase a trophy in the desert or Nick Taylor try to defend his title in the Pacific.
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The PGA Tour: Sony Open Final Round Coverage
If you are hunting for the PGA Tour, you’re looking at the final round of the Sony Open in Hawaii. Because of the time difference between Honolulu and the East Coast, the schedule is shifted toward the evening.
Basically, you aren't going to see the leaders tee off until most of the country is already thinking about dinner. ESPN+ starts their featured group coverage around 12:15 PM ET. This is where you get the "all-day" feel, watching the middle-of-the-pack guys try to move up the leaderboard before the main broadcast kicks in.
The real meat of the tournament—the part where the trophy actually gets handed out—happens on the Golf Channel. They have the exclusive cable window from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM ET. Honestly, it’s one of the best ways to spend a Sunday night, watching the sunset over Waialae Country Club while most of us are shivering in January weather.
DP World Tour: The Dubai Invitational Finish
Now, if you were looking for golf earlier this morning and couldn't find it, you probably missed the boat on the DP World Tour. The Dubai Invitational wrapped up its final round at the Dubai Creek Resort while most of the US was still asleep.
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry were the big draws there, chasing down Nacho Elvira. Because Dubai is nine hours ahead of Eastern Time, the leaders usually finish up around 9:00 AM or 10:00 AM ET. If you missed it live on NBC Sports or the Golf Channel (which usually carries the early morning re-airs), you’ll have to catch the highlights on the DP World Tour's YouTube channel or their app.
Where to Watch Golf Today: Sunday, Jan 18
- PGA Tour (Sony Open): ESPN+ (Featured Groups) starting at 12:15 PM ET.
- PGA Tour (Sony Open): Golf Channel (Live Final Round) from 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM ET.
- Korn Ferry Tour: The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic is also in motion. You’ll mostly find scoring updates for this on the PGA Tour app, as TV coverage is often limited to the later rounds or specific streaming windows.
Why the Timing Feels So Weird Lately
You've probably noticed that "when is golf on today" isn't as simple as checking one channel anymore. The 2026 broadcast rights are split between traditional cable, network TV (NBC/CBS), and a dizzying array of streaming services.
Between the Signature Events on the PGA Tour and the Global Swings on the European side, the professional game is more fragmented than ever. For example, if you were looking for the LPGA today, you'd find... nothing. Their season doesn't actually kick off until January 29 at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in Orlando.
It’s a weird gap in the calendar. Most people assume all the tours start at the same time, but the women’s game takes a slightly longer winter break before hitting the Florida swing.
Strategic Viewing: How to Not Miss the Best Holes
The biggest mistake most casual fans make is waiting for the 7:00 PM broadcast. By the time the Golf Channel goes live for the Sony Open, the leaders are often already through six or seven holes. If you want the full story of the final round, you sort of have to have ESPN+ running in the background.
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There’s a nuance to Sunday finishes in Hawaii. The wind at Waialae usually picks up in the afternoon, which is right when the leaders are starting their back nine around 8:30 PM ET. That’s when the tournament is won or lost. If you only watch the first hour of the TV broadcast, you’re missing the actual drama.
Actionable Next Steps for Today's Round
To make the most of the remaining coverage today, here is exactly what you should do:
- Check the Leaderboard Now: Open the PGA Tour app or website. If a guy like Nick Taylor or Adam Scott is within three shots of the lead and playing the 10th hole, pull up the ESPN+ "Featured Holes" coverage immediately.
- Sync Your DVR: If you can't stay up until 10:00 PM ET for the trophy presentation, set your recorder for the Golf Channel window now. Note: Live sports often run long, so add a 30-minute buffer to the end of the recording.
- Monitor the Weather: Hawaii wind is no joke. If the trades are blowing over 20 mph, expect the scoring to be slow and the drama to be high.
- Prep for Next Week: The tour moves to California for The American Express. That tournament uses multiple courses, which means the TV schedule changes again. Bookmark the official PGA Tour schedule page to avoid the "where is the channel?" scramble next Thursday.
Golf in 2026 is a global game, which is great for the sport but a headache for your sleep schedule. Whether it's morning coffee with the DP World Tour or a late-night cocktail with the Sony Open, the "when" is just as important as the "who."