If you’re waking up today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, and wondering where the best golfers on the planet are currently teeing it up, you've basically got two choices: the tropical breezes of Oahu or the high-end luxury of Dubai.
It's a weird time of year for the sport. Most people in the northern hemisphere are looking at snow-covered fairways or staring at their bags in the garage. But for the pros? The season is already in high gear. Honestly, the "off-season" doesn't really exist anymore.
Right now, the focus is split between the PGA Tour’s final round in Hawaii and the DP World Tour’s conclusion in the Middle East. If you're a fan, you’ve probably spent the last few days trying to figure out which time zone your favorite player is even in.
Where is golf being played today on the PGA Tour?
The main event for American fans is the Sony Open in Hawaii. It’s the final round at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. This isn’t a "Signature Event" like the Sentry was last week at Kapalua, but it’s still a massive deal. Why? Because Waialae is one of those classic, tight, wind-swept tracks where you can’t just bomb and gouge. You actually have to think.
Davis Riley has been the name to watch this week. He’s been holding onto a lead, but guys like Ryan Gerard are breathing down his neck. Gerard is a great story, actually—he spent December playing in Mauritius just to sneak into the top 50 of the World Golf Ranking so he could secure a spot at the 2026 Masters. He’s admitted he feels like he’s still playing the 2025 season because he hasn't really stopped.
📖 Related: The Truth About the Memphis Grizzlies Record 2025: Why the Standings Don't Tell the Whole Story
The wind usually kicks up at Waialae on Sunday afternoons. It turns the par-4s into nightmares and makes the finishing stretch a total crapshoot. If you’re watching, pay attention to the 16th and 17th. Those holes decide the tournament.
The DP World Tour: Dubai is the center of the world
While Hawaii is finishing up, the Dubai Invitational at Dubai Creek Resort is already wrapping its final scores. This is the start of what the DP World Tour calls their "International Swing."
Dubai in January is basically the perfect environment for golf. It’s sunny, 75 degrees, and the courses are manicured to an inch of their lives. The field at Dubai Creek this year has been stacked with European stalwarts and a few guys looking to jumpstart their Race to Dubai points early.
It’s interesting to see how the tour is structured now. They’ve got these "swings" (Opening, International, Asian, etc.) that are designed to keep players in one region for a few weeks. It’s better for the planet and way better for the players' jet lag. After today, the circus moves just a few miles down the road to Emirates Golf Club for the Hero Dubai Desert Classic next week.
👉 See also: The Division 2 National Championship Game: How Ferris State Just Redrew the Record Books
What about the other tours?
You’ve probably noticed a lack of LIV Golf or LPGA on your TV today. Here’s the deal:
- LPGA Tour: They haven't quite started yet. Their season-opener, the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona, doesn't start until January 29. The ladies are mostly in Florida or Arizona right now, grinding on the range.
- LIV Golf: Their 2026 season doesn't kick off until February 4 in Riyadh. They’re doing something different this year—playing under the lights for all four days. But for today? Silence from the LIV camp.
- Amateur Scene: If you’re a real degenerate for golf scores, there’s a lot of junior and amateur stuff happening. The Notah Begay West Coast Invitational is finishing up at Indian Canyons in Palm Springs, and the USKG Sandestin Championship is happening in Destin, Florida.
Why the schedule feels so frantic right now
The 2026 calendar is a beast. PGA Tour Commissioner Brian Rolapp (who took over the reigns during the merger chaos) has been trying to streamline things, but the "Aon Swing 5" and "Next 10" eligibility rules have made every January tournament feel like a life-or-death struggle for the middle-of-the-pack guys.
A win at the Sony Open today doesn't just mean a trophy; it means guaranteed entry into the $20 million Signature Events like Pebble Beach and the Genesis Invitational next month. For a guy like Ryan Gerard or Nick Taylor (the defending champ), that’s the difference between a stressful year and a career-changing one.
Finding a game for yourself
If you aren't a pro and you’re just looking to play, you better be in the Sun Belt. Phoenix, Orlando, and San Diego are currently packed. In fact, if you haven't booked a tee time for today in Scottsdale, you’re probably looking at a 5-hour round at a muni or just hitting balls at Topgolf.
✨ Don't miss: Por qué los partidos de Primera B de Chile son más entretenidos que la división de honor
The "COVID boom" in golf participation hasn't really slowed down. Courses are seeing record numbers even in mid-January. If you're in the Northeast or Midwest, you're likely stuck in a simulator. Luckily, those have become so good that you can basically play Waialae from a basement in Chicago while the Sony Open is on the screen.
Actionable Next Steps for Golf Fans
If you want to keep up with the action today and the rest of the month, here is how to navigate it:
- Check the Sony Open Leaderboard: The final round is currently live. Look for the "Swing 5" movement—players who finish well today earn spots in the upcoming AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
- Download the DP World Tour App: If you want to see how the "International Swing" is shaping up, their app is actually better than the PGA Tour's for tracking the Race to Dubai points.
- Book early for February: If you're planning a golf trip, the window for February tee times in Florida and Arizona is closing fast. Markets like Scottsdale are nearly 95% capacity for weekend mornings.
- Watch the "Master of the Amateurs": If you want to see the future stars, keep an eye on the Australian amateur circuit this week; the Southern Golf Club in Keysborough is hosting the top world-ranked amateurs right now.
Golf is no longer a seasonal sport for the viewers. Whether it's the 4:00 AM broadcast from Dubai or the late-night finish in Honolulu, there is almost always a meaningful shot being hit somewhere on the globe. Today just happens to be one of those days where the world of golf is perfectly split between the desert and the Pacific.