So, you're looking for the winner of last week’s PGA tournament? If you feel like you missed something, it's probably because the 2026 golf calendar started off with a bit of a curveball. Usually, we’re all watching the stars at Kapalua for The Sentry to kick off the New Year. Not this time. Due to some pretty serious logistical hurdles and water infrastructure issues at the Plantation Course, The Sentry was actually canceled for 2026.
That moved the spotlight squarely onto Waialae Country Club for the Sony Open in Hawaii, which became the official season opener.
The leaderboard was a total logjam. Honestly, heading into the weekend, it felt like anyone’s game. We saw veterans like Vijay Singh—who is 62 and still making cuts, which is just insane—mixing it up with the young guns. But when the dust finally settled on Sunday, January 18, 2026, the man standing at the top was Davis Riley.
He basically stole the show.
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How Davis Riley Clutched the Sony Open
Riley didn't just stumble into the winner's circle. He earned it through some of the gutsiest wind-play we've seen in Honolulu in years. Waialae is famous for those "trade winds" that can turn a simple 7-iron into a guessing game, and Friday was particularly brutal. Riley shot a 64 in those conditions, which he later described as "creative golf."
He wasn't trying to be a robot. He was just playing with feel.
While the final scores are still being verified in the official record books for the week, Riley entered the final stretch with a two-shot cushion over a surging Harry Hall and the defending champ, Nick Taylor. Taylor was trying to become the first repeat winner at the Sony in a decade, but the putter went cold on the back nine when he needed it most.
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The Leaderboard Breakdown (Top Finishers)
If you missed the Sunday broadcast, here is how the top of the pack looked as they headed into the clubhouse:
- Davis Riley: Finished at -12 overall. His 64 on Friday was the turning point that gave him the confidence to hold off the pack.
- Harry Hall: T-2 at -10. The Englishman almost forced a playoff but couldn't convert a 15-footer on the 18th.
- Chris Gotterup: T-2 at -10. The former NCAA champ showed that his power game travels anywhere.
- Kevin Roy: T-2 at -10. Roy was the co-leader after Thursday and stayed gritty all week.
Why the 2026 Start Felt Different
It’s weird not seeing the colorful shirts of Maui to start the year. The cancellation of The Sentry meant that players who usually take a "wait and see" approach to Hawaii had to show up in Honolulu or risk falling behind in the FedEx Cup points race early.
There's been a lot of chatter about the Tour's schedule changes. Some folks, like Jordan Spieth, seemed a bit out of sync with the new timing. Spieth actually admitted to a late club change—swapping his hybrid for a 3-iron—that he thinks cost him several shots. It's those tiny, "expert-level" mistakes that make or break a week on Tour.
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What This Means for the Rest of the Season
Davis Riley’s win is a massive deal. It’s not just the $1.6 million paycheck, although that certainly doesn't hurt. It's the two-year exemption and the fact that he's now basically guaranteed a spot in the Masters and the PGA Championship.
For the guys who finished in the top 10, like Nick Taylor and Ben Griffin, they’re heading straight to the California desert next.
The Tour moves to La Quinta next for The American Express. This is where things get even more serious because the World No. 1, Scottie Scheffler, is expected to make his season debut. If you thought the Sony Open was competitive, just wait until the heavy hitters arrive in Cali.
Actionable Insights for Golf Fans
- Watch the Wind: If you're betting or playing DFS, pay attention to the "early/late" split. At the Sony Open, the morning starters had a huge advantage before the afternoon gusts picked up.
- Equipment Consistency: Take a page from Jordan Spieth’s book—don’t swap your "comfort clubs" the day before a tournament. Consistency beats a "better" club every time.
- Follow the Points: With the new 2026 schedule, early-season wins like Riley's are worth 500 FedEx Cup points. That’s a massive head start that usually secures a spot in the Playoffs by mid-summer.
Keep an eye on the upcoming American Express (Jan 22-25) to see if Riley can keep the momentum or if Scheffler reminds everyone why he's at the top of the rankings.