The golf world is currently in that strange, shifting gear where the holiday tinsel has barely hit the trash, yet the stakes are already sky-high. If you were looking for the usual glitz of The Sentry in Maui this past weekend, you probably noticed a big, gaping hole in the schedule. With The Sentry officially off the books for 2026 due to those pesky logistical and infrastructure hurdles, the "weekend winner" conversation shifted toward a very different kind of drama: the 2026 LIV Golf Promotions event and the early fireworks at the PGA Tour's Sony Open.
Honestly, the biggest story of the weekend wasn't a major champion hoisting a massive trophy on a Sunday evening. It was Richard T. Lee silencing the field at Black Diamond Ranch.
Richard T. Lee Dominates LIV Golf Promotions
While the PGA Tour was getting its legs under it in Honolulu, the real "win-or-go-home" tension was happening in Lecanto, Florida. This wasn't just about a paycheck; it was about a career lifeline. Richard T. Lee, the 35-year-old Canadian who has spent years grinding across the Asian Tour and various PGA stops, basically took the steering wheel and didn't let go.
He posted an 11-under total over the final 36-hole marathon on Sunday, January 11. It was clinical. He walked away with a $200,000 winner's check, but more importantly, he secured one of the three coveted "wild card" spots for the 2026 LIV Golf League season.
Joining him in the winner's circle—though technically finishing second and third—were Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren (-6) and the man everyone can't stop talking about, Anthony Kim (-5).
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Kim’s return to a full-time spot is the kind of sports story that feels scripted. After being relegated in 2025 following a lackluster comeback attempt, he gritted out a final-round 69 to grab that last spot by two strokes. It wasn't "prime AK" yet, but he’s back. For anyone tracking who "won" the weekend in terms of career impact, these three are at the top of the list.
Meanwhile, in Honolulu: The Sony Open Sprint
The PGA Tour officially started its 2026 season with the Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club. Because the tournament schedule shifted to accommodate the loss of The Sentry, we saw the first round kick off on Thursday, January 15.
As of right now, the leaderboard is a crowded house. Nick Taylor, the defending champ, isn't showing any signs of a hangover from his 2025 victory. He opened with a blistering 8-under to share the early lead with Kevin Roy.
Watching Taylor at Waialae is kinda like watching a specialist at work. He knows where to miss on these tight, windy fairways. If you're looking for who is winning the weekend as we move into the heart of the tournament, Taylor is the betting favorite for a reason. But don't sleep on Ben Griffin or Austin Smalley, both of whom are lurking just a shot or two back.
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The Veterans Still Have It: PGA Winter Championships
We also saw some serious "old man strength" on display at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie. The PGA Quarter Century Championship wrapped up late last week/early weekend, and it proved that competitive fire doesn't have an expiration date.
- Gary Robison, a 71-year-old legend from the local area, shot a 5-under 30 on his final nine holes. A 30! He won the 65-and-older division in a playoff.
- Judd Gibb took the 50-to-64 division by three shots, finishing at 8-under.
- Wendell Coffee (age 78) actually bettered his age by a combined 19 shots over the tournament to win the Half Century title.
Why the "Winner" of This Weekend Matters
In past years, we’d be talking about a $20 million elevated event winner. This year, the narrative is about the "grind." Richard T. Lee’s victory in Florida is a reminder that the professional landscape is fractured but incredibly competitive. He didn't just win a tournament; he won a job.
The lack of World Ranking points for the LIV Promotions event is still a massive sticking point in golf circles, but for Lee, Hellgren, and Kim, the points don't matter as much as the guaranteed starts and the chance to play for $20 million purses.
What to Watch for Next
If you’re following the action through the rest of this weekend, your focus should be squarely on Honolulu. The Sony Open cut line is going to be brutal because the scores are already so low.
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Actionable Insights for Golf Fans:
- Track Nick Taylor's putting: If he stays inside the top 5 in "Strokes Gained: Putting" through Saturday, he’s almost lock-solid for a podium finish.
- Watch the LIV Roster moves: Now that Richard T. Lee and Anthony Kim have their spots, keep an eye on which teams "draft" them or if they remain as independent wild cards.
- Check the DP World Tour: The Dubai Invitational is also in full swing. Rory McIlroy usually starts his season here with a bang, and the leaderboard there often dictates who will be the "form" player heading into the spring.
The season is officially moving. It’s not just about who won; it’s about who positioned themselves to survive the long 2026 calendar.
Keep an eye on the Sony Open leaderboard as the second round concludes tomorrow; the transition from the "Aloha Swing" to the West Coast events is where we’ll see the 2026 hierarchy really start to bake in.