If you’re checking the scores this morning to see who won the PGA Tour event to kick off 2026, you might be a little confused. Usually, by mid-January, we’ve already crowned a champion at Kapalua. Not this year.
The 2026 season officially started just hours ago—not on Maui, but at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Honestly, it feels weird. Most of us are used to seeing the winners-only field at The Sentry as the big "Happy New Year" from the golf world. But because of a massive drought and some messy water rights disputes on Maui, The Sentry was flat-out canceled.
So, as of Friday, January 16, 2026, we don't have a season winner yet. We have a leaderboard. And it’s a spicy one.
The Sony Open: A Bizarre Start to the Year
Yesterday’s opening round at Waialae Country Club was basically a clinic in "defending your turf." Nick Taylor, the Canadian who seems to have a love affair with this course, went out and fired a bogey-free 62. He’s currently tied for the lead with Kevin Roy.
Taylor looks scary good. He’s now put together 17 straight rounds of par-or-better at Waialae. That’s not a fluke; it’s a residency.
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The conditions were soft and calm in the morning, which Taylor took full advantage of before the afternoon winds started kicking up and making everyone else's lives miserable. If you’re betting on who will eventually be the first person to win on the PGA Tour this year, Taylor is sitting at about 6-1 odds right now.
Why the 2026 Schedule is a Mess
It’s worth mentioning why we’re even starting here. The PGA Tour and Sentry Insurance had to pull the plug on the Kapalua event back in October 2025. It wasn't just the drought; it was the logistics. You can’t just move a "Signature Event" with $20 million on the line to a different course in three weeks.
The Tour tried. They looked at West Coast options and other islands. Basically, they realized shipping all that tournament infrastructure—the TV trucks, the hospitality tents, the literal miles of cables—was a nightmare they couldn't solve in time.
Because of this, the guys who won last year but didn't make the Top 50 (the ones who would have played The Sentry) got a consolation prize: they’ve been added to the RBC Heritage field in April.
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Notable Names Chasing the First Win
While Taylor and Roy are at the top, the leaderboard is packed with guys who had huge 2025 seasons. Ben Griffin, who won three times last year and made his Ryder Cup debut, is lurking just one shot back after a 63.
Then there’s the Jordan Spieth drama. There’s always Spieth drama.
Spieth shot a 68, which sounds fine, but he spent half his post-round interview talking about a "club change" that he thinks cost him two and a half strokes. He swapped his hybrid for a 3-iron at the last second. In classic Jordan fashion, he admitted he hadn't really practiced with the 3-iron and probably should have stuck with what he knew.
- Nick Taylor: -8 (62)
- Kevin Roy: -8 (62)
- Ben Griffin: -7 (63)
- Chris Gotterup: -7 (63)
Even the "old" guard is showing up. Vijay Singh, who is 62 years old, is out there using a career money exemption and shot a 68. He had two double bogeys and still finished under par. It’s kind of ridiculous when you think about it.
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What to Expect This Weekend
If you're looking for the big stars like Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy, they aren't in Honolulu. Rory is actually halfway across the world leading the Dubai Invitational right now.
But the lack of "Big 3" names doesn't make this win any less important. Since this is the 20th anniversary of the FedEx Cup, every point matters more than usual. The winner on Sunday is going to take home a massive chunk of a $9.1 million purse and, more importantly, the first ticket to the 2026 playoffs.
Expect the wind to be the deciding factor. Waialae is a "dogleg" course. If the wind direction shifts even ten degrees, it changes which clubs the guys are pulling on almost every tee box.
Actionable Insights for Golf Fans
If you're following the action this weekend, keep an eye on these specific things:
- The Putting Surface: These are Bermuda greens. They are grainy and slow compared to what the guys will see in California next week. Watch who is struggling with "three-footers" on the back nine.
- Nick Taylor's Iron Play: He hit 15 greens in regulation on Thursday. If he keeps that up, he’s going to run away with this.
- The "Sentry" Qualifiers: Keep an eye on guys like Chris Gotterup. These are the players who were supposed to be at Kapalua and are playing with a bit of a chip on their shoulder.
The final round is scheduled for Sunday evening. We’ll know officially who won the PGA Tour season opener by about 8:00 PM ET.
Next Steps for You: Check the live leaderboard this evening around 4:00 PM ET when the "featured groups" hit the turn, as that’s when the Waialae wind usually peaks and the real scoring separation happens.