The 2026 PGA Tour is off and running with Chris Gotterup winning the Sony Open at a windy Waialae Country Club. This is Gotterup’s 3rd win in as many years on the PGA Tour.
The win at the Sony Open earned Gotterup $1,638 million. Ryan Gerard’s second place finish earned him $991,900, while Patrick Rodgers earned $627,900 for third place.
Gotterup controled his ball flight in the windy conditions to win by three stokes. He finished at 16-under 264 and moved to No. 17 in the world.
“Having a win or two under your belt always helps, coming down the stretch knowing that you’ve done it and that you’re able to execute under pressure,” he said. “I felt like I did a great job of that today.”
“A lot of these tournaments, you just kind of (have) to hang around as long as you can and hang in the fight. I felt like I did a great job of that this week,” he added.
Vijay Singh, the 62-year-old playing on tour this season by way of a career money exemption, posted three sub-70 rounds on the week, including a closing 69, to finish tied for 40th.
The Sony Open was the latest start to the PGA Tour season because The Sentry at Kapalua on Maui was canceled due to a water dispute that had the course brown in September.
The final round at Waialae was played under a vibe that this might be the last of Hawaii on the tour. The Sony Open title sponsorship expires this year, and there is a movement to start the tour season later than ever in 2027 and going forward, either right before or after the Super Bowl.
The PGA moves on to The American Express Tournament this week, Jan 22-25 at the Pete Dye Stadium Course in La Quinta, California.
The AmEx is one of four tournaments played on multiple courses (Farmers Insurance Open, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, RSM Classic), with its pro-am format playing three courses- Pete Dye Stadium, Nicklaus Tournament, LaQuinta Country Club before a Sunday finale on the Stadium at PGA West in LaQuinta, California.
With the loss of the Sentry tournament, the season opener for years in Maui, Hawaii, and recently a signature event, the AmEx is welcoming a very strong field for a “regular” Tour event.
Scottie Scheffler became the first golfer since Tiger Woods (1999-2003) to win the PGA Tour Player of the Year award in four straight seasons. He won six titles in 2025 and led the PGA Tour in scoring average in all four rounds during the season.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler will make his season debut at the Amex. The field will include 11 of the top 25 players in the, including defending champion Sepp Straka (12), Russell Henley (5), Robert MacIntyer (7), Ben Griffin (8), Justin Rose (10), Harris English (11), Alex Noren (13), Ludvig Aberg (18), Matt Fitzpatrick (21), Sam Burns (24), and Patrick Cantlay (25).
The LPGA Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions is Jan. 29-Feb. 1 at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Florida. Tickets https://www.universe.com/events/2026-hilton-grand-vacations-tournament-of-champions-tickets-X5SMLP
It has been a bit chilly in the Tampa Bay area recently. Be sure to layer up, hydrate, and wear your sunscreen.
Enjoy your golf.
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