Golf in January is supposed to be a gentle wake-up call for the season. You expect palm trees, light breezes, and maybe a few guys shaking off the rust from a long December break. But if you’ve been glued to the pga this week leaderboard, you know that the final round of the Sony Open in Hawaii was anything but a vacation.
Davis Riley came into Sunday at Waialae Country Club with a two-shot cushion, but the wind had other plans. It was gusty. It was unpredictable. Basically, it turned a tactical golf course into a survival test where par felt like a birdie on half the holes.
The Battle for the Top Spot: What Went Down in Honolulu
Honestly, looking at the leaderboard early on Sunday, it felt like Riley might run away with it. He had that gritty 67 on Saturday that just seemed to break the spirits of the chasing pack. But the "competitive juices"—as he called them—started flowing early, and not always in a good way. Riley admitted he felt tense. You could see it on the first and third holes when he carded bogeys right out of the gate.
Suddenly, the pga this week leaderboard was a logjam.
Harry Hall, the man from England with the unmistakable style, was lurking just two back. Chris Gotterup and Kevin Roy were right there too. For a while, it felt like nobody actually wanted to take the lead. They were all just trading blows with the Pacific crosswinds.
Roy is an interesting story. He’s still hunting for that first win, and he’s been remarkably consistent all week. He shared the first-round lead with Nick Taylor and stayed in that "five-man logjam" through Friday. Seeing him hang around on Sunday shows that the offseason work in the gym and on the range is actually paying off.
Notable Moves and Disappointments
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart: He had that massive eagle on the 18th during the third round that put him in the conversation. But Waialae is a course that rewards precision over raw power, and the young Belgian found out the hard way that missing the fairway by three feet can mean a bogey just as easily as missing it by thirty.
- Nick Taylor: The defending champ didn't just go away. He started the week with a 62, and while he couldn't replicate that magic every day, he remained a factor.
- The Cut Line Drama: It’s worth noting that several big names didn't even make it to the weekend. Eric Cole, Beau Hossler, and Keegan Bradley all finished at even par, missing the cut by a single agonizing stroke.
Beyond Hawaii: The Global Leaderboard Context
While most of the eyes were on the islands, we can't ignore what happened over in Dubai. It impacts the global landscape and how we view the top players when they return to the States. Nacho Elvira ended up winning the Dubai Invitational, but the way it happened was pure scar tissue for the guys involved.
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry basically handed it to him on a silver platter.
McIlroy, who finally bagged that career Grand Slam last year at the Masters, looked like he was going to steamroll the field after five straight birdies on the back nine. Then, the wheels fell off. A wayward drive on 18, a bunker shot that stayed in the sand—it was a mess. Lowry was even worse, hitting it into the water from a greenside bunker on the final hole.
Elvira just stayed steady. He shot a 69, finished at 10-under, and took home the trophy while the superstars were left scratching their heads.
Understanding the Waialae Factor
Why is this specific pga this week leaderboard so volatile? Waialae isn't a long course by modern standards. It’s a par 70 that measures just over 7,000 yards. In perfect conditions, these guys would tear it apart. But when the trades blow, the "start lines" that Davis Riley talked about become everything.
If you can't control the curvature of your ball in a 25-mph crosswind, you’re toast.
The greens are fast. The rough is grabby. And the pressure of the first full-field event of the year adds a layer of anxiety that you just don't see in February or March. Everyone is trying to secure their FedExCup points early so they aren't sweating the points list come August.
Looking Ahead to The American Express
The tour moves to the Coachella Valley next. The vibe will shift from the windy coast to the desert heat of La Quinta.
We already know the field is going to be stacked. Scottie Scheffler is the headliner, making his first appearance in the desert since 2024. He missed last year with an injury, so expect him to be hungry. He’ll be joined by 11 other top-25 players, including Sepp Straka, who’s back to defend his title.
The American Express uses a three-course rotation:
- The Pete Dye Stadium Course: The host site and easily the most difficult of the bunch.
- Nicklaus Tournament Course: Plenty of birdies to be had here.
- La Quinta Country Club: Usually the easiest of the three if the putter is hot.
How to Use This Week's Results for Your Benefit
If you’re a fan or a bettor, the pga this week leaderboard tells you a lot about who actually spent their winter practicing and who spent it on the couch.
Look for guys who are gaining strokes on approach in high winds. That’s a skill that travels. Davis Riley and Harry Hall showed they have that "hold shot" in the bag. Kevin Roy showed he has the mental toughness to stay in the hunt even when he isn't hitting it perfect.
On the flip side, be wary of the guys who struggled with the flat stick. Waialae’s greens are tricky, but the desert greens next week will be pure. If a guy was hitting greens but just couldn't buy a putt in Hawaii, he might be a "buy low" candidate for the California swing.
📖 Related: CONCACAF Gold Cup winners list: Why the tournament is wilder than you think
Actionable Insights for Golf Fans
Check the weather report for La Quinta on Wednesday night. If the wind stays down, the winning score at The American Express will likely be in the -24 to -28 range. You need a "birdie maker" more than a "grinder" next week.
Follow the "Ball Striking" stats from Hawaii specifically. Total driving is less important than proximity to the hole from 125-150 yards. The guys who excelled in that metric this week are the ones who will be at the top of the board on Sunday in California.
Keep an eye on the health of the top players. With the Signature Events coming up soon—like the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February—some players might be using these early weeks just to find their rhythm rather than peaking. But for guys like Davis Riley, a win here changes the entire trajectory of their 2026 season, earning them spots in those high-purse events and potentially the Masters.
Golf is back. The leaderboards are messy. And honestly, that’s exactly how we like it.
Start looking at the entry list for next week now. Focus on players who have a history of playing well on Pete Dye designs. Guys like Patrick Cantlay and Sam Burns usually feast on these types of layouts. If they showed any signs of life in Hawaii, they are the ones to watch.