The initial event of the 2026 PGA Tour calendar saw a victor emerge who regularly claims titles in his relatively brief professional career. Chris Gotterup exhibited a blend of powerful drives and delicate short game akin to a seasoned professional at the 2026 Sony Open, as the third-year competitor executed a superb display on Sunday, concluding with a 64 for a total of 16 under par, two strokes ahead of second-place finisher Ryan Gerard.
Gotterup’s success at Waialae Country Club marks his third win on the PGA Tour in his third year, having first triumphed in Myrtle Beach during his debut season, then besting Rory McIlroy at the Scottish Open last summer. The 26-year-old now ranks behind only McIlroy (eight) and Scottie Scheffler (four) among active participants for achieving consecutive seasons with a PGA Tour victory. He is also the sixth individual since 2024 to secure at least three victories.
Commencing his season with an outstanding 7-under 63, Gotterup began the ultimate round at 10 under, trailing Davis Riley, the leader after 54 holes, by two shots. Riley had successfully maintained his lead in one of his two prior 54-hole advantages on the PGA Tour and appeared comfortable initially, sinking two birdies within his first five holes.
However, just as Riley seemed to be finding his rhythm, a challenging three-hole sequence resulted in a bogey, another bogey, and a double bogey on his score card. The opportunity suddenly presented itself, and Gotterup capitalized.
The long-hitting right-handed golfer overpowered the traditional Seth Raynor course layout, cutting corners on doglegs and employing aggressive tee shots, yet maintaining considerable accuracy. Four birdies on the front nine allowed him to seize sole possession of the lead before he cemented his dominance over the competition in the middle part of his back nine.
Despite his formidable power off the tee, Gotterup’s momentum truly built thanks to his deft touch around the greens. He sank crucial birdie putts from 21 feet on the 12th, 26 feet on the 13th, and 12 feet on the 17th, effectively sealing the victory just as Gerard began to close the gap.
With only the par-5 closing hole remaining, Gotterup struck another precise shot down the center of the fairway. A strategic layup, a wedge shot to the green’s center, and two putts were all that remained for Gotterup to meet the challenge, perhaps signifying a rise in his competitive stature. Grade: A+
Below are evaluations of other significant performances on the 2026 Sony Open leaderboard.
T4. Robert MacIntyre (-12): MacIntyre arrived at the event as the field’s third-highest-ranked participant, and his play on Sunday reflected that standing. The world’s eighth-ranked player delivered a final-round 63 — the day’s lowest score — which included five birdies on the front nine without any dropped shots. MacIntyre successfully integrated his approach game and putting, noting that earlier in the week his putting frustrations had intensified to the point where he broke his putter on Friday. Such issues were absent during the weekend, allowing him to commence his season positively.
MacIntyre expressed his strong affinity for the tournament, stating it was genuinely one of his preferred events of the year. He described the course as among the finest they compete on annually, suggesting that any player could perform well there on their day. He emphasized that immense power isn’t a prerequisite, and even shorter hitters can succeed, deeming it a genuine golfing examination, similar to courses encountered in Europe like Valderrama or in Belgium, necessitating ball shaping. While acknowledging the potential for wind, he nevertheless considered it an excellent start with much more to anticipate.
He further reflected that maintaining the correct mindset is always a critical reminder. He felt he managed this well last year, but confessed that expectations in the first two rounds had somewhat impacted him. However, he indicated an improved ability to manage this, noting it’s naturally simpler when playing well. He concluded that it’s something he absolutely needs to focus on for the remainder of the year. Grade: A-
T13. Hideki Matsuyama (-9): The previous tournament champion secured his spot for the weekend rounds through impressive late-game efforts on Friday, which he then leveraged into a strong performance on Moving Day. Matsuyama’s play from tee to green was particularly outstanding on Saturday, as he recorded a third-round 65, featuring seven birdies, yet with very few putts finding the hole. Matsuyama reached as low as 9 under through his initial five holes in the concluding round, but two bogeys and no birdies over his subsequent 11 holes extinguished any hopes of a Sunday charge. Grade: B
T24. Jordan Spieth (-7): Many encouraging indications were present for supporters of Spieth, as he began with consecutive rounds of 68 before a Sunday 69. Throughout various segments of the competition, he displayed moments of brilliance in all facets of his game, but he consistently struggled to build momentum. Each advance was typically followed by a setback, preventing him from establishing a consistent flow of positive holes. This issue might stem from several areas, but his short-range putting stands out as a potential starting point for improvement.
Spieth conveyed his belief that he had effectively removed some initial rust, feeling his play was superior to a month prior. He identified numerous positives to build upon. Historically, he noted, he has faced considerable difficulty on these particular greens, a trend that persisted this week. Nevertheless, he anticipated encountering more familiar putting surfaces in his upcoming events. He mentioned having either one or two weeks, depending on his next scheduled play, to refine his game and achieve greater precision and consistency.
He also stated contentment with his ball control, especially given the playing conditions. He felt today offered an opportunity to press an advantage and started well, but unfortunately, his striking and putting were slightly off. He acknowledged that such days occur and one typically hopes they happen earlier in the week, not on Sunday. Despite it being a somewhat imperfect day, he felt quite confident about his overall game coming into the week and would have preferred a higher finish. He considered his finish positive, however, by birdying the final two holes, allowing him to carry some impetus into the start of the season and hopefully establish a good sequence of results. Grade: C+
T40. Vijay Singh (-5): Despite facing external critique for utilizing his career money list exemption this season, the golfer, soon to turn 63, outperformed several notable players including Brian Harman, Tom Kim, Collin Morikawa, and Keegan Bradley in his first PGA Tour event (excluding majors) since the 2021 Honda Classic. Extending further back, this outcome marks Singh’s first successful cut on the PGA Tour since the 2020 Memorial Tournament. The extent of the three-time major winner’s participation on the PGA Tour this season remains uncertain (he is not listed for next week’s American Express tournament), but his initial week has proven promising. Grade: C
MC. Collin Morikawa: On a course that, theoretically, should have suited his game perfectly, Morikawa delivered an uninspired two-round performance. The two-time major champion struggled with his swing during the calm conditions on Thursday morning, and his putting woes continued into Friday afternoon. Morikawa had a late opportunity in the second round to recover from his opening 72 and advance to the weekend, but a couple of missed short putts over his final three holes ultimately led to his elimination. Grade: F
