The 2026 PGA Tour season officially teed off in Honolulu, Hawaii, with defending champion Nick Taylor and Kevin Roy setting a blistering pace. The duo carded matching eight-under-par rounds of 62 on Thursday (Friday, January 16, Philippine Time) to share the opening-round lead at the Sony Open at Waialae Country Club.
Calm Conditions Favor Early Starters
The tournament, which marks the latest start to a PGA Tour season after The Sentry at Kapalua was canceled, still attracted a strong field featuring four of the world's top 10 players. Taylor, who won last year in a playoff, took full advantage of benign morning conditions before the wind picked up in the afternoon. "I think we got lucky with the forecast this morning. I expected some more wind," Taylor admitted. His strategy was clear: master the par 3s. The Canadian birdied three of the four short holes and felt his best swing of the day came on the difficult fourth, where he narrowly missed a 25-foot birdie putt after a pure 4-iron.
Kevin Roy matched Taylor's score with a sizzling start of his own, racking up seven birdies over his first 11 holes. He closed his round with another birdie on the par-5 18th to join Taylor at the top of the leaderboard.
Stars Navigate Challenges at Waialae
Other notable players faced varied fortunes. S.H. Kim posted a solid, bogey-free 67 despite the tougher afternoon conditions, finishing strong with three consecutive birdies. Hall of Famer Vijay Singh, playing on a career money exemption at age 62, fought back from two double bogeys to card a 68.
Jordan Spieth also finished at 68 but was left ruing a last-minute equipment change. He swapped his hybrid for a 3-iron, a decision he believed cost him about two and a half shots. "I think I'm going to go back to the hybrid," Spieth stated post-round.
Adam Scott provided one of the day's most bizarre moments. His tee shot on the ninth hole hit the net lining the driving range and stopped just inches outside the out-of-bounds stakes. After returning to the tee, he hit a superb 6-iron to four feet to save par, finishing with a 67.
A Potential Farewell for the Sony Open
Beyond the leaderboard, there is a palpable sense that this could be the final edition of the Sony Open. The event's future is in question as the PGA Tour prepares for a significant schedule overhaul in the coming years. For now, however, the focus remains on the competition, with Taylor and Roy in prime position heading into the second round.
