Taylor Roars Back to Lead at Sony Open, Griffin and Gotterup Close Behind
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The 2026 PGA Tour season kicked off with a bang on Thursday at the sony Open, as Nick Taylor, the defending champion, once again seized the early lead. calm and favorable conditions allowed Taylor to card a flawless, bogey-free 62, sharing the top spot with Kevin Roy at 8-under par.
Taylor’s dominant Start Continues a Remarkable Streak
Taylor’s impressive round extends his streak to 17 consecutive par-or-better rounds at Waialae Contry Club, with the last 12 coming under par. The five-time PGA tour winner attributed his success to a bit of luck with the wind and a course that suits his game. “I just really read the greens well,” he added. Taylor’s preparation included a tournament in South Africa last month, which he believes helped him maintain sharpness during the offseason. He emphasized the importance of timing his breaks strategically, playing a couple of tournaments before taking time off to gear up for the Hawaiian swing.
Griffin and Gotterup Mount Challenges
Taylor wasn’t the only past winner making a strong showing. Ben Griffin and Chris Gotterup both fired 63s to sit just one stroke back. griffin, who secured a victory at the World Wide Technology Championship to close out the 2025 season, expressed satisfaction with his ball striking and overall game.”You never really no what the first round back is going to feel like,” Griffin said. “It’s been a couple months since I’ve competed out here…was really happy with my ball striking.”
Gotterup, the 2023 Scottish Open champion, credited his recent participation in TGL for helping him quickly reacclimate to competitive golf. “I made a move this offseason down to Florida for hopefully reasons like this,” Gotterup explained. “Feel like my game is in better shape just because I’ve been putting in more work at home.” He carded eight birdies against a single bogey, showcasing a powerful performance with an average driving distance exceeding 310 yards. Gotterup acknowledged that his previous seasons had started slowly, prompting his move to Florida to intensify his practice regimen.
afternoon Wave Faces Tougher conditions
As the day progressed, the wind picked up, making scoring more challenging. Former tournament champion Hideki Matsuyama struggled in the breeze, finishing with a 69. He was joined by U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley and Jordan Spieth, both of whom carded 68s. The trio will look to improve their positions on Friday and contend for a weekend spot.
Current Standings and Odds
Leaders:
- T1. Nick Taylor, kevin Roy (-8)
Contenders:
- T3. Ben Griffin, Chris Gotterup, John Vanderlaan (-7)
- T6. Alex Smalley, John Parry (-6)
- T8. Denny McCarthy, Kurt Kitayama, Harry Hall, Russell Henley, Nick Dunlap, Adam Svensson (-5)
According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Ben Griffin currently leads the odds at 5-1, followed closely by Nick Taylor at 6-1. Russell Henley is at 8-1, with Chris Gotterup at 11-1. J.J. spaun (19-1) and Maverick McNealy (20-1) are also attracting attention from bettors. Analysts suggest that Spaun, despite a less-than-stellar putting performance on Thursday, remains a strong contender given his consistent ball striking. Berger, who also shot a 66 in the more challenging afternoon wave, is also being considered at 45-1.
Taylor, with his proven ability to close and his comfort at Waialae, appears well-positioned to continue his impressive run.He understands the importance of maintaining his position on the leaderboard heading into the weekend. “I think I kind of timed the offseason well,” Taylor concluded. “Coming to a course I’m comfortable with definitely helps.”
