Gotterup Completes Remarkable Ascent wiht Sony Open Victory
A stunning comeback culminated in a two-stroke victory for Chris Gotterup at the Sony Open on sunday, January 18, 2026, marking his third PGA Tour win in just three years and propelling him to No.17 in the world rankings.
Gotterup, draped in leis and celebrating with champagne, completed the Waialae course with a 6-under 64, finishing at 16-under 264 overall. the win represents a dramatic turnaround for the golfer, who was denied a spot in the field during the 2024 rookie orientation and missed the cut a year ago, dropping to No. 195 in the world.
From Rookie Disappointment to Championship Glory
The journey to the top hasn’t been without its challenges. Gotterup recalled being part of the 2024 rookie class that arrived in Honolulu only to learn there wasn’t room for him in the field. “I was pretty bummed,” he admitted. “But it lit a fire under me.”
Gerard and Rodgers Challenge, Fall Short
Gerard finished in second place after a strong closing round of 65, punctuated by birdies on his last two holes. This performance builds on his runner-up finish in Mauritius late last year, which secured his first Masters appearance and moved him just outside the top 30 in the world rankings.
Patrick rodgers, seeking his first PGA tour victory, closed with a 65 but struggled to find momentum on the back nine, failing to record a birdie until the final hole. “Unluckily, didn’t have a hot putter today,” Rodgers conceded, adding that he now has nine top-3 finishes since 2015.
Singh Demonstrates Enduring Skill
Even at 62, Vijay singh continues to compete at a high level, posting three sub-70 rounds throughout the week, including a closing 69, to finish tied for 40th, leveraging his career money exemption.
Riley’s Late Struggles Open the Door
The final round saw a shift in momentum as 54-hole leader Davis Riley faltered. after a promising start with two birdies through five holes, Riley suffered consecutive three-putt bogeys and a double bogey on the eighth, ultimately closing with a 71 and tying for sixth. “It was anyone’s tournament,” Gotterup explained. “Then I made a couple nice putts and I saw a couple people drop back. I know Ryan played a great tournament and he tried to make a run at the end. Couple other guys played great and I just held them off.”
A Familiar Feel for the Champion
Gotterup credited the Waialae course with reminding him of home, drawing parallels to the layouts he grew up playing in New Jersey, with formative years spent at Rutgers and Oklahoma before settling in florida. “Just the way you play the golf course reminds me a lot of how I grew up playing,” he said. “So that is a comforting feeling. I know the kind of golf that’s required … and its a fine line of bomb-and-gouge and also needing to be in the fairway. I did enough of finding the fairway this week.”
Joining an Elite Group
Gotterup’s victory adds him to an exclusive list of players who have secured three wins on the PGA Tour since the start of 2024, alongside Scottie Scheffler (13), Rory McIlroy (5), Xander schauffele (3), Hideki Matsuyama (3), and Ben Griffin (3). He previously won the Scottish Open last year, defeating McIlroy, and the Myrtle Beach Classic during his rookie season.
uncertainty Surrounds the Future of Hawaii on Tour
The 2026 Sony Open took place under a cloud of uncertainty, as the tournament’s title sponsorship is set to expire this year. There is growing discussion about potentially shifting the PGA Tour season’s start date to align with the Super Bowl in 2027 and beyond. The Sentry at Kapalua on Maui was canceled this year due to a water dispute, further highlighting the challenges facing the tour’s presence in Hawaii.
“Hopefully,” Gotterup expressed, “I’m not the last champion.”
