Nick Taylor tied atop 2026 Sony Open leaderboard eyeing defense of title in Hawai’i

In calm and gentle conditions at the start of the 2026 PGA Tour season, the same player who triumphed at Waialae Country Club the previous year took the lead once again. Nick Taylor excelled in his Sony Open title defense, shooting a bogey-free 62 to share the top spot with Kevin Roy.

 

Taylor’s performance extended his streak to 17 consecutive rounds at Waialae Country Club without a score worse than par, with the last 12 of those being under par.

 

“I think we got a bit lucky with the weather this morning. I expected more wind,” Taylor remarked. “I saw Michael Kim’s tweet about the wind direction this year, which seemed pretty spot on because it affected the dogleg holes. As a result, some tee shots felt less challenging. I hit the ball well, and this course suits my style. My iron play was sharp, and I was able to read the greens effectively.”

 

Taylor started strong, sinking two early birdies to kick off his season. After a period of pars, he made the turn and proceeded to tally six birdies over his final 10 holes.

 

Other winners from the 2025 season also performed well, with Ben Griffin and Chris Gotterup each shooting 63, just one stroke behind. Griffin won in his last event of 2025 at the World Wide Technology Championship, while Gotterup credited recent matches in TGL for helping him transition smoothly back into competitive play.

 

“You never really know how the first round back will feel,” Griffin said. “It’s been a couple of months since I last competed out here. I played some at home and felt good, but there’s always a different vibe at a Tour event. I was really pleased with my ball striking and overall game, though I need to tidy up a few areas.”

 

As the afternoon progressed, wind picked up, causing difficulties for some players, with scoring becoming tougher. Former tournament champion Hideki Matsuyama finished with a 69, while U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley and Jordan Spieth managed rounds of 68. The trio now faces a quick turnaround on Friday morning, aiming to improve their standings on the leaderboard and position themselves for the weekend.

 

**Leaders:**

T1. Nick Taylor, Kevin Roy (-8): Taylor wasn’t starting from scratch; he had played in a DP World Tour event in South Africa last month, which he felt helped him maintain his sharpness. Arriving in Hawaii with family and friends, he was prepared for a successful title defense.

 

On Thursday, Taylor played impressively, hitting 10 fairways, 15 greens in regulation, and managing the course with ease. As a proven finisher, he hopes to continue this momentum, knowing that if he remains near the top of the leaderboard come Sunday, he stands a strong chance of victory.

 

“I think I timed my offseason well,” Taylor noted. “I didn’t want to take four months off, so I participated in a couple of tournaments after two months off to keep my game sharp. I felt prepared coming in here. Familiarity with the course helps too.”

 

**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)

 

During his first two seasons on the PGA Tour, Gotterup struggled to secure a top 10 finish in January, February, and March. Not wanting to start slowly again, he moved to Florida over the offseason to practice more effectively.

 

“I relocated to Florida this offseason in hopes of enhancing my performance,” Gotterup stated. “I believe my game has improved because I’ve been working hard at home. Playing TGL recently also helped me regain some competitive energy, along with events in Grant Thornton and the Bahamas. I’ve played quite a bit recently, and I feel like I’m in good form.”

 

Gotterup’s efforts paid off on Thursday as he recorded eight birdies and only one bogey, placing him just one stroke off the lead. His powerful drives averaged over 310 yards, dominating Waialae CC.

 

“I felt that I had been starting tournaments poorly in the last few years,” Gotterup continued. “While I enjoyed living in Oklahoma, playing in freezing temperatures and high winds in December isn’t ideal before heading to places like Palm Springs or Hawaii. So, I thought moving was the smartest choice. After one round, it seems to be beneficial. It’s always hard to leave a home behind, but now I have a new one.”