The 2026 PGA Tour season is off to a thrilling start, and the Sony Open in Hawaii is shaping up to be an unforgettable finale. But here's where it gets controversial: with just one round left, the leaderboard is tighter than ever, and the winds of change are swirling around more than just the course. Could this be the year an underdog takes the crown, or will experience prevail? Let’s dive in.
The Sony Open has been a whirlwind of excitement, quite literally, with gusty conditions testing the mettle of the world’s best golfers. Amidst the blustery backdrop, one player has managed to rise above the rest. Davis Riley, who was among the five leaders after two rounds, delivered a stellar performance in Round 3, shooting a 3-under 67. His clutch birdies on three of the final five holes, including a masterful 4 on the par-5 18th, secured him a two-shot lead heading into Sunday’s final round. And this is the part most people miss: Riley’s ability to stay composed under pressure could be the game-changer in a tournament where every stroke counts.
Trailing closely behind are Kevin Roy, Chris Gotterup, and Harry Hall, all tied at 10 under. These contenders are within striking distance, and with the unpredictable nature of golf, anything could happen. Here’s a thought-provoking question: Is Riley’s lead safe, or will one of these pursuers make a dramatic comeback?
For fans eager to catch the action, the leaders tee off around 6 p.m. Eastern, perfectly timed for a post-NFL playoff game viewing. You can watch the Sony Open live on Fubo (which offers a free trial) or tune in to NBC and the Golf Channel for national coverage starting at 4 p.m. ET. For the early birds, featured group and hole streaming begins at 1 p.m. ET on the ESPN app with a Select plan subscription.
If you’re wondering about the weather, AccuWeather predicts near-perfect conditions for Day 4 in Honolulu. Expect a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 80 degrees—ideal for golf, though those 22 mph wind gusts could add an extra layer of challenge.
Now, here’s a controversial take: With such favorable weather, could this year’s Sony Open champion post one of the lowest winning scores in recent memory? Or will the pressure of the final round lead to unexpected mistakes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
For a full breakdown of tee times and pairings, here’s the schedule (all times Eastern):
- 12:10 p.m.: Billy Horschel, Chad Ramey
- 12:19 p.m.: Keith Mitchell, Zach Johnson
- 12:28 p.m.: Nick Dunlap, Jordan Smith
- 12:37 p.m.: Joe Highsmith, Brian Harman
- 12:46 p.m.: Mark Hubbard, Matthieu Pavon
- 12:55 p.m.: Seamus Power, Tom Kim
- 1:04 p.m.: Michael Kim, Zecheng Dou
- 1:13 p.m.: J.J. Spaun, Kota Kaneko
- 1:22 p.m.: Johnny Keefer, Webb Simpson
- 1:31 p.m.: Doug Ghim, William Mouw
- 1:45 p.m.: Denny McCarthy, Tom Hoge
- 1:54 p.m.: Aaron Rai, Marc Meissner
- 2:03 p.m.: Vince Whaley, Haotong Li
- 2:12 p.m.: Brice Garnett, Kurt Kitayama
- 2:21 p.m.: Pierceson Coody, Adam Scott
- 2:30 p.m.: Emilio Gonzalez, Matt McCarty
- 2:39 p.m.: Sudarshan Yellamaraju, Maverick McCarver
- 2:48 p.m.: Patton Kizzire, David Ford
- 2:57 p.m.: Dan Brown, Ren Yonezawa
- 3:11 p.m.: Vijay Singh, Zac Blair
- 3:20 p.m.: Sahith Theegala, Zach Bauchou
- 3:30 p.m.: Takumi Kanaya, Rico Hoey
- 3:40 p.m.: Ben Griffin, Alex Smalley
- 3:50 p.m.: Daniel Berger, Dylan Wu
- 4:00 p.m.: Kensei Hirata, Chandler Phillips
- 4:10 p.m.: Taylor Pendrith, Sam Stevens
- 4:20 p.m.: Russell Henley, Bud Cauley
- 4:30 p.m.: Adrian Dumont de Chassart, Robert MacIntyre
- 4:45 p.m.: Jordan Spieth, Jake Knapp
- 4:55 p.m.: Lee Hodges, Ricky Castillo
- 5:05 p.m.: Hideki Matsuyama, Jacob Bridgeman
- 5:15 p.m.: Si Woo Kim, S.H. Kim
- 5:25 p.m.: Adam Svensson, Patrick Rodgers
- 5:35 p.m.: Nick Taylor, Corey Conners
- 5:45 p.m.: Ryan Gerard, John Parry
- 5:55 p.m.: Chris Gotterup, Kevin Roy
- 6:05 p.m.: Davis Riley, Harry Hall
Stay tuned to the official PGA Tour leaderboard for real-time updates, and don’t miss the chance to witness history in the making. Who will emerge as the first PGA Tour champion of 2026? The stage is set, and the drama is just beginning.
