Chris Gotterup Closes In on First PGA Tour Win of 2026 at the Sony Open in Hawaii
The 2026 PGA Tour season is officially handing out its first winner’s check-and it’s all unfolding in prime time under the Hawaiian sunset. The final round of the Sony Open at Waialae Country Club is delivering drama, momentum swings, and a leaderboard that’s been anything but settled. But with just a few holes left to play, Chris Gotterup is making his move-and it might just be the decisive one.
Gotterup Finds His Groove Late
Chris Gotterup is no stranger to the spotlight, and he’s showing exactly why on Sunday. After opening the tournament with a sizzling 63, he’s surged back into contention with a clutch performance on the back nine.
A monster drive set up a textbook birdie, and he’s been capitalizing on every opportunity since. With five holes to go, Gotterup dropped another birdie to stretch his lead to three shots-momentum clearly on his side.
Even when the pressure mounted, Gotterup answered. On the par-4 15th, he found himself in a tricky greenside bunker.
No problem. He got up and down to save par and keep control of the tournament.
Then came a birdie on 17 that may have sealed the deal. If he closes it out, this would mark his third PGA Tour victory-and a statement to the rest of the field that he's ready to take the next step in his career.
Riley’s Lead Disappears
Davis Riley came into Sunday with a two-shot cushion at 12 under, thanks to a strong finish in Saturday’s third round that included four birdies in his final seven holes. But the final round hasn’t gone according to script. After briefly extending his lead to three shots, Riley stumbled with back-to-back bogeys, and just like that, the leaderboard tightened up.
Chris Gotterup quickly erased the deficit with birdies on two of his first three holes, pulling even with Riley early in the round. Patrick Rodgers also joined the fray, and suddenly, what looked like Riley’s tournament to lose turned into a three-way tie at the top.
Coody Climbs, Power Surges
Pierceson Coody quietly put together one of the best rounds of the day. He’s 6 under through 14 holes, climbing to 9 under overall with birdies on 3, 7, 9, 10, 12, and 14-and, crucially, no bogeys.
That clean card is a rarity this week, especially considering Saturday’s gusty 25 mph winds produced zero bogey-free rounds. On Sunday, however, conditions have eased, and 17 players have already gone bogey-free.
Seamus Power also made a big move, vaulting 46 spots up the leaderboard after a 6-under 64. He closed strong with three birdies in his final six holes, including one at the 18th. It’s one of the best rounds of the week-only six players have gone lower than 64 at Waialae.
Early Movers Make Noise
Before the leaders even teed off, the course was buzzing with movement. Sudarshan Yellamaraju went 3 under through his first seven holes to climb into a tie for 11th. Tom Hoge also made an early push, going 4 under through 11 to reach 6 under overall.
Daniel Berger, part of the logjam at 10 under, was 5 under through 10 holes and playing himself into contention. His name, along with Harry Hall’s, was part of a six-way tie for second as the final twosome teed off.
The Setting: Waialae’s Unique Challenge
Waialae Country Club, a Seth Raynor design that opened in 1927, has been home to the Sony Open since 1965. Playing at 7,044 yards as a par 70, the course offers a mix of classic architecture and coastal beauty. For the Sony Open, the nines are reversed to showcase the island’s picturesque sunsets during prime-time coverage-and Sunday’s final round is delivering both the views and the drama.
What’s at Stake
The total purse for the 2026 Sony Open in Hawaii is $9.1 million, up from $8.7 million a year ago. The winner will take home $1.638 million-18% of the total purse-and the first PGA Tour title of the new year. For Gotterup, who’s had flashes of brilliance in his young career, this could be a defining moment.
As the final holes play out under the Hawaiian sky, all eyes are on Gotterup. If he can hold off the field, he’ll walk away with the trophy, the check, and a whole lot of momentum heading into the rest of the season.