Wind, Woes, and a Wide-Open Weekend: Sony Open Tightens Up After Blustery Friday at Waialae
Friday at the Sony Open brought a gusty reminder that Waialae Country Club isn’t just a postcard backdrop-it can bite back. The trade winds kicked up in Honolulu, and with them came tougher scoring conditions that flipped the leaderboard, sent some big names packing, and left the tournament wide open heading into the weekend.
After Thursday’s low-scoring shootout, where a pair of 62s led the charge, Friday was a different story. The best anyone could manage was a 64, and that came courtesy of Davis Riley and Ryan Gerard-both of whom used sharp ball-striking and hot putters to climb the board. Riley’s round was especially impressive, considering he had to overcome a penalty stroke.
“Today I putted really well,” Riley said after his round. “I definitely hit the ball a little bit better...
I just didn’t have as many crazy shots as yesterday.” That cleaner ball-striking, paired with a confident stroke on the greens, vaulted Riley into a share of the lead at 9-under-proof that even on a windy day, precision still pays off.
Morikawa Misses the Weekend
On the opposite end of the leaderboard, Collin Morikawa found himself on the wrong side of the cut line. The two-time major winner shot a 68 on Friday to finish even par for the week-one shot too many to stick around for the weekend.
As has been the case at times in his career, the putter was the culprit. Morikawa missed a few short ones coming home, including a six-footer for birdie on 18 that would’ve extended his stay in Honolulu.
It’s a tough way to open the season for a player looking to rebound after a rocky second half of 2025. Morikawa is still searching for the form that made him one of the game’s most consistent forces, and Waialae didn’t offer the confidence boost he was hoping for.
He wasn’t the only big name heading home early. Keegan Bradley also finished at even par and missed the cut, while Tony Finau struggled to a +6 finish-far from the form that’s made him a mainstay on leaderboards in recent years.
Spieth Survives, Eyes Weekend Push
Jordan Spieth, meanwhile, is very much in the mix. He carded his second consecutive 68 to move to 4-under for the tournament and into the weekend with momentum. Spieth, who’s also looking to bounce back after an up-and-down 2025, spoke after the round about just how tricky the conditions were.
“I hit a 7-iron into that 15th hole. I had maybe 158 to the hole, and I think it went 120 yards...
I played it like 175,” he said. “It was just very challenging at times.
And on the greens it just becomes really hard to make putts when it’s that windy.”
That kind of swirling, unpredictable wind didn’t just make club selection a guessing game-it compressed the field. Heading into Saturday’s third round, the leaderboard is jammed, with a handful of players at the top and a long list of contenders lurking just a few shots back.
At the Top: Five-Way Tie Sets the Stage
The five-man group tied at 9-under includes Davis Riley, Nick Taylor, S.H. Kim, Adrien Dumont de Chassart, and Kevin Roy. Taylor and Roy, who shared the first-round lead after matching 62s, couldn’t quite replicate that magic on Friday but did enough to stay in pole position.
Taylor’s history at Waialae and strong form make him a player to watch this weekend. He’s already eyeing a rare back-to-back win in Honolulu, and if the wind stays up, his experience could be a major asset.
Riley’s 64 was the round of the day, while Kim, Dumont de Chassart, and John Parry (who sits one shot back at -8) all posted solid rounds to stay in the hunt. This group tees off late on Saturday, and if the wind mirrors Friday’s pattern-stronger in the morning, calming in the afternoon-they could have a slight edge.
The Chase Pack: Deep, Talented, and Dangerous
Right behind the leaders is a stacked group of contenders. Maverick McNealy, Chris Gotterup, John Parry, and Takumi Kanaya are all at 8-under, just one shot back. McNealy and Gotterup are picking up right where they left off in 2025-both players had career years and are showing they’re ready to take another step forward.
Gotterup, in particular, has shown he can handle tough conditions, and his name is one to circle if the wind continues to be a factor.
Ryan Gerard, who matched Riley’s 64 on Friday, is part of a group at 7-under that also includes Vince Whaley and Patrick Rodgers. Gerard was a trendy breakout pick heading into 2026, and he’s backing up the hype with a poised performance through 36 holes.
Ben Griffin, Jake Knapp, and six others are sitting at 6-under-just three shots off the lead. Griffin cooled off with a 71 after a scorching 63 on Thursday, but he’s still well within striking distance. With conditions capable of turning quickly at Waialae, no one in this bunch should be counted out.
Notables Heading Home Early
Along with Morikawa and Bradley, several other recognizable names won’t be around for the weekend. Luke Clanton and Chris Kirk both finished at +1, while Cam Davis and Gary Woodland ended up at +3. Tony Finau, surprisingly, never got anything going and wrapped up a rough week at +6.
Odds Update: Tight at the Top
As expected with a leaderboard this crowded, the odds heading into the weekend are tight. Nick Taylor leads the way at 11/2, with McNealy (17/2), Gotterup (11-1), and Kanaya (13-1) close behind. Dumont de Chassart, Kim, and Roy are all sitting at 13- or 14-1, while Riley and Parry come in at 16-1.
Ben Griffin and Ryan Gerard, both just three shots off the lead, are listed at 17-1-potential value picks if they can get hot early on Saturday.
Final Thoughts
The Sony Open is delivering exactly what you'd want from the PGA Tour’s first full-field event of the year: a bunched leaderboard, challenging conditions, and a wide-open weekend. With the wind playing defense and the field packed with both proven winners and rising stars, Saturday at Waialae is shaping up to be a grind-and a golden opportunity for someone to make an early-season statement.