While the wind whipped through Waialae, Chris Gotterup stayed calm, firing a final-round 64 to claim the 2026 Sony Open in Hawaii by two shots over Ryan Gerard.
Gotterup finished at 16-under 264, holding off a determined charge from Gerard and a crowded leaderboard that included Patrick Rodgers, Robert MacIntyre, and a resurgent Jordan Spieth somewhere in the middle of the pack. It was Gotterup's third career PGA Tour win, and he earned every bit of the $1,638,000 first-place check from the $9.1 million purse.
The conditions on Sunday at Waialae Country Club were far from inviting. The wind turned what's typically a birdie fest into a grind, and Gotterup thrived in the chaos. His closing 64 was the low round of the day among contenders, a clinic in patience and ball-striking when others were leaking strokes.
Ryan Gerard wasn't going away quietly. He posted a 65 to finish at 14-under, keeping the pressure on until the final holes. Gerard's been knocking on the door for a breakthrough win, and this runner-up finish at least banks him $991,900 and some serious confidence heading into the West Coast Swing.
Spieth Lurks, Big Names Miss the Weekend
Jordan Spieth finished T24 at 7-under, a respectable showing after his strong performance at the Sentry Tournament of Champions the week prior. Spieth's game is rounding into form, but he couldn't find enough on the weekend to push into the top 10.
Hideki Matsuyama posted a T13 at 9-under, continuing his steady if unspectacular early-season play. Matsuyama's always dangerous at Waialae, but this wasn't his year to add another Sony Open trophy.
Meanwhile, some notable names didn't survive the cut. Collin Morikawa, Tony Finau, and Keegan Bradley all headed home early, unable to solve the tricky Bermuda greens and tight fairways that define Waialae.
Wind Separates the Contenders
Waialae Country Club played to a par 70 and stretched out to 7,044 yards, but the real defense was the wind. Gusts turned routine approach shots into chess matches, and the greens demanded precision. Gotterup's ability to control his ball flight and commit to his lines was the difference.
This wasn't a week for bombers or aggressive lines. It rewarded grinders, guys who could stay patient, hit fairways, and two-putt their way to pars when birdies weren't there. Gotterup checked every box.
Defending champion Nick Taylor, who won at 16-under in 2025, didn't factor this time. Neither did past champions Grayson Murray (2024, 17-under) or two-time winner Si Woo Kim (2022-23, 18-under). The Sony Open has a way of crowning unexpected champions, and Gotterup fits that mold perfectly.
Gotterup's Breakout Continues
This is Gotterup's third PGA Tour title, and each one has come with a different flavor. This one, though, might be the most impressive. Winning in conditions that exposed flaws and rewarded execution is a sign of a maturing game.
He's not a household name yet, but wins like this build résumés. Gotterup's now a three-time tour winner before turning 27, and he's shown he can close when the pressure's on and the wind's howling.
As the tour heads to the mainland, Gotterup carries serious momentum. Ryan Gerard and Patrick Rodgers are right there, too, proving the depth on tour is real and the next wave of contenders is hungry.
Waialae delivered again, windy and wild and perfectly unpredictable.
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