Davis Riley Takes Sony Open Lead

Posted : 18 January 2026

Davis Riley delivered a strong finishing stretch to post a 3-under-par 67, taking the lead through the third round of the Sony Open on Saturday at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. Entering Sunday’s final round, Riley stands at 12-under 198, showcasing a confident performance despite challenging windy conditions.

“I just started feeling really good with the swing and I was hitting my start lines,” Riley said. “That's the biggest thing in this wind, is hit your start lines and control the curvature, and I felt like I was hitting some really good hold shots against the wind.”

Riley’s round began with two bogeys in the first three holes, but he finished the last seven holes 4 under, including consecutive birdies on holes 14 and 15, and closed with a birdie on the final hole. “We hadn't had really any competitive juices like this in a couple months,” Riley admitted, reflecting on the early tension in his play. The two-time PGA Tour winner last triumphed in 2024 at the Charles Schwab Challenge.

Close on his heels are Chris Gotterup (68), Kevin Roy (69), and England’s Harry Hall (66), all sharing second place at 10-under. Other contenders include Ryan Gerard (68), England’s John Parry (69), and defending champion Nick Taylor (70), three strokes behind Riley.

Wind remained a significant factor throughout the round. Gerard commented on the challenges, noting, “Just knowing it's not going to be easy and really trying to stay patient… it can go sideways in a hurry.” Parry added that subtle shifts in wind direction make every shot unpredictable, while Roy described hitting into the greens as “kind of a guess.”

Gotterup emphasized sticking to his strategy for Sunday: “Just stick to the game plan and keep my head screwed on straight and making sure I'm hitting good quality shots in this wind.” Hall overcame a bogey on hole 15 with a birdie on 16, showcasing his skill with longer putts and wind management, putting him in prime position for another top-10 finish.

Other notable rounds came from Canada’s Corey Conners and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, both shooting 65, moving to 8-under and 6-under, respectively. Adam Svensson of Canada also impressed with a 67, including an eagle on the par-5 ninth hole, highlighting the importance of focus and adaptability under gusty conditions.

Among previous co-leaders, South Korea’s S.H. Kim fell back, and Belgium’s Adrien Dumont de Chassart dropped to a tie for 13th after a 73. Fiji’s Vijay Singh, at 62, continues to make history on the PGA Tour, moving to 4-under with a 68 on Saturday.

Sunday’s final round promises a tense battle for the title, with Riley holding a narrow lead amid a strong and competitive field.

Davis Riley Takes Sony Open Lead

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