Chris Gotterup opens PGA Tour
season by winning Sony Open for his 3rd straight year with a title
[January 19, 2026]
By DOUG FERGUSON
HONOLULU (AP) — Chris Gotterup had leis draped around his neck, a
flute of champagne in one hand and the gold Sony Open trophy in the
other for the traditional toast from the Waialae members Sunday
evening. He's loved coming to Hawaii, even if the occasion was never
worth celebrating.
He was part of the rookie class that came to Honolulu in 2024 for
orientation, only to be told there was no room for them in the
field. He missed the cut a year ago, falling to No. 195 in the
world.
On Sunday, he pulled away with a combination of power and putting
for a 6-under 64 to win the Sony Open by two shots, giving him three
victories in three years on the PGA Tour and moving him closer to
golf's A-list.
“I just felt like this week I was in a good frame of mind, just
happy to be here,” Gotterup said. “I felt like I was in control of
my brain, which is the most important thing. I drove it great and
made some putts when it mattered.”
He finished at 16-under 264 and moved to No. 17 in the world.
Ryan Gerard birdied his last two holes for a 65 to finish alone in
second. He flew to Mauritius at the end of last year and was
runner-up to move into the top 50 and secure a spot in his first
Masters. Now he’s just outside the top 30.
Patrick Rodgers had another chance at his first PGA Tour victory,
but he went without a birdie on the back nine until the final hole.
He closed with a 65 to finish third.
“Unfortunately, didn’t have a hot putter today,” said Rodgers, who
now has nine top 3s since 2015.
Gotterup had a dream week, in control of his game at Waialae,
cruising the streets of Waikiki at night to get away from golf. On
Sunday, he got a little help from 54-hole leader Davis Riley, who
had a pair of birdies through five holes before his bid ended in a
span of four holes.
He had consecutive three-putt bogeys from long range, and then
followed with a wild drive into the trees left of the eighth fairway
that led to double bogey. He went from a two-shot lead to three
shots behind and never caught up, closing with a 71 to tie for
sixth.
But then, Gotterup didn't give anyone much of a chance.
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Chris Gotterup reacts after winning the Sony Open golf event at the
Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP
Photo/Matt York)
“It was anyone’s tournament,” Gotterup said. “Then
I made a couple nice putts and I saw a couple people drop back. I
know Ryan played a great tournament and he tried to make a run at
the end. Couple other guys played great and I just held them off.”
Even on an old-school Waialae course with doglegs framed by royal
palms, he pounded away with tee shots of 330-plus yards early on the
back nine. But it was his putter that ultimately made a difference.
Gotterup holed a 20-footer on No. 12, and then poured in a 25-foot
putt on the 13th, the toughest hole on the course. He all but
clinched it with a tee shot that landed perfectly between the pin
and the bunker on the par-3 17th for a final birdie.
He said the course reminded him of a home, and Gotterup has a lot of
those lately — raised in New Jersey and three years at Rutgers, a
senior season at Oklahoma where he stayed until recently moving to
Florida.
This reference was Jersey, mainly the shape of the holes and the
shots required.
“Just the way you play the golf course reminds me a lot of how I
grew up playing,” Gotterup said. “So that is a comforting feeling. I
know the kind of golf that’s required ... and it’s a fine line of
bomb-and-gouge and also needing to be in the fairway. I did enough
of finding the fairway this week.”
The Sony Open was the latest start to the PGA Tour season because
The Sentry at Kapalua on Maui was canceled due to a water dispute
that had the course brown in September.
The final round at Waialae was played under a vibe that this might
be the last of Hawaii on the tour. The Sony Open title sponsorship
expires this year, and there is a movement to start the tour season
later than ever in 2027 and going forward, either right before or
after the Super Bowl.
“Hopefully,” Gotterup said, “I'm not the last champion.”
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