Chris Gotterup claimed the Sony Open with a 6-under 64 on Sunday, surging past his competition with three critical birdies on the back nine at Waialae Country Club. It’s his third straight season with a victory, pushing him to No. 17 in the world rankings—a remarkable climb from No. 195 just one year ago.
“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.”
Gotterup finished at 16-under 264, two shots clear of Ryan Gerard, who birdied his final two holes for a 65. Gerard’s runner-up finish continues his own impressive rise—he finished second in Mauritius late last year to crack the top 50 and secure his first Masters invitation. He’s now knocking on the door of the top 30.
Patrick Rodgers (65) took third place, though his bid for a first PGA Tour victory stalled with a birdieless back nine until the 18th hole.
The win adds to Gotterup’s growing resume that includes last year’s Scottish Open—where he outplayed Rory McIlroy—and the Myrtle Beach Classic during his rookie campaign.
Davis Riley, who began the day with a two-shot advantage and maintained it through five holes, unraveled with a disastrous mid-round stretch. Back-to-back three-putt bogeys at six and seven were followed by a wild tee shot into the trees at eight, resulting in a double bogey. That five-shot swing left him three back, a deficit he couldn’t overcome.
Power and Precision
Gotterup’s combination of raw power and clutch putting proved unbeatable down the stretch. He regularly launched 330-plus yard drives early on the back nine, but it was his touch on the greens that truly separated him from the field.
He drained a 20-footer on 12 and followed with a 25-foot putt on 13—the toughest hole on the course. The knockout blow came at the par-3 17th, where his tee shot landed perfectly between the pin and bunker, setting up a final birdie that all but sealed the victory.
The Sony Open marked the latest season-opener in recent PGA Tour history, following the cancellation of The Sentry at Kapalua due to water issues that left the Maui course brown in September.
Sunday’s final round carried an undercurrent of uncertainty about the future of PGA Tour golf in Hawaii. Sony’s title sponsorship expires this year, and there’s momentum building to start future seasons later—either just before or after the Super Bowl beginning in 2027.
