Riley Leads Sony Open: Two-Shot Lead After Windy Round

Davis Riley leads the Sony Open after a standout day

At Waialae Golf Club, Davis Riley showcased his skill by signing a scorecard of 67 strokes, three under par, on a day marked by wind. With this performance, Riley positions himself with a two-stroke lead heading into the final round of the Sony Open, a tournament that opens the PGA Tour season. Riley, with a cumulative score of 12 under par (198 strokes), leads Harry Hall, Chris Gotterup, and Kevin Roy, who share second position.

“You have to make pars with determination in these conditions and try to sink some putts on these fast greens with crosswinds in difficult putting conditions when you have the opportunity,” Riley commented.

Davis Riley

Riley had a solid response after a bogey on the 11th hole, with a birdie on the 12th hole. He achieved an accurate shot near the green on the 14th hole and made a 15-foot putt on the 15th hole. On the 18th hole, his initial shot went past by 7 1/2 feet, but he managed to recover.

“I started to feel really good with the swing and was hitting my tee lines. That’s the most important thing with this wind, is to hit your tee lines and control the curvature, and I felt like I was hitting some good shots into the wind and hitting my tee lines,” Riley added.

Davis Riley

The 29-year-old player, currently ranked 101st in the world, won the Charles Schwab Challenge in 2024 and the Zurich Classic in 2023, alongside Nick Hardy. Hall, for his part, reacted to a bogey on the 15th hole with a birdie on the 16th. The Englishman won a playoff at the ISCO Championship 2024.

“Hitting the ball where I look and judging the wind well from tee to green. Today I did a much better job of holing some putts,” Hall said.

Harry Hall

Gotterup finished with a 10-foot birdie on the 18th hole, after winning the 2024 Myrtle Beach Classic and the 2025 Scottish Open.

“I would say the putting today was probably the most difficult. Obviously, hitting shots in this wind is difficult, but it’s difficult for everyone. I think at the end of the day some of the greens get a little difficult after everyone has walked on them. It’s not that they’re in bad shape, but when it’s blowing 25 mph to your left and you have a left-to-right putt, it’s not easy to make on either side, and especially here,” explained Gotterup.

Chris Gotterup

Roy, with no wins on the tour, shared the lead of the first round with defending champion Nick Taylor. Taylor struggled in the second part of the course, with a round of 70 strokes that left him three strokes behind, along with Ryan Gerard and John Parry.

“I pushed myself and gave myself the opportunity for tomorrow. That’s all you can ask for,” Taylor said.

Nick Taylor

Corey Conners shot a 65 to finish at 8 under par.

“I like it when it’s windy out here. I think it really puts a premium on ball striking. You really have to control your ball. I was able to hit a lot of good shots,” Conners said.

Corey Conners

Jordan Spieth, for his part, closed with a birdie on the 18th hole, totaling 68 strokes to reach 6 under par. Hideki Matsuyama also placed at 6 under par after a round of 65. Vijay Singh is at 4 under par after a round of 68. The 62-year-old Hall of Famer is taking advantage of a career money exemption to participate in full-field events.