Davis Riley Takes Command at Sony Open

HONOLULU (AP) — Davis Riley delivered a remarkable performance on Saturday at the wind-swept Waialae Country Club, securing a two-stroke lead in the PGA Tour’s season-opening Sony Open. Riley carded a 3-under 67, showcasing his ability to navigate challenging conditions with precision and composure.

Riley finished the day at 12-under 198, setting the pace for the remaining rounds. Harry Hall, Chris Gotterup, and Kevin Roy followed closely behind, each tied at 10-under 200 after their respective performances.

Navigating the Wind with Precision

The course conditions were undeniably tough, with strong crosswinds affecting play throughout the day. Riley acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, emphasizing the need for resilience and adaptability.

“You got to make some gritty pars in these conditions and just try to make some putts on these fast greens in crosswinds in tough putting conditions when you have a chance,” Riley said.

Riley’s performance was marked by key moments that highlighted his skill under pressure. He rebounded from a bogey on the par-3 11th hole with a birdie on the par-4 12th. His wedge shot on the par-4 14th landed within 2 feet, and he converted a 15-foot putt on the par-4 15th. On the final hole, he ran a 60-foot putt 7 1/2 feet past the hole but made the comebacker for another birdie.

“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 and hitting my start lines.”

A Rising Star in Golf

At 29 years old, Riley is currently ranked 101st in the world. Despite his relatively modest ranking, he has already made his mark on the PGA Tour. Riley won the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge for his lone individual title and partnered with Nick Hardy to win the 2023 Zurich Classic.

However, his performance on Saturday wasn’t without its challenges. Riley admitted to starting the round a bit tentatively, making bogeys on holes 1 and 3.

“I could feel myself a little tense or trying to force it a little early just because we’re coming off the offseason,” Riley said. “We hadn’t had really any competitive juices like this in a couple months. I definitely felt like I was forcing it a little bit early and trying to be a little perfect and I just felt a little tense.”

Strong Performances from Competitors

Harry Hall, an Englishman who won a playoff in the 2024 ISCO Championship, bounced back from a bogey on the 15th hole with a birdie on the 16th. He praised his ability to judge the wind and hit the ball where he wanted.

“Hitting the ball where I’m looking and doing well judging the wind tee to green,” Hall said. “Did a lot better job today of making some putts.”

Chris Gotterup closed with a 10-foot birdie on the 18th hole. He won the 2024 Myrtle Beach Classic and the 2025 Scottish Open. Gotterup acknowledged the difficulty of the putting conditions, particularly late in the day when the greens became more challenging.

“I would say putting today was probably the toughest,” Gotterup said. “Obviously, hitting shots in this wind is hard, but it’s hard for everyone. I think late in the day some of the greens get a little tough after everyone has walked on them.”

Other Notable Performers

Kevin Roy, who remains winless on the tour, finished at 9-under 201. He shared the first-round lead with defending champion Nick Taylor and was part of a five-man logjam at the top Friday. Taylor struggled on the back nine, finishing with a 70 that left him three shots behind.

“I grinded it out and gave myself a chance for tomorrow,” Taylor said. “That’s kind of all you can ask for.”

Corey Conners, a fellow Canadian, carded a 65 to reach 8-under 202. He expressed his preference for windy conditions, noting that they emphasize ball-striking and control.

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

Jordan Spieth and Hideki Matsuyama both reached 6-under 204, with Matsuyama winning at Waialae in a playoff in 2022. Vijay Singh, 62, added a 68 to his scorecard, moving to 4-under 206. The Hall of Famer is using a one-time career money exemption to compete in full-field events, marking his 25th start in the event he won in 2005.

The season began a week later than usual due to the cancellation of The Sentry at Kapalua on Maui because of water issues.