Nick Taylor and Kevin Roy opened the 2026 PGA Tour season in strong form, each carding an 8-under-par 62 on Thursday to take a share of the lead after the first round of the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii. The tournament is being played at the Waialae Country Club, a traditional opening venue for the full-field portion of the PGA Tour schedule.
Nick Taylor, the defending champion, displayed precise iron play and took full advantage of the par-3 holes throughout his opening round. His familiarity with the course, combined with his solid approach shots, allowed him to pick up where he left off last year. Taylor, who has earned multiple PGA Tour titles in his career, is aiming to become the first back-to-back Sony Open winner since Jimmy Walker accomplished the feat in 2014 and 2015.
Kevin Roy, meanwhile, matched Taylor’s score with a strong all-around performance that included accuracy off the tee and a steady putter. Roy, still seeking his first PGA Tour victory, made the most of his opportunities and posted one of his best career rounds to date.
The playing conditions at Waialae were favorable, with minimal wind and dry fairways allowing for lower scores in the opening round. Several other players finished close behind the co-leaders, setting up a competitive leaderboard heading into the second round.
The Sony Open is the first full-field PGA Tour event of the calendar year and features a mix of seasoned veterans and emerging talent. The tournament is known for its picturesque setting on Oahu and typically provides a good early-season test for players adjusting to competition pace and course conditions after the offseason.
Both Taylor and Roy will look to maintain their momentum heading into Friday, as they vie for an early lead in the FedExCup points standings and build confidence for the rest of the season.
