2026 Sony Open: Taylor in Contention as Third Round Begins at waialae
The 2026 Sony Open in Hawaii is heating up as the tournament enters its third round on Saturday, January 17th, at the iconic Waialae Country Club. Defending champion Nick Taylor leads a crowded leaderboard, setting the stage for a thrilling weekend of golf. Full tee times for Saturday’s crucial third round are listed below, offering fans ample opportunity to follow the action.
Taylor’s Title Defense Gains Momentum
Nick Taylor, the 37-year-old Canadian veteran, is making a strong case for back-to-back victories at the Sony Open. With five career PGA Tour wins under his belt, including last year’s triumph at Waialae, Taylor has demonstrated his comfort and skill on this challenging course.Through two rounds, his extraordinary scores of 62 and 69 have positioned him at nine under par, in a five-way tie for the lead. This performance showcases not only his current form but also his ability to consistently compete at the highest level.
A Crowded Leaderboard Promises a Dramatic Finish
While Taylor holds a prominent position, the competition remains fierce.A remarkable twenty-seven players are within four strokes of the lead, creating a high-pressure surroundings where every shot counts.Notable contenders include Ben Griffin, Jake Knapp, Chris Gotterup, and Maverick McNealy, all eager to seize the opportunity and challenge for the title. The depth of talent suggests a nail-biting finish is highly probable.
Saturday’s Featured Groups and Broadcast Details
Taylor will tee off in the penultimate group at 6:05 p.m. ET on Saturday, paired with Adrien Dumont de Chassart. This pairing promises an exciting battle as both players vie for control of the tournament. Golf fans have several options to catch the action live. The third round will be broadcast on Golf Channel from 7-10 p.m. ET, while PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will offer featured group coverage starting at 12:15 p.m. ET, providing exclusive insights and perspectives.
Full 2026 sony Open Round 3 Tee Times (ET)
Tee No. 1
- 12:10 p.m. – Haotong Li,Zecheng Dou
- 12:19 p.m. – William mouw, Rico Hoey
- 12:28 p.m. – Sahith Theegala, Aaron Rai
- 12:37 p.m. – Zach Bauchou, Keith Mitchell
- 12:46 p.m. – Mac Meissner, Emilio Gonzalez
- 12:55 p.m. – Matt McCarty, billy Horschel
- 1:04 p.m. – Hideki Matsuyama, Johnny Keefer
- 1:13 p.m.– Chad Ramey, Webb Simpson
- 1:22 p.m. – Robert MacIntyre, Pierceson Coody
- 1:31 p.m. – Denny McCarthy, Russell Henley
- 1:45 p.m. – Seamus Power, Tom Kim
- 1:55 p.m. – Zach Johnson, Vijay Singh
- 2:05 p.m. – Bud Cauley, Mark Hubbard
- 2:15 p.m. – Tom Hoge, Zac Blair
- 2:25 p.m. – Taylor Pendrith, Corey Conners
- 2:35 p.m. – J.J. Spaun, Adam Scott
- 2:45 p.m. – Matthieu Pavon, Sam Stevens
- 2:55 p.m. – Dan Brown, jacob bridgeman
- 3:05 p.m. – Joe Highsmith, jordan Smith
- 3:20 p.m. – Kensei Hirata, Lee Hodges
- 3:30 p.m. – Kota Kaneko, Ricky Castillo
- 3:40 p.m. – Ren Yonezawa, patton Kizzire
- 3:50 p.m. – Jordan Spieth, Brian Harman
- 4:00 p.m. – Chandler Phillips, Daniel Berger
- 4:10 p.m. – Brice Garnett, Michael Kim
- 4:20 p.m. – Dylan Wu, Si Woo Kim
- 4:30 p.m. – David Ford, Adam Svensson
- 4:40 p.m. – Ben Griffin, Harry Hall
- 4:55 p.m. – Alex Smalley, Kurt Kitayama
- 5:05 p.m. – Jake Knapp, Sudarshan Yellamaraju
- 5:15 p.m. – Nick Dunlap, Doug Ghim
- 5:25 p.m. – Patrick rodgers, Ryan Gerard
- 5:35 p.m.– Takumi Kanaya, Vince Whaley
- 5:45 p.m. – Chris Gotterup, John Parry
- 5:55 p.m. – Kevin Roy, Maverick McNealy
- 6:05 p.m. – Adrien Dumont de chassart, Nick Taylor
- 6:15 p.m. – Davis Riley, S.H. Kim
As the 2026 Sony open progresses, the stakes continue to rise. With a tightly packed leaderboard and a defending champion in top form, the final two rounds promise a captivating spectacle for golf enthusiasts worldwide.
