Weekend Wrap-Up: Chris Gotterup, Sony Open, and Peyton Manning

With the NFL Playoffs occupying most sports fans’ televisions, you may not have been super plugged in to professional golf this weekend. In case you missed anything, I have you covered with a mix of observations and musings as we get into the early portion of the pro golf season.

1. Should the rumored demise of the Hawaii swing not come to fruition, we may need to use TGL’s “Stinger” hole as a predictor of success at the Sony Open moving forward. Speaking after his Friday round, Maverick McNealy said of Waialae Country Club, “I think it plays to my strength of being able to change the trajectory off the tees. I like to hit it high or low and kind of use the wind that way as my friend. The ground is firm and the ball runs, so I don't lose any distance when I hit it low like that.” Chris Gotterup fired low bullets all weekend around a windy Waialae, leading the field in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee and, more importantly, capturing a two-shot win. With his latest victory, Gotterup is now a three-time PGA Tour winner, displaying elite driving skills and a unique ability to control his trajectory on a variety of tests.  After missing out on a Ryder Cup pick last year, Gotterup is a potential breakout candidate for 2026 as he enters his third full season on the PGA Tour at age 26.

2. Davis Riley once again reinforced one of the strongest cross-course correlations on the PGA Tour: Waialae and Colonial. The two tree-framed Bermuda grass golf courses present a similar, quirky test, with many common names popping up near the tops of both leaderboards.

Entering the Sony, Riley hadn’t finished in the top 30 of a tournament since the PGA Championship last May. Through 54 holes, Riley maintained a two-shot advantage, the third 54-hole lead of his PGA Tour career. His last 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour? The 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial, which he won by five shots.

3. Collin Morikawa missed the cut on the number at the Sony in his first appearance of 2026, a continuation of his struggles from an underwhelming past 12 months. He stone-cold topped a fairway bunker shot on Thursday, but it was primarily his putting that cost him. On the precipice of turning 29, it’s a pivotal year for Morikawa to steer his career back in the right direction.

4. Sixty-two-year-old Vijay Singh made the cut in a legitimate, non-opposite field PGA Tour event. Without ever eclipsing a 165-mph ball speed, he finished the Sony Open T-40, carding all four rounds at par or better. It’s an incredible feat from one of the great players of the early 2000s.

5. I continue to admire Nick Dunlap’s resilience. Every week, he shows up, hits tee shots off the planet, and returns for more. Last season, he finished dead last on Tour in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee at -1.5 strokes per round. At this week’s Sony, Dunlap lost 6.8 strokes off the tee, a full shot worse than any other player in the field. He gained just over seven strokes with his irons, second only to Corey Conners. Good on Dunlap for persisting through the driver yips and keeping the other areas of his game sharp. Every. Single. Week.

6. Over in the Middle East, Shane Lowry threw away the Dubai Invitational after entering his final hole with a one-shot lead. He striped his tee shot on the intimidating finishing hole before carrying a wedge approach long and into a greenside bunker. He then dumped the bunker shot across the green and into the penalty hazard en route to a double bogey, opening the door for Nacho Elvira, who played his final two holes 1-under to snag his third career DP World Tour win. Rory McIlroy and his fresh cavity-backed irons finished T-3.

7. Elsewhere in equipment-related news, Adam Schupak reported that both Marco Penge and Aldrich Potgieter have signed equipment deals with PXG. Perhaps PXG equipment has made substantial improvements, but how many players elevate their games after signing with them? Something to watch this year with two promising talents joining the roster!

8. I was struck by a recent clip featuring Peyton Manning – one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time – from the excellent Kevin Clark’s "This Is Football" podcast. Within the clip, the Hall of Famer preaches the virtue of not getting bored, referencing the quote, "You’ll never go broke taking a profit."

The concept applies to both the quarterback position and professional golf. Among Scottie Scheffler’s many attributes, one of his most powerful is his ability to never grow bored with the repetitive nature of professional golf. He always hits the disciplined, smart shot. He performs at both Augusta National and TPC Craig Ranch – two courses sitting at opposite ends of the shot-quality spectrum.

A Scheffler moment I’ll never forget took place in his post-championship presser after winning the Claret Jug last summer at Royal Portrush. "This week I was the best player in the world," he said. "I'm sitting here with the trophy. We're going to start all over in Memphis, back to even-par, show goes on." Despite all of his sustained success, is there a professional golfer who does a better job of not getting bored than Scottie Scheffler?