A fierce wind swept through Waialae Country Club earlier than expected on Friday, persisting throughout the second round of the PGA Tour's opening event, the Sony Open. In these challenging conditions, Davis Riley excelled during the morning session, finishing with a remarkable 64 after sinking a birdie on the par-5 18th hole, allowing him to share the lead.
Riley found himself tied with defending champion Nick Taylor, Kevin Roy, S.H. Kim, and Adrien Dumont de Chassart, all at an impressive score of 9-under 131. "These conditions are kind of bringing it out in me a little bit because you have to be creative," Riley explained. He emphasized that achieving success in such weather requires more than just perfect swings; it demands a blend of feel and creativity.
Taylor, who faced the most severe winds later in the day, had initially shot a stunning 62 in calmer conditions the previous day, securing a share of the first-round lead alongside Roy. During his afternoon round, he made notable birdies, including a lengthy 25-foot putt on the par-4 15th and a 17-footer on the par-4 16th, which briefly gave him the lead. However, a bogey on the par-3 17th hole caused him to lose ground. "The wind was strong and there were some gusts," Taylor noted. "Many of the holes had crosswinds, making it tricky to gauge the yardage accurately. It was essential to time your shots well and get a bit lucky as well."
In last year’s tournament, Taylor had dramatically chipped in for eagle on the 18th hole to qualify for a playoff, ultimately triumphing over Nico Echavarria with a birdie.
Kevin Roy, meanwhile, finished his round strong with a birdie on the par-5 ninth hole late in the afternoon. He mentioned, "When you have wind like this, it feels like it's coming from every direction. I focused on navigating the course methodically."
Dumont de Chassart shot a solid 67, while Kim followed closely behind with a 68, both rounds completed in the morning. Maverick McNealy, starting in the morning as well, posted a score of 66, putting him just one stroke behind. The afternoon saw Takumi Kanaya also card a 66, along with John Parry with a 68 and Chris Gotterup, who finished at 69. "It was definitely a tough day out here with the wind," Gotterup remarked, reflecting on the difficult playing conditions.
Jordan Spieth managed to finish at 3 under par after a round of 69, expressing frustration over a bogey on the 15th hole. "It was extremely challenging this morning," Spieth recalled. "I hit a 7-iron into that 15th hole, thinking I had about 158 yards to the hole, but it only went about 120 yards. I played it like it was 175. The wind made things very difficult, particularly on the greens where making putts became quite a task."
Vijay Singh, the seasoned Hall of Famer, successfully made the cut with scores of 68 and 70. At 62 years old, he's utilizing a one-time career money exemption to participate in full-field events this year, marking his 25th appearance at this event, which he previously won in 2005.
This season began a week later than usual due to the cancellation of The Sentry at Kapalua in Maui, which was caused by water issues.
