Sony Open 2026: Prize Money Breakdown and Winner’s Payout

At the 2026 Sony Open, the biggest question isn’t just who wins, but how much the victory will be worth. From Ernie Els to Nick Taylor, the Sony Open has crowned diverse champions over the past six decades. This year, the tour is hosting a full field of 144 of the world’s best golfers, transforming Waialae Country Club into the Tour’s premier early-season destination. That prestige now comes with the richest payout the event has ever offered.

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This year’s tournament carries a record-setting purse, reflecting the Sony Open’s growing financial weight on the PGA Tour calendar and raising the stakes for every player in the field.

Why the 2026 Sony Open payout matters more than ever

Below is the complete breakdown of prize money:

Position	Prize Money (USD)
1	1,638,000
2	991,900
3	627,900
4	445,900
5	373,100
6	329,875
7	307,125
8	284,375
9	266,175
10	247,975
11	229,775
12	211,575
13	193,375
14	175,175
15	166,075
16	156,975
17	147,875
18	138,775
19	129,675
20	120,575
21	111,475
22	102,375
23	95,095
24	87,815
25	80,535
26	73,255
27	70,525
28	67,795
29	65,065
30	62,335
31	59,875
32	56,875
33	54,145
34	51,870
35	49,595
36	47,320
37	45,045
38	43,225
39	41,405
40	39,585
41	37,765
42	35,945
43	34,125
44	32,305
45	30,485
46	28,665
47	26,845
48	25,389
49	24,115
50	23,387
51	22,841
52	22,295
53	21,931
54	21,567
55	21,385
56	21,203
57	21,021
58	20,839
59	20,657
60	20,475
61	20,293
62	20,111
63	19,929
64	19,747
65	19,565
66	19,383
67	19,201
68	19,019
69	18,837
70	18,655
71	18,473
72	18,291
73	18,109
74	17,927
75	17,745
76	17,563
77	17,381
78	17,199
79	17,017
80	16,835

While the Sony Open does not carry Signature Event status, its rising purse reflects the PGA Tour’s broader push to strengthen full-field events amid an increasingly competitive financial landscape.

Nick Taylor, the defending Sony Open champion at Waialae Country Club, won the title in 2025 after beating Nico Echavarría in a playoff. He is attempting to defend his title for the first time since Jimmy Walker in 2015. Taylor is back, joined by a deep field that includes Russell Henley, Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa, J.J. Spaun, Keegan Bradley, Jordan Spieth, Ben Griffin, and Robert MacIntyre.

Veteran Vijay Singh is also in the field, having regained his PGA Tour card through a career exemption. Several DP World Tour and Korn Ferry Tour graduates also join the mix, bringing new talent. This strong lineup shows how important and competitive the event is at the start of the season.

Held at Waialae Country Club since its 1965 inception as the Hawaiian Open, the Sony Open boasts one of the longest-running venue–Tour relationships in professional golf.

Sony took over as title sponsor in 1999 from United Airlines, maintaining that partnership for over two decades and cementing the Sony Open as one of the Tour’s most stable sponsored events. The championship has produced memorable supports throughout its history. Five golfers, Ernie Els, Hubert Green, Corey Pavin, Lanny Wadkins, and Jimmy Walker, have won the title twice.

2026 Sony Open leaderboard

The event has begun, and the leaderboard at Waialae Country Club has shifted repeatedly. As of 17th January 2026, Nick Taylor, the defending champion, has remained in contention, showing off the precise iron play and strong putting that helped him win last season. His steady play in the early rounds has kept him in the running as Sunday gets closer.

Nico Echavarria is still close to the lead, hitting aggressive tee shots and taking calculated risks on scoring holes. His high position is due to a week of low scores and precise short game play in changing conditions in Honolulu, which keeps the title within reach.

J.J. Spaun and Stephan Jaeger are two challengers who have also scored well, showing that having many good players can change the leaderboard. Their play shows how close the competitors are as the tournament nears its end.

Because of that volatility, Waialae continues to reward patience as much as aggression. Several new players have pushed inside the top 20, underlining the depth of the field and the volatility Waialae is known for. With the largest purse in tournament history on the line, With the largest purse in tournament history on the line, Sunday’s final round will test which contender can convert opportunity into early-season momentum.