Nick Taylor of Canada poses with his family and the trophy after winning the Sony Open in Hawaii 2025 (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
"The Starter" recaps the week gone by in golf. PGA Professional Brendon Elliott, a three-decade industry veteran, provides his insights for RG. In this installment, Elliott breaks down Nick Taylor’s victory in Hawaii and touches on why events like the Sony matter.
Why Events Like The Sony Matter
This year's Sony Open highlighted the depth of the PGA TOUR by showcasing some of the less recognizable names in the sport. Many critics of the TOUR often point to events that lack multiple top-20 players in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) as a reason for their disinterest. However, in my professional opinion, the quality of golf rarely diminishes throughout the year.
Among the players who finished in the top 10 this week, the most notable name for casual golf fans was likely Keegan Bradley, who tied for sixth place, three shots behind the eventual winner, Nick Taylor. For me, events like the Sony often offer up as much excitement as bigger events with more prominent names do. While I, too, enjoy major tournaments and signature events, drawn in by the exciting storylines of the sport's biggest names, it's worth considering this: don't you often find yourself rooting for underdogs or lesser-known players when they make a charge at prestigious tournaments like the Masters, the PLAYERS, or the Arnold Palmer Invitational? If you answered yes, that's even more reason to watch events like the Sony Open.
Seeing the talents of players like Stephan Jäger, J.J. Spaun, Nico Echavarria, and Nick Taylor is truly worthwhile. I promise you that!
Nick Taylor's Final Hole Fireworks Sets Up Chance For 5th TOUR Victory
Nick Taylor may not be a name in the same conversation as a Scottie, Rory, Schauffele, Morikawa, or Hideki, but if he continues to play as he has over the past few seasons, he soon very well will be. He plays with a calm demeanor that lends itself well to the challenges of being in the hunt on a Sunday afternoon. This past Sunday at Waialae was a prime example of this.
On his final hole of regulation, sitting at 14-under par with two groups still playing behind him, Taylor holed a dramatic chip in for eagle three on the par 5 18th. That would put him, along with Nico Echvarria, atop the leaderboard at 16-under par, 264.
Stephan Jäger and JJ Spaun Stumble
For a good chunk of the day, Jäger and Spaun were the names looking to be poised to battle things out to the finish. However, the duo's plans on going down the stretch, going head to head, would not materialize. Jäger was the first to fall back with a dropped shot on the par four 16th. Spaun would make a bogey on the 17th, dropping him back to 15-under with Jäger as the pair headed to the 18th. Sitting one behind the clubhouse leaders of Echevarria and Taylor with one to play, Spaun and Jäger were still in a position where they could get into a playoff or, if either copied Taylor's final hole heroics, could win things outright on the 72nd hole with an eagle. After finding trouble off the tee, Jäger would have to settle for an up-and-down par from just over the green. Spaun would have a very makeable birdie look from 11 feet but would miss right and settle for a tie for third with playing partner Jäger.
Playoff Drama in Hawaii: Echavarria vs. Taylor
After failed attempts by Jäger and Spaun to catch them, Echavarria and Taylor returned to the 18th tee for a sudden death playoff. The pair matched birdies on the first extra hole, setting the stage for another attempt down the 546-yard par five, which had played as the second easiest hole of the week.
On the second playoff hole, Taylor’s drive found a fairway bunker, seemingly putting him at a disadvantage. However, after a respectable second shot, he left himself just under 50 yards out for his third shot into the par five. With nerves of steel, the gritty Canadian—who is a four-time winner on the PGA TOUR—executed a beautiful wedge shot, putting him in a good position for a makeable birdie opportunity.
Echavarria reached the edge of the green with his second shot and appeared to have the upper hand with a 32-foot putt for an eagle. Under normal circumstances, he would have faced a reasonably straightforward two-putt for birdie. However, in a playoff on the PGA TOUR, nothing is ever straightforward. Echavarria misjudged his first putt, leaving it eight feet short. His hopes of clinching a third PGA TOUR victory faded as he failed to convert that crucial birdie putt.
Ultimately, Taylor emerged victorious with a birdie, marking his fourth win since 2020 and his fifth overall on TOUR. Sunday’s victory not only added to his impressive tally but also earned him a coveted invitation to the Masters Tournament in April, making his triumph all the sweeter. With this win, the Canadian jumped from 73rd to 29th in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
Brendon Elliott, a distinguished PGA Professional, is best known for his dedication to the growth and development of junior golf. With nearly three decades of experience, Elliott has been recognized multiple times as one of the best instructors, both regionally and nationally.
Elliott's crowning achievement was being named the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award Winner, a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication. He is the founder of Little Linksters, an award-winning youth golf academy and nonprofit that works with kids of all abilities to help them develop a passion for golf. His innovative teaching methods and love for the game have made significant impacts on students and the broader golfing community.
Additionally, Brendon, a Golf Writers Association of America member, has become a renowned freelance golf writer, further solidifying his position as a top professional in the industry.
