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Riley, defending champ Taylor part of 5-way tie for lead at windy Sony Open

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Riley, defending champ Taylor part of 5-way tie for lead at windy Sony Open
Sport

Sport

Riley, defending champ Taylor part of 5-way tie for lead at windy Sony Open

2026-01-17 12:20 Last Updated At:12:30

HONOLULU (AP) — The wind arrived early and stayed late Friday in the second round of the PGA Tour's season-opening Sony Open. Davis Riley thrived in the difficult conditions in the morning, birdieing the par-5 18th for a 64 and a share of the lead.

Riley matched defending champion Nick Taylor, Kevin Roy, S.H. Kim and Adrien Dumont de Chassart at 9-under 131 at Waialae Country Club.

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Adam Scott, of Australia, reacts on the 13th green during the second round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Adam Scott, of Australia, reacts on the 13th green during the second round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Nick Taylor, of Canada, hits on the 13th hole during the second round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Nick Taylor, of Canada, hits on the 13th hole during the second round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Ben Griffin hits on the 11th hole during the second round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Ben Griffin hits on the 11th hole during the second round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Jordan Spieth reacts on the third hole during the second round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Jordan Spieth reacts on the third hole during the second round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Davis Riley acknowledges the crowd on the 18th hole during the second round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Davis Riley acknowledges the crowd on the 18th hole during the second round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

"I think these conditions are kind of bringing it out in me a little bit because you have to be creative,” Riley said. “It’s not like you’re trying to make perfect golf swings every time. There is definitely some feel and creativity.”

Taylor faced the stiffest wind of the day in the afternoon a day after shooting a 62 in calmer conditions for a share of the first-round lead with Roy. The Canadian ran in a 25-foot birdie putt on the par-4 15th and a 17-footer on the par-4 16th to take the outright lead, then bogeyed the par-3 17th to slip back.

“The wind was strong and with some gusts,” Taylor said. “A lot of the holes were relatively crosswind, so it was tough to get the yardages correctly. Sometimes it would hurt, sometimes it would help. Almost had to time your shots correctly and get a little bit of luck, too.”

Last year, Taylor chipped in for eagle on 18 to get into a playoff, then beat Nico Echavarria with a birdie.

Roy closed with a birdie on the par-5 ninth late in the afternoon.

“When you get wind like that doesn’t really feel like it’s in the same direction,” Roy said. “It’s just blowing everywhere seems like. I tried to do a really good job at just trying to plot myself around the course.”

Dumont de Chassart shot 67, and Kim had a 68 — both in the morning.

Morning starter Maverick McNealy (66) was a stroke back with afternoon players Takumi Kanaya (66), John Parry (68) and Chris Gotterup (69).

“Obviously, tough day out here with the wind," Gotterup said.

Jordan Spieth was 3 under after a 69. He pointed to a bogey on 15.

"It was so hard this morning,” Spieth said. “I hit a 7-iron into that 15th hole. I had maybe 158 hole and I think it went 120 yards and I played it like 175. So, it was just very challenging at times. And on the greens it just becomes really hard to make putts when it’s that windy.”

Vijay Singh made the cut with rounds of 68 and 70. The 62-year-old Hall of Famer is using a one-time career money exemption to play in full-field events this year. He's making his 25th start in the event he won in 2005.

The season started a week later than usual because The Sentry at Kapalua on Maui was canceled due to water issues.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Adam Scott, of Australia, reacts on the 13th green during the second round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Adam Scott, of Australia, reacts on the 13th green during the second round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Nick Taylor, of Canada, hits on the 13th hole during the second round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Nick Taylor, of Canada, hits on the 13th hole during the second round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Ben Griffin hits on the 11th hole during the second round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Ben Griffin hits on the 11th hole during the second round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Jordan Spieth reacts on the third hole during the second round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Jordan Spieth reacts on the third hole during the second round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Davis Riley acknowledges the crowd on the 18th hole during the second round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Davis Riley acknowledges the crowd on the 18th hole during the second round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Sacramento Kings star Domantas Sabonis returned Friday night against Washington after missing 27 games because of a partially torn meniscus in his left knee.

The three-time All-Star forward/center came off the bench against the Wizards, entering with 5:11 left in the first quarter. He had eight points, five rebounds and an assist in 9:58 in the first half to help the Kings take a 67-61 lead.

Sabonis averaged 17.2 points and 12.3 rebounds in his first 11 games this season.

Dennis Schroder also was back for the Kings after serving a three-game suspension for confronting Lakers star Luka Doncic after a game in Los Angeles on Dec. 28. Schroder had six points in the half.

The Kings won the first three games of their seven-game homestand, topping Houston, the Los Angeles Lakers and New York to improve to 11-30.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

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