Davis Chatfield & Hank Lebioda Open Their 2026 PGA Tour Seasons at the Sony Open
As the PGA Tour officially begins its 2026 campaign at the Sony Open in Hawaii, two players — Davis Chatfield and Hank Lebioda — are setting the stage for what they hope will be breakout years on golf’s biggest stage. The Sony Open, played this week at the iconic Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, runs January 15–18 and marks the season’s first full-field event where FedExCup points are up for grabs.
Davis Chatfield: Rookie on the Rise
For Davis Chatfield, this week’s Sony Open is more than just a tournament — it’s the start of his first official PGA Tour season. The 26-year-old from Attleboro, Massachusetts, earned his Tour card thanks to a strong 2025 season on the Korn Ferry Tour, finishing inside the top 20 on the season-long points list with six top-10 finishes. Chatfield’s steady performance throughout last year — including runner-up showings at the Astara Chile Classic and the UNC Health Championship — earned him full PGA Tour status for 2026. Tonight, at 5:57 p.m. ET, he’s slated to tee off from the 10th tee for his first round alongside Adrien Dumont de Chassart and Sudarshan Yellamaraju. The former Notre Dame golfer and Rhode Island Amateur champion brings a game built on precision and consistency. Though he lacks the flashiest long ball, his accuracy and short-game acumen helped him earn promotion and now give him a solid foundation as he begins life on golf’s biggest tour.
Hank Lebioda: A Season of Redemption
Hank Lebioda’s path back to the PGA Tour has been one of resilience and hard-fought success. The 32-year-old Floridian was a PGA Tour member from 2018 to 2023 before returning to the Korn Ferry Tour. In 2025, Lebioda claimed his first Korn Ferry victory at The Bahamas Golf Classic, along with multiple top-10 finishes, propelling him back into PGA Tour eligibility for the 2026 season. Lebioda, a Florida State University alum who battled Crohn’s disease earlier in his career, now begins this week’s Sony Open with confidence and experience. His first round — alongside Lee Hodges and Tom Hoge — comes in the afternoon wave from the 1st tee at around 4:40 p.m. ET.
Season Stakes & Storylines
The Sony Open field is a mix of seasoned stars and hungry newcomers. While marquee names like Russell Henley, Hideki Matsuyama, and Jordan Spieth headline the event, players like Chatfield and Lebioda represent the next tier of competitors looking to make a statement early in the season. For Chatfield, a strong showing could validate his transition to the PGA Tour — and lay the foundation for a campaign aimed at retaining his card and earning elevated starts later in the year. Lebioda, meanwhile, will be focused on building momentum from his Korn Ferry Tour success and translating it into consistent results against the deeper competition found in full-field events.
