The first cut story of a PGA Tour rookie will make your week

Taylor Dickson knows what a spot in the Sony Open means better than anyone in the field.

Dickson, 32, has played professional golf for 10 years, and Thursday morning’s Sony Open was his first full-time PGA Tour event. Before Thursday morning, he had fought 10 years in the golf wilderness — five on various mini tours, and another five competing on the Korn Ferry Tour — and received only one sponsor’s exemption from last year’s Myrtle Beach Classic.

Maybe that’s why Dickson’s family decided to fly to Waialae the second week in January: in the end he did, and the Sony Open would be his big debut.

A remarkable experience qualifying for the Korn Ferry Tour Championship has given Dickson one of KFT’s coveted PGA Tour cards in 2025. He will be able to play more tournaments on the Tour in the new year, which leaves only one question: Where first? The season-opening Sentry is a Signature event with a limited field, putting it out of the question. But the Sony Open, the second event of the Tour season, was up for grabs.

It takes a village to climb through the depths of red-hot golf to the high-priced thrills of the PGA Tour, and it seemed fitting that Dickson’s hometown be there in person as he achieved the biggest success of his professional life. About a dozen of Dickson’s team members joined him at Waialae, and he rewarded the cheering section with an opening round of 69.

It looked like the highs would end there for Taylor. He started his second round at the Sony Open with two early bogeys, moving him to 1st place in the tournament and four shots over the cutline. It looked like Dickson was headed for his first PGA Tour cut after just two rounds.

But then a funny thing happened: Taylor Dickson started making birds. The first came on the 17th, a par-3, and after the 1st turn, a par-4. Then, on the 8th hole, another par-4, Dickson drained a long another birdie putt, earning a standing ovation from his small gallery of supporters. He walked to the 9th hole, the 18th, with the pins set: the fourth and final birdie on the par-5 and he would cut the number 3-under, par or worse and he would go home early.

Dickson made his move from tee to green on the 9th, putting himself 20 feet from the hole with a birdie putt. He tested the putt up-and-down, and finally hit it, sending his ball into the hole. Seconds later, it fell, and the crowd on the 9th hole cheered, including Dickson, who threw his putter in the air in celebration.

“I just rolled it, people just went nuts,” Dickson said afterwards with a smile. “I went without thinking. I threw my putter in the air, I didn’t catch it – powerless – but he is an amazing person. “

When he left the 9th and returned to the dugout, Dickson’s fan club was filled with hugs.

“My family, they have been with me the whole time,” he said. “And it makes the church better, no doubt. We will be playing for the next two days and it means the world. We’re going to have fun.”

Now Taylor Dickson has earned his first PGA Tour payout of 2025, and has a chance to make a run at the weekend in his full PGA Tour debut. It was a return of the week on the PGA Tour – and a career progression built on one unifying foundation.

“Just know, never give up, keep going.”

You can watch Taylor’s incredible run to the cutline in the video below.