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Matsuyama took advantage of the conditions on Friday to shoot an eight-under par 65. AP Photo/Matt York / Alamy Stock Photo

Matsuyama takes one-shot lead into weekend at PGA Tour's season opener

Collin Morikawa sits a shot back in second at The Sentry tournament at Kapalua, Hawaii.

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA SHOT an eight-under par 65 to grab a one-stroke lead over Collin Morikawa at the PGA Tour’s season-opening The Sentry tournament at Kapalua, Hawaii.

With the usual wind factor almost absent, it was a day of low-scoring on the beautiful Plantation Course with only two players shooting over-par.

Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, hit his stride with a run of three straight birdies from the fourth hole on, adding another on the par-3 eighth.

He added four more birdies on the back nine, including a 35-foot birdie putt on the 11th, and said he felt his injury problems were now out of his mind.

“I just have to believe that I’m in good shape and ready to go, so that’s where I’m at,” said the 32-year-old, who is now in contention for his 20th professional win and his 11th on the PGA Tour.

Matsuyama sits on 16-under after two rounds and doesn’t have to worry about a charge from world number one Scottie Scheffler, who is missing the event after hurting his hand in a Christmas Day cooking accident.

But Californian Morikawa, whose grandparents were born just 10 miles from the course in Lahaina, also shot 65 to make sure he heads into the weekend in contention.

Morikawa took full advantage of the birdie chances on the back nine with a streak of five straight birdies from the 13th hole.

A quartet of players were a further shot back of Morikawa — Canadian Corey Conners, American Maverick McNealy, who shot 64, overnight leader Tom Hoge, who slipped back after his 68, and Belgian Thomas Detry (65).

USA Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley also shot 64 and sits three shots off the lead after ending his round with an eagle on the 18th, where he sank a 29-foot putt.

Wyndham Clark, the 2023 US Open winner, was also on 13-under after his 64, which included seven birdies on the back nine.

– © AFP 2025

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