Matthew Thayer 1/5/25 Matthew Thayer 1/5/25

Matsuyama wins The Sentry going away

*Hideki Matsuyama hoists The Sentry champion's trophy Sunday afternoon on the Kapalua Plantation Course's 18th green.*

By MATTHEW THAYER

Hideki Matsuyama put proof to the old saying, "Beware the injured golfer," as he shook off a lingering illness and sores in his mouth that made it hard to talk, to stamp his name in the PGA Tour record book with a dominating win at The Sentry Sunday.

Crafting an eight-under-par 65 in shifting winds over the final round at the Kapalua Plantation Course, his 35-under-par total set a new PGA Tour record score in relation to par. Cameron Smith set the previous record while winning the 2022 Sentry title at 34-under on the par-73 Plantation Course. Matsuyama also set a PGA record for birdies in a 72-hole tournament with 35. His steady birdie barrage was too much for weekend playing partner Collin Morikawa, who shot 67 Sunday for 32-under and solo second place. Sungjae Im finished third at 29-under.

*Matsuyama pumps his fist as his birdie putt on No. 18 drops into the cup Sunday.*

In his post-round press conference Sunday, Matsuyama was asked about his on-course conversations with caddie Shota Hayafuji, and he revealed he has been so under the weather speaking has been difficult.

"You know, I actually wasn't feeling too well this week, and so I was really just focused on what I needed to do, so I really didn't speak much, so there's nothing that I can remember that comes to mind.

"In December I was kind of ill, and kind of, I thought I was better coming into this tournament, I had a couple sores in my mouth, so it was hard for me to speak this week, so that's what I had coming in."

*Matsuyama pats caddie Shota Hayafuji on the back after their win Sunday.*

*At the conclusion of an epic weekend head-to-head battle on the Kapalua Plantation Course, The Sentry winner Hideki Matsuyama (right) shakes hands with runner-up Collin Morikawa Sunday afternoon.*

Though he said the illness limited his practice time, you couldn't tell by the way he played, posting scores of 65, 65, 62, 65 over his four rounds. For the 32-year-old Japanese pro, it was his 11th PGA Tour win in 265 starts. He won the Sony Open on Oahu in 2022, and is now one of seven players to win both Hawaii events, joining Jim Furyk, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Zach Johnson, Justin Thomas and Smith.

Morikawa said he felt like he left some shots and opportunities on the course, but could not take anything away from Matsuyama's play, especially his chip-in for eagle from 105 yards on the third hole Sunday.

*Morikawa putts on the Kapalua Plantation Course's 18th green Sunday afternoon.*

"Yeah, excuse my language, but 35-under par is, that's low," Morikawa said. "I mean, he was matching me yesterday shot for shot, and I felt like I was playing lights out, right? Like, yes, you could leave some shots out there, but you shoot 11-under on any golf course, you're going to be happy, right? Today he just never let up. Then you get to the third hole and the guy holes it. I just knew I had to be on top of everything, and just kind of let a few slip on that front nine. Played a good back nine, but to win on a course like this, conditions like this, you got to have it for 72, and I had it for 65."

*Matsuyama (left) pounds his drive off the tee on No. 16 as Morikawa looks on Sunday.*

Out of the $20 million purse, Matsuyama pocketed $3.6 million, Morikawa earned $2.2 million and third-place Im took home $1.4 million.

Morikawa leads a large Sunday gallery up the No. 15 fairway. The threesome of Morikawa, eventual winner Hideki Matsuyama and Thomas Detry had the largest crowd all day long as golf fans followed their play on the hilly Kapalua Plantation Course.

*Belgian pro Thomas Detry gets off to a rough start Sunday as he sand shot on No. 2 carroms sideways off the lip of the trap set up a double bogey.*

*Jhonattan Vegas tees off on No. 10 Sunday. Vegas finished fourth at 25-under, good for $975,000.*

*Sungjae Im follows through on his drive off the 10th hole Sunday. Im finished third at 29 under par to win $1.4 million.*

Matthew Thayer 1/3/25 Matthew Thayer 1/3/25

Two crowd favorites top crowded Kapalua leaderboard

*Second-round leader Hideki Matsuyama follows through on his drive on the uphill fourth hole Friday.*

By Matthew Thayer

Two crowd favorites who have played well through the years at the Kapalua Plantation Course without capturing a win, Hideki Matsuyama and Collin Morikawa, sit atop the leaderboard halfway through The Sentry PGA Tour season-opening golf tournament.

Matsuyama is alone in first place after posting his second-straight eight-under-par 65 Friday to put him at 16 under. Second place Morikawa matched that 65 to reach 15 under.

Collin Morikawa walks off the Kapalua Plantation Course's ninth green after settling for par. The former Cal Bear shot an eight-under-par 65 and is alone at second place halfway through The Sentry at 15 under.

Those scores were far from dominating as the leaderboard is crowded at the top. Four golfers, Corey Conners, Maverick McNealy, Tom Hoge and Thomas Detry, are tied for third and 14 under. Four pros, Keegan Bradley Harry Hall, Cameron Young and Wyndham Clark, are tied for seventh at 13 under. Another six players are within six shots of the lead.

Offering short answers in his post-round media interview, Matsuyama, a Japanese pro out of Sendai Japan, was asked why he plays well in Hawaii.

Second-round leader Hideki Matsuyama chips to the Kapalua Plantation Course's ninth green Friday. His second-straight eight-under-par 65 put him at 16 under, one shot clear of second-place Collin Morikawa as they head into the weekend of the $20 million PGA Tour golf tournament at the Kapalua Plantation Course.

"You know, obviously the views are beautiful here, I haven't played well here in a while, so it's good to get off to a good start here," he said.

Former University of California Berkeley player Morikawa, whose family roots on Maui date back to a family-owned restaurant on Lahaina's Front Street, said knowing the layout helped him to remain confident during a slow start to the day. He finished Friday's round with five-straight birdies.

Peter Malnati gives an autographed golf ball to volunteer standard bearer Felix Eisenberg, 13, after shooting a nine-under-par 64 Friday. Eisenberg is Maui Junior Golf member and a sixth grader at Kalama Intermediate School.

"Yeah, I mean, when you look at the leaderboard, and I'm through six holes and I'm even par, and guys are lapping the field already," Morikawa said. But like I said, it's not telling myself I got to be patient. I just know this golf course and I know at any point you can kind of go on a little stretch of birdies, and I just had to keep playing my game. The game felt solid enough to shoot a low score and thankfully it came on that back half of the round today."

Morikawa said favorable conditions and low winds mean weekend scores are sure to go low.

*Corey Conners (left) shakes hands with playing partner Nico Echavarria after their round Friday. Canadian Conners shot his second-straight 66 and is tied for third at 14 under.*

"Yeah, look, I know guys are going to take it low," Morikawa said. "I like to look at leaderboards and I know by the time I start tomorrow, someone's probably going to have the lead, someone else, before Hideki and I go out. But it's just like I said. I feel like from hole one all the way through 18, I can make birdies and with that mindset, it's not about rushing, like, getting to 5-under by 9. If it comes, it comes."

*A mirror reflects golf patrons walking the steep uphill path alongside the Kapalua Plantation Course's ninth hole Friday.*

U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley hits his long approach to No. 9 Friday.

*Viktor Hovland lines up a putt on No. 9 green Friday. Visibly limping from a broken toe when he finished his round, the Norwegien pro shot 69 and is tied for 29th at four under.*

*Tony Finau misses a birdie putt on No. 9 Friday. Finau shot 69 and is tied for 13th place at 10 under par.*

*Brian Harman hits from the deep rough on his way to posting bogey on No. 18 Friday. He shot 74 and sits alone at 58th place in the 59-player field.*

*Two-time tournament champion Justin Thomas chips to the ninth hole after his long approach sailed over the green Friday. He finished with a 71 that put him in a tie for 44th place at four under.*

*No doubt, there's a story that goes with the golf-ball-sized dent in the Sentry signage along the Kapalua Plantation Course's ninth hole Friday.*

*Belgian pro Thomas Detry tees off on No. 3 Friday. He shot 65 and is part of a four-player tie for third place at 14 under.*

*Peter Malnati waves to the gallery on No. 18 green after sinking a birdie putt to seal a nine-under-par 64 Friday.*

*Max Greyserman hits his approach to No. 18 Friday. He shot 67.*

Matthew Thayer 1/2/25 Matthew Thayer 1/2/25

New dad leads The Sentry on Maui

The Sentry first-round leader Tom Hoge (left) and playing partner Adam Hadwin converse on the Kapalua Plantation Course's 18th green as they wait to close out their rounds Thursday afternoon. Hoge finished with a nine-under-par 64, while Hadwin posted a six-under 67.

By MATTHEW THAYER

New father Tom Hoge, a 35-year-old pro out of Fargo, N.D., made the most of an early tee time to grab the first-round lead of The Sentry PGA golf tournament Thursday at the Kapalua Plantation Course.

Hoge fired a nine-under-par, 64, a score that was good for a one-shot lead over Hideki Matsuyama and Will Zalatoris who both posted 65s. Tied for fourth, two shots behind Hoge going into Friday's second round, are Cameron Young, Collin Morikawa and Corey Conners.

*Hideki Matsuyama follows through on the Kapalua Plantation Course's first tee Thursday.*

In his press conference following his round, Hoge was asked why he had taken time off recently and he said he and wife Kelly had their first child in December.

"I played all the way through Mexico, first week of November," Hoge said. "Then was just at home, and we had our first child in early December, so kind of forced time off. I feel like with the changes in the schedule, last year was a lot of golf from now until the TOUR Championship, it was cramped in there pretty tight, so I felt like I was pretty burned out at that point, needed a little bit of time away."

*Will Zalatoris tees off on the Kapalua Plantation Course's first tee Thursday.*

He said the break tempered his Maui hopes.

"Really didn't have much for expectations coming in, because there wasn't a whole lot of play or practice the last few months. But felt like I was putting really well coming into the week."

*Cameron Young tosses his ball to his caddie on the No. 18 green Thursday.*

Tied for fourth at seven-under 66 are Adam Hadwin, Thomas Detry and Tony Finau. Tied for 10th at six-under are Jhonattan Vegas, Harry Hall, Aaron Rai, Austin Eckroat, Maverick McNealy and Adam Scott.

The 72-hole, $20 million tournament is scheduled to conclude Sunday with the winner taking home a check for $3.6 million. Second place in the 59-member field is good for $2.16 million, while last will garner $50,000. With fair weather and moderate winds predicted, it will likely take a very low score to win. The tournament record was set in 2022 by Cameron Smith, who finished 34 strokes under par after four rounds on the par 73 Plantation Course.