A shy Pavon for the start of the school year, Hoge is ahead of the big names

Very, very heavy entry. The tradition may have been anchored for almost 50 years on the PGA Tour, but seeing the best players from last season cross swords to kick off the 2025 financial year still has its effect. The Sentry in Hawaii (formerly the tournament of champions) is once again full of stars, among them Matthieu Pavon making his debut.

First gone, first served. To start the 2025 season we didn't have to wait long to see the man in the best shape of this first round of the season stand out. In the first group of this Sentry on the Kapalua Plantation Racethe American Tom Hoge distinguished himself with 10 birdies for a single error. Enough to give him control of the first tournament of the year, ahead of all his illustrious opponents in -9 after the first day of competition.

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The 29th in the 2024 FedexCup leads a tournament on the PGA Tour for the 10th time after the first round in his career (1 victory); “ I didn't have many expectations when I arrived, because I haven't played much in recent months. But I felt like I was putting really well before the week started. Hitting a few putts early on, and that chip-in on 4 from a tough spot, it frees you up. Plus you are in Maui, you have no expectations, you have to let yourself go and then see what you can do » explained the former student of the Texas Christian University.

Competition steps up its game

Behind Tom Hoge alone, we find a Will Zalatoris new-look determined to return to the level that had led him to 7th place in the world in the past. The San Francisco native's 65 (-8) is the result of long-term work which has led him to reshape his body as much as his swing to no longer be subject to recurring back injuries.

« I worked a lot at the gym to make sure I could last over time. I mean, obviously, I could hit a ball on any tee at 180mph, but I want to do it for as long as I can. I hope this is something that will help me in the long run. «

In a different register but still just as dashing when it comes to landing on the Bermudagrass of Hawaii, the Japanese Hideki Matsuyama offered the public a masterclass in short game. A birdie-eagle-birdie passage at the heart of his return in particular allows him to ideally launch with a 65 (-8) also to envisage an eleventh career success on the PGA Tour.

Matthieu Pavon still a little tender

On the very affordable Kapalua course, very often the scene of river scores (the -34 record for the lowest score on the PGA Tour was made here in 2022) players are almost invited to unleash a storm of birdies from the fairways A-380 landing strip style and this par 73 is unusual for the American elite. Unaccustomed to this format and its particular conditions, Matthew Pavon seems to have had difficulty getting into tune with the question of birdies galore.

Few errors certainly (two) but above all a single birdie on a scorecard in the form of 74 (+1) to start, little helped it must be said by iron play less in shape than usual. “ Slow start, but my game isn't that bad » commented the French number 1 on his social networks wishing “ improve day by day« .

The Frenchman is provisionally ranked 48th after the first day of competition.

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