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A week after the first Signature Event on the neighboring island of Maui, it’s back to school for 25 of the 35 rookies of the 2025 PGA Tour vintage on the course of the Waialae Country Club, in Honolulu.
Like a week ago, the American Tom Hoge (photo) made a strong impression in the first round of the 2nd Hawaiian tournament by taking control of the tournament with a score of 64.
A great day for the former TCU player (as Paul Barjon et Julien Brun), punctuated by two eagles including this one at the 14th, a 400 meter par 4 on which the North Carolina native hit an iron shot from 172 meters from the rough.
Rookies in spades
Unlike last Thursday when Hoge led alone Sentry after signing his first 64 of the season, he shares the lead of the tournament with five other players and in particular one of the 25 rookies of the new year, Paul Peterson.
Aged 36, this globe trotter of the golf planet has already established himself on the DP World Tour in 2016 in Prague in the Czech Masters but had never managed to make it onto the big American circuit before this year. He obtained the precious sesame by having a good season on the Korn Ferry Tour last year (17th) and with an entry 64 he positions himself among the players to follow over the next three days.
Matsuyama and Theegala the headliners
On a completely different course from that of last week: 450 meters shorter, made up of small greens and offering a difference in altitude of barely 9 meters (compared to 400 at Kapalua), the challenge offered to the few players who chose to continue the two Pacific tournaments are diametrically opposed.
Crowned with his triumph last Sunday, Hideki Matsuyama is of course the big favorite. Especially since the Japanese already has a success in Valley Country Club.
Thursday, the man who could become the third player in history to sign the Sentry/Sony Open double completed his first round with two birdies on the last three holes to return a card of 67.
He is in 26th place with one of the three other players in the world top 20 present in Hawaii, the American 3rd in the 2024 FedEx Cup Sahith Theegala (13th in the world). Robert MacIntyre (14th in the world) is further away after settling for a card of 68. The Scot shares 44th place with Tom Kim.
