The PGA Tour season began with a record performance from Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama who finished the Sentry tournament by 35 strokes off par, an unheard of in a four-round event.
By handing in his third card of 65 (-8) of the week, Matsuyama beat Collin Morikawa by three strokes to win the tournament. In the 3rd round, Matsuyama did even better, with a card of 62 allowing him to subtract 11 strokes from par, a high for him during his career.
Matsuyama made a birdie putt on the 18th hole, raising his fist slightly, the only emotion he showed all week.
In 2022, Cameron Smith took 34 shots off par on the same Kapalua course and Matsuyama needed a birdie on the last hole to break his record.
Methodical, calculated and highly efficient in all aspects of his game, Matsuyama won his 11th career PGA Tour title, and his third victory in the last 10 months.
Morikawa had to settle for second place, although he didn’t score lower than 66 throughout the week.
In the absence of wind, the Plantation course showed itself defenseless against the excellence of the best golfers in the world.
“Obviously you have to make a lot of birdies to stay in the mix here,” said Ludvig Åberg, who carded 65-64 in the final rounds to tie for fifth.
Matsuyama started with a one-stroke lead over Morikawa and never fell behind. He began to build the gap by hitting a 107-yard wedge on the third hole into the back of the cup for an eagle.
The Sentry is an iconic event with a $20 million purse, and the $3.6 million paid to Matsuyama allowed him to surpass $60 million during his career.
Sungjae Im finished with a 65 to finish alone in third place, taking home $1.36 million
Matsuyama is the seventh player to win both Hawaii tournaments on the PGA Tour calendar. Justin Thomas (2017) and Ernie Els (2003) are the only players to win both tournaments in the same year. Matsuyama will have the opportunity to join them next week at the Sony Open on Oahu, where he won three years ago.
Canadian Taylor Pendrith made the most improbable shot of the tournament, hitting his 6-iron more than 200 yards into the cup at the 5th to make the first albatross on the Plantation course since the season-opening tournament was moved to Kapalua in 1999.
“As soon as I hit it, I knew it was going to be a really good shot,” Pendrith said. “I didn’t expect it to fit. I didn’t see him come in. But the fans near the green went crazy, so yeah, that was a really nice bonus. »
Although considered the rarest shot in golf, the Canadian said it was the eighth of his career, but the first in a tournament.
Corey Conners (67) signed the best Canadian result at 268 (minus-24), in fifth position. He finished two strokes ahead of Taylor Pendrith (67), in 13th place. Adam Hadwin (70) finished 29th at 274 (minus 18), while Nick Taylor (69) finished 48th at 281 (minus 11).
