Hideki Matsuyama breaks PGA Tour scoring record, wins The Sentry
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Hideki Matsuyama of Japan poses with the trophy after winning The Sentry 2025 at Kapalua Golf Club.
PHOTO: AFP
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KAPALUA – Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama knew he had to keep making birdies during the final round of The Sentry.
He ended up making history, too.
Matsuyama could not be caught while shooting an eight-under 65 to win The Sentry, the PGA Tour’s season opener, on Jan 5 at The Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii.
He finished at 35-under 257, the lowest 72-hole score to par in PGA Tour history. It was good for a three-stroke victory over runner-up Collin Morikawa, who carded a 67.
Matsuyama birdied the final hole, a par-five, to reach 35 under.
Australian Cameron Smith had owned the PGA Tour all-time low tournament record with a 34-under 258 on the same layout in 2022.
“That last putt, it felt like if I make it, then it’s going to be the record,” Matsuyama said. “So I’m so happy that it went in.”
It was his 11th career victory on the tour and follows two tournament titles in 2024.
He holed out for eagle on the par-four third hole, with the ball bouncing a couple of times before landing in the cup as his lead grew to three strokes.
The margin was four shots going to the back nine, even after Matsuyama’s bogey on the par-four seventh marked just his second one of the tournament.
Morikawa’s birdie on the 15th hole closed the gap to two shots but Matsuyama responded with a birdie on the next hole.
“He just never let up,” Morikawa said. “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.”
Matsuyama, who turns 33 next month, took the lead during the second round and kept up his pace of birdies.
Morikawa had matched his scores in the second and third rounds (65 and 62), before entering the final round trailing by one shot.
Matsuyama has won three times in less than a12-month period. This type of result was his goal for the beginning of 2025.
“I was able to have a great off-season and get a fresh start this week and play well this week,” he said. “So it was a great way to start.”
South Korea’s Im Sung-jae (65) was third at 29 under and Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas (65) was fourth at 25 under.
Belgium’s Thomas Detry (71), Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg (64) and Canada’s Corey Conners (67) shared fifth place at 24 under.
The top-ranked Scottie Scheffler did not compete after a hand injury in a Christmas cooking accident.
All 58 golfers who finished the tournament were three under or better. Defending champion Chris Kirk shot 70 to end tied-44th on 13 under. AFP, REUTERS
