Hideki Matsuyama makes most of placid conditions in Hawaii for The Sentry second-round lead
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Japan's Hideki Matsuyama is leading The Sentry on 16-under 130 after two rounds.
PHOTO: AFP
KAPALUA – Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama was in “good shape” as he shot another eight-under 65 to grab a one-stroke lead over Collin Morikawa at the PGA Tour’s season-opening The Sentry tournament at Kapalua, Hawaii, on Jan 3.
With the usual wind factor almost absent, it was a day of low scoring on the Plantation Course, with only two players shooting over par.
Matsuyama, the 2021 US Masters champion, hit his stride with a run of three straight birdies from the fourth hole on, adding another on the par-three eighth.
He added four more birdies on the back nine, including a 35-foot birdie putt on the 11th, and said he felt his injury problems were now out of his mind.
“I just have to believe that I’m in good shape and ready to go, so that’s where I’m at,” said the 32-year-old, who is now in contention for his 20th professional win and his 11th on the PGA Tour.
“I’m definitely satisfied with where I am. It’s good to get off to a good start here.”
The Japanese sits on 16-under 130 after two rounds.
Morikawa, whose grandparents were born just 16km from the course in Lahaina, also shot a 65 to make sure he heads into the weekend in contention.
The American took full advantage of the birdie chances on the back nine with a streak of five straight birdies from the 13th hole.
“I just hit some quality shots and gave myself a run of birdie opportunities,” he said.
“I felt like for the entire back nine, I had birdie looks. Obviously, I made a handful... 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.”
A quartet of players were a further shot back of Morikawa – Canadian Corey Conners (66), American Maverick McNealy (64), overnight leader Tom Hoge (68) and Belgian Thomas Detry (65).
United States Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley shot a 64 and sits three shots off the lead after ending his round with an eagle on the 18th, where he sank a 29-foot putt.
Wyndham Clark, the 2023 US Open winner, was also on 13 under after his 64, which included seven birdies on the back nine. “We make courses like this look easy. To be honest, it’s not that easy,” he said.
“Typically, there’s a lot of wind here, and we didn’t have much wind today, so you’re going to have a lot of birdie looks and sometimes eagle looks. I’ve never really shot 20 under on the PGA Tour, so maybe I can break it this week.”
Defending champion Chris Kirk (67) was tied-39th. AFP, REUTERS
