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Matsuyama takes lead in PGA Tour opener in Hawaii

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epa11578404 Hideki Matsuyama of Japan lines up his putt on the first hole during the final round of the 2024 Tour Championship golf tournament at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 01 September 2024. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER

Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama shot an 8-under-par 65 for the second day in a row on Friday to hold a one-shot lead midway through the PGA Tour season opener at The Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii.

Matsuyama is at 16 under for the tournament. Collin Morikawa, who also had a 65 to go to 15 under, had a chance to pull even after making five consecutive birdies near the end of his round before he settled for par on the 18th hole.

Maverick McNealy (64) moved to 14 under to join Canada’s Corey Conners (66), Belgium’s Thomas Detry (65) and Hoge (68) in a tie for third place.
Detry’s highlights included reaching the green on the par-4 14th hole with his drive and sinking an 11-foot eagle putt.

Matsuyama started early Friday and set the tone, and felt the course setup and environment was bonus.

“Obviously the views are beautiful here,” Matsuyama said. “I haven’t played well here in a while, so it’s good to get off to a good start here.”

Matsuyama had a bogey-free round, including birdies on two of the three par-3 holes.

“I’m definitely satisfied with where I am,” he added.

Among a group of golfers with the best rounds on Friday were Keegan Bradley, who drained a 29-foot eagle putt on No. 18, and Wyndham Clark. They both shot 64.

Bradley and Clark are at 13 under in a four-way tie for seventh place with Cameron Young (67) and England’s Harry Hall (65).

Christiaan Bezuidenhout was the only South African in the field but is way off the pace after rounds of 70 and 73.