Matsuyama sets the PGA Tour scoring record with a 35-under finish

KAPALUA, Hawaii – Hideki Matsuyama opened the new season with a record-breaking performance, even if it was hard to tell from his emotions. He was a machine at Sentry, with birdie or better in 35 holes and a score of 35 under par, both PGA Tour records.

It wasn’t until his caddy, Shota Hayafuji, spoke to him on the 18th green at Kapalua on Sunday after Matsuyama’s final birdie gave him the points record and a three-shot victory over Collin Morikawa that he smiled broadly.

“Otoshidama arigato gozaimasu.”

It roughly means “thank you” for a traditional Japanese gift to children in the New Year to wish them luck and prosperity. Matsuyama won $3.6 million with his 11th career win.

For four days there was little luck on a Plantation course that was, as always, fragile and hardly had the wind for which it was designed. Matsuyama made just one bogey in the final 59 holes and finished at 35-under 257.

With a lead heading into the final round, Matsuyama secured an eagle from 107 yards on the third hole, extended the lead when Morikawa made three consecutive putts – one for par, another for bogey – and responded with a late challenge with another wedge at 4 feet.

He finished with an 8-under 65 and started the new season in a way Matsuyama could not have imagined.

The 32-year-old Japanese star only had a few days of training before the start of the season because he was not feeling well, most recently with sores in his mouth. On a whim, he decided to upgrade to a more mid-shaft putter that he received a few days after Christmas.

“This was my first time using the putter,” Matsuyama said through his interpreter. When asked why that style of putter worked so well for him, he added, “I’m not sure, but it went in.”

The last one was for the record book. Matsuyama wasn’t entirely sure that 34 under had been the record for 72 holes. The tournament was already in the bag.

“That last putt felt like if I made it, it would be the record,” he said. “That’s why I’m so glad it got in.”

He extended his arm and pumped the first one slightly as he fell. His 35 under surpassed Cameron Smith’s par record, which he set at Kapalua in 2022, by one. It was also his 35th birdie hole or better, breaking the record set by Smith in 2022 and matched by Sungjae Im at Kapalua last year.

“He matched me shot for shot yesterday,” Morikawa said, alluding to the fact that they both shot third-round 62s that put them ahead of the field.

“Today 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 take control of everything and just let a few slip on the front nine. I played well on the back nine, but won on a golf course like this, conditions like that, you have to have it for 72 (holes), and I had it for 65.”

Morikawa closed with a 67 to finish at 32-under 260, three behind.

Matsuyama has three PGA Tour victories in the last 10 months, all against strong competition – Riviera last February and the inaugural FedEx Cup playoff event in August. He moves up to number 5 in the world rankings.

Matsuyama began to build some separation when he hit a sand wedge from 107 yards on the third hole, the ball landed in front of the marker, jumped and disappeared into the cup for eagle.

Seeing the crowd behind the raised green cheering, Matsuyama widened his eyes, pursed his lips and drummed his fists with his caddy. And that was it. It was a methodical game, a methodical week.

Morikawa, determined to do his best, stayed within two until he had a three-putt par on the fifth hole after Matsuyama hit an excellent chip behind the green into the tap-in range. Then Morikawa had another three-putt from 60 feet, this time for bogey on the sixth.

That left him four shots behind and did well to stay in the game until the final few holes. Morikawa birdied the 14th and 15th holes — Matsuyama missed birdie chances from 6 feet and 10 feet — to get within two shots with three shots remaining.

Matsuyama effectively ended the game with a wedge to 4 feet on the 16th for birdie.

The Sentry is a signature event with a $20 million prize, and the $3.6 million payout to Matsuyama gave him over $60 million for his career.

I finished with a 65 and ended up alone in third place, worth $1.36 million.

Matsuyama is the seventh player to win both Hawaii tournaments on the PGA Tour schedule. Justin Thomas (2017) and Ernie Els (2003) are the only players to both win in the same year. Matsuyama will have a chance next week to play at the Sony Open on Oahu, where he won three years ago.

Taylor Pendrith delivered the most improbable shot of the tournament, hitting his 6-iron from 200 yards on the par-5 fifth for the first albatross on the Plantation course since this season-opening tournament was moved to Kapalua in 1999.

“Once I did it, I knew it was going to be really good,” Pendrith said. “I didn’t expect it to go in. I didn’t see it go in. But the fans that were up on the green went crazy, so yeah, yeah, it was a really good bonus.”