Kapalua [Hawaii], January 3 (ANI): Indian Americans Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala had subdued begins at The Sentry, the season-opener on the PGA Tour.
Indo-British Aaron Rai had a means higher day and with 5-under 68 he was tied-Tenth with a good begin. Bhatia shot 2-under 71 and T-30 whereas Theegala, who was hit by a triple bogey, carded 3-over 76 on the Par-73 Plantation Course at Kapalua in Hawaii. Theegala was T-56.
Japan’s Matsuyama fired a blistering 65 to lie one off the lead at The Sentry.
A brand new putter to coincide a model New Year, however the identical outdated mercurial Hideki Matsuyama confirmed up on the PGA TOUR’s season-opening occasion, The Sentry.
The 32-year-old Japanese star, who was Asia’s high performer on the PGA TOUR in 2024, fired an outstanding 8-under 65 for tied second place after the primary spherical on the Plantation Course at Kapalua in Hawaii on Thursday.
With a brand new putter – a Scotty Cameron centre-shaft blade putter – in his bag, Matsuyama brilliantly hit an eagle, seven birdies and one bogey to path early chief Tom Hoge by a shot.
Hoge opened the 2025 PGA TOUR Season with a 9-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over Will Zalatoris and Matsuyama. Hoge’s spherical included 10 birdies, equaling a career-high from the third spherical of the 2023 PLAYERS Championship (62)Hoge was No. 29 within the FedExCup standings final season, advancing to the TOUR Championship for the second time (2022). He is in the hunt for his second PGA TOUR victory in his 287th begin (2022 ATT Pebble Beach Pro-Am).
Korea’s Sungjae Im, who has three top-10s in 4 begins at The Sentry, opened with a 69 for tied sixteenth whereas compatriot Byeong Hun An got here dwelling with a 70. Kevin Yu of Chinese Taipei, making his match debut, carded a 73 whereas one other Korean star, Si Woo Kim, got here dwelling with a 76.
Last season, Matsuyama cemented his stature as Asia’s most embellished golfer by successful twice to lift his PGA TOUR tally to an unprecedented 10 titles. A quick begin in Kapalua will definitely get his adrenaline flowing as he chases a novel Hawaiian double following his triumph on the 2022 Sony Open, which can be performed on the vacation isle. He has three top-5s at Kapalua (T3/2015, 2/2017, T4/2018).
Playing alongside fellow main winners, Adam Scott and Justin Thomas, Matsuyama bought sizzling early below breezy circumstances with 4 consecutive birdies from Hole Nos. 5-8 earlier than choosing up his fifth birdie of the day on 11. A 3-putt bogey on 13 was shortly erased with a 10-foot birdie on the subsequent, adopted by a stellar eagle on 15 when his 5-iron method landed six ft of the flag. He rolled in one other 5-footer on 16 to match his lowest profession rating in 29 rounds at The Sentry.
Matsuyama’s solely blemish was the three-putt on 13 from 13 ft, however he shrugged it off with three success 3s.
Matsuyama holds the most effective energetic streak of having fun with 11 consecutive seasons of ending within the top-50 of FedExCup standings on TOUR.
Defending champion Chris Kirk was T-48 as he opened with a 74 in a bid to turn into the primary participant to efficiently defend his title at The Sentry since Geoff Ogilvy in 2010. (ANI)