Hideki Matsuyama and Collin Morikawa treated fans to a mesmerizing display of elite golf on Saturday at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, exchanging birdies and spectacular shots in a back-and-forth duel that left the rest of the field in their wake. Matsuyama’s course record-tying 62 gave him a slim one-shot edge over Morikawa heading into Sunday’s final round, setting the stage for a blockbuster finish between two of the sport’s brightest stars.
A Barrage of Birdies at Kapalua
The normally breezy Plantation Course at Kapalua was eerily still on moving day, paving the way for an avalanche of red numbers. Matsuyama and Morikawa took full advantage, firing at the pins relentlessly and draining putt after putt as they pulled away from the pack.
Matsuyama went on a particularly scorching run mid-round, at one point making five straight birdies as he surged into the lead. Not to be outdone, Morikawa started his round 5-under through five holes, including a majestic eagle at the 5th. The two phenoms went toe-to-toe all afternoon, electrifying the galleries with their shotmaking.
Shattering Records in Ideal Conditions
In this rare windless environment, birdies came in bunches and course records were under assault. Matsuyama’s 11-birdie 62 matched the Kapalua mark for lowest round and established a new 54-hole scoring record at a whopping 27-under par.
“Collin played well, and I just kind of followed him, so good day.”
– Hideki Matsuyama
Although his playing partner Morikawa also fired a sizzling 62, the ever-humble Matsuyama was quick to downplay his own brilliance, chalking it up to simply keeping pace. But both men were locked in and feeding off each other, routinely stuffing approach shots and burying clutch putts.
Separation From the Field
While Matsuyama and Morikawa battled back and forth in their own stratosphere, the remaining contenders struggled to keep pace. Though several chasers posted low numbers in the tame conditions, they still lost ground to the leading duo’s blistering pace.
- Thomas Detry: 22-under, 6 back
- Sungjae Im: 21-under, 7 back
With a six shot cushion over third place, it’s shaping up as a two-horse race between Matsuyama and Morikawa on Sunday, barring a monumental collapse. Both men are in peak form and appear poised to keep the birdie bonanza going.
Stage Set for a Champion’s Duel
After 54 holes of scintillating golf, Matsuyama clings to a precarious one-stroke advantage over the relentless Morikawa. Can the Japanese star convert another 54-hole lead into victory, as he’s done twice in the last year? Or will the steely Morikawa overtake him for a statement win to open 2025?
With the trade winds forecast to stay down and scoring conditions likely to remain ideal, it promises to be a shootout for the ages between two generational talents at the height of their powers. A dream duel in paradise awaits.
