KAPALUA, Hawaii — Tom Hoge, hailing from North Dakota, embraced the laid-back atmosphere of Kapalua on Thursday and managed to deliver a stellar performance, carding a 9-under 64 to claim a one-shot advantage in The Sentry, marking the beginning of the PGA Tour season. It was a promising start for Hoge, who managed to keep his expectations modest while taking advantage of the momentum created by his solid play.
On the other hand, Hideki Matsuyama tested a new putter after observing its use by another player. His strategy paid off with a birdie-eagle-birdie streak during the back nine, ultimately resulting in a score of 65 that placed him just one shot behind Hoge. Will Zalatoris joined Matsuyama’s ranks at 65, showcasing his enhanced physicality after a two-month break.
The day laid the foundation for an exciting start to the new PGA Tour season at a time when the stakes are noticeably elevated. The 60-player field was largely shaking off the cobwebs from a brief winter break, aimed at finding their rhythm on a Plantation course which is known for its wide, accommodating fairways that the players will encounter throughout the year.
Xander Schauffele, a two-time major winner and the highest-ranked contestant in the competition, faced challenges in his round, encountering difficulties during his search for his golf ball on multiple occasions. This led to a bogey on the back nine, resulting in an unsuspecting score of 72.
Hoge, who is among the 29 players competing in Kapalua without a prior win, came into the tournament uncertain of what to expect. Recent weather conditions in Texas stunted his practice opportunities, as did the arrival of his first child—a son named Thomas Bennett—only a few weeks prior.
“I played through Mexico the first week of November, then it was just home for a while,” Hoge reflected. “We had our first child in early December, which forced me to take some time off. With the new schedule, there was a lot of golf until the Tour Championship last year, and I felt a bit worn out by the end of it.”
Hoge’s prowess with the putter helped offset any signs of rust. He opened with a 15-foot birdie, saved par with a 6-foot putt shortly after, and then landed an 18-foot birdie on the third hole. He also showcased his short game by chipping in from a tricky position on the fourth hole.
“It just kind of loosens you up,” he said. “And being in Maui, with no expectations, lets you just go for it and see what happens.”
Zalatoris, making a noticeable physical transformation, used his two-month hiatus to bulk up. His goal is to enhance his durability against ongoing back issues that have kept him off the course for extended periods, notably after enduring back surgery.
“I feel better than before the surgery now,” Zalatoris stated. “I wanted to push my limits because being at 160 pounds and trying to hit 300 yards was not sustainable.”
He left the BMW Championship in August weighing 163 pounds and had increased his weight to 182 by the time he flew from Dallas to Maui. “I’m hoping that my best golf shows up at the end of the season,” he added.
Zalatoris concluded the first day with no bogeys, although he felt a three-putt on the par-5 fifth hole, the course’s easiest, was akin to a bogey. Collin Morikawa, Cameron Young, and Corey Conners all finished strong with rounds of 66, while Tony Finau put up a 67 after returning to competitive play following knee surgery.
Matsuyama, who spent the fall season competing in Japan, faced setbacks due to a three-putt bogey on the 13th hole. However, he regained momentum with a wedge shot to 10 feet for birdie, followed by a stunning 5-wood to just 5 feet for an eagle on the 15th. Despite the opportunity to equal Hoge’s score, he fell short on the downhill 18th as his 3-wood did not perform as expected.
The season commenced without the presence of Scottie Scheffler, the world’s top-ranked golfer, who unfortunately injured his hand on broken glass while preparing a Christmas meal. This new season also introduces a revised structure where only the top 100 players in the FedEx Cup standings will retain full playing cards for the following year, a reduction from the previous 125 players limit.
