KAPALUA, Hawaii — Collin Morikawa faced a crucial moment on the 16th hole, evaluating how his ball would react when coming out of the first cut of rough. His calculation was nearly flawless, with the ball landing just 20 inches from the hole for an easy birdie in a compelling competition against Hideki Matsuyama.
Matsuyama, hitting from about 20 yards closer, expertly lofted his lob wedge over the pin, using both spin and the slope of the green to have his ball roll past Morikawa’s, ultimately stopping just 8 inches away. The competition was fiercely contested throughout the day on Saturday at The Sentry.
Matsuyama delivered a record-breaking performance with 11 birdies in a flawless round of 62. This feat not only marked a personal best but also established a new Plantation course record for 54 holes at an impressive 27-under 192. However, Morikawa managed to keep pace, matching Matsuyama’s score of 62 and mirroring almost every aspect of Matsuyama’s game on a day characterized by strong play and minimal winds during the PGA Tour season opener.
“Collin played really well today, and I just kind of followed him,” Matsuyama noted, succinct yet appreciative of the competition. Morikawa’s performance was so consistent that it wasn’t until his sixth hole when he hit a less-than-satisfactory wedge shot, leaving him a daunting 25 feet for a birdie that teetered around the cup. He has missed only two greens over the three rounds played.
“It was an overall really good day. While a couple of shots were a bit off, my irons were mostly solid, hitting the center of the face consistently,” Morikawa remarked.
He surged into the lead on the front nine, starting the day with an outstanding five birdies in five holes, including a remarkable 25-foot eagle putt on the fifth hole. However, Matsuyama quickly caught up on the subsequent hole, and they traded birdies back and forth for the remainder of their rounds.
The low scores echoed the previous year when Cameron Smith set a tournament record of 34-under 258. That event also benefited from unusually calm conditions, just as this one has.
With virtually no wind on Maui’s western coast, the Plantation course, traditionally challenging due to its design for high winds, turned into a target-rich environment for top golfers, especially given its expansive fairways.
Three years ago, Smith and Jon Rahm shared the lead, significantly ahead of their competitors. This time, Matsuyama was one shot clear of Morikawa, with Thomas Detry next in line at 22-under 197 and one stroke ahead of Sungjae Im, who also posted a 62.
The tournament recorded an average score of 67.49, setting yet another record since it relocated to Kapalua in 1999. Detry scored a 65 but felt he had lost ground to the leaders.
“I shot 8 under today but didn’t sense that level of play,” he explained. “On other courses, 8 under feels like an extraordinary feat, but today felt like just steady play.”
As Matsuyama and Morikawa continued to accumulate birdies, the gap between them widened, highlighted by the reachable par-4 14th. Here, Matsuyama skillfully chipped to 3 feet for his birdie, while Morikawa found himself in a bunker, only to miss his birdie attempt after a solid recovery to 10 feet away.
The exceptional standard of golf meant that each shot carried great significance, and both players rose to the occasion. Morikawa reflected on being in his zone, noting the synergy created by having another top player in close competition.
“It was a lot of fun today,” Matsuyama added, “though I hope he takes it a bit easier tomorrow.”
Morikawa has dedicated his offseason to perfecting his swing, but he also emphasized the importance of maintaining a competitive mindset. He aims to fully commit to each shot this season, reflecting the practices of golf legends.
“Looking back at the greats, they executed week in and week out. I’ve got to see how I can bring that intensity every day of the tournament,” Morikawa stated, acknowledging his challenges.
Having had several opportunities at Kapalua before, including a six-shot lead two years ago before finishing second to Rahm, Morikawa is eager to capitalize on this moment. Last year, he found himself in the final group at several key events but hopes to change that narrative this weekend as he chases Matsuyama, who is seeking his third victory in ten months.
“This is a great opportunity, and I’ll put everything I have into it, just as I did when I first turned pro in 2019,” he concluded. “I had to give it everything back then, and it’s no different now.”
