Another 65 ushers Matsuyama to one-shot lead

Hideki Matsuyama follows his drive from the 13th tee. —AFP

With the good scores coming in bunches in The Sentry, there is a certain pressure going into the weekend.

Much of that comes from what Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama has accomplished so far at The Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii.

Matsuyama shot an eight-under-par 65 for the second day in a row on Friday to hold a one-shot lead midway through the PGA Tour season opener.

“Seems like Hideki is trying to birdie every hole out there,” said Tom Hoge, who was the first-round leader, “so it was nice to kind of keep up the pace with him a little bit.”

The pursuers

Matsuyama is at 16-under 130, with Collin Morikawa, who also had a 65 to be just one shot back, muffing the chance to pull even by signing for par on the 18th.

“I just hit some quality shots and gave myself a run of birdie opportunities,” Morikawa said. “I felt like for the entire back nine I had birdie looks. Obviously, I made a handful, but it was just nice to see a couple drop.”

Maverick McNealy (64) is at 132 like Corey Conners (66), Thomas Detry (65) and Hoge (68).

There was no shortage of players turning in stellar rounds, so the need to keep racking up birdies was evident.

“Fourteen under, probably about halfway there,” McNealy said. “I think I need to get to 28, at least.”

Matsuyama had a bogey-free round, including birdies on two of the three par-3 holes.

“I’m definitely satisfied with where I am,” Matsuyama said. “I haven’t played well here in a while, so it’s good to get off to a good start here.” —Reuters