Hideki Matsuyama Takes Narrow Lead as Exciting Championship Showdown with Collin Morikawa Approaches

As Collin Morikawa assessed the first cut of rough on the 16th hole at Kapalua, he executed a near-perfect shot, landing just 20 inches from the hole for a certain birdie in his riveting battle against Hideki Matsuyama.

Matsuyama was positioned about 20 yards closer, but his lob wedge soared over the pin, utilising a mix of spin and the green’s slope to roll past Morikawa’s ball.

This was the rhythm of the day on Sunday (AEDT) at The Sentry.

Matsuyama enjoyed a remarkable day with a personal best of 11 birdies in a bogey-free round of 62, establishing a new record for the Plantation Course with an impressive 54-hole total of 27-under 192.

This performance put him just one shot ahead of Morikawa, who matched Matsuyama’s 62 and mirrored much of what his rival did on a day characterised by incredibly light winds and exceptionally low scoring in the PGA Tour opener.

“Collin played well and I kind of just followed him, so it was a good day,” commented Matsuyama, the understated Japanese star known for his abundant birdies.

Morikawa began so strongly that it wasn’t until the sixth hole that he hit a less favourable shot — a wedge that landed 25 feet away, leading to a birdie attempt that grazed the cup. He has only missed two greens over the course of 54 holes.

“Today was really good. A couple of shots were a bit off, but mostly my irons were on target and I knew where they were going,” Morikawa reflected.

He briefly took the lead on the front nine after starting with 5 under over five holes, which included a stunning 25-foot eagle putt on the fifth hole showcasing his excellent shot-making skills.

Matsuyama caught up on the following hole, and they remained neck and neck for the rest of the round.

The scoring patterns brought back memories of 2022, when Cameron Smith demolished the tournament record — and the PGA Tour record for lowest total under par — at an astonishing 34-under 258.

This year’s conditions were similarly benign, with very little wind making the beautifully designed Plantation Course seem like a playground for the world’s best golfers, especially given its generous fairways.

Three years back, Smith and Jon Rahm shared the lead, comfortably five shots ahead of the rest. Currently, Matsuyama finds himself one shot up on Morikawa, with Thomas Detry trailing one further back at 22-under 197, just ahead of Sungjae Im, who also managed a 62.

The average score recorded was an impressive 67.49, setting yet another record since the tournament moved to Kapalua in 1999.

Detry shot a commendable 65 but lost ground overall.

“I shot 8 under today, but it didn’t feel like it,” he stated.

“On other courses, an 8 under would feel like an unreal performance, but I just felt like I played consistent golf.”

Matsuyama and Morikawa continued to rack up birdies and gain separation from the pack, with the pivotal moment coming on the reachable par-4 14th. Matsuyama chipped to just 3 feet for birdie while Morikawa found a bunker, from which he blasted out to 10 feet and subsequently missed the putt.

The exceptional standard of golf emphasised the significance of every shot, and both players rose to the occasion.

Morikawa shared his experience of being in the zone, and with another competitor as focused as him, it led to a remarkable exhibition of skill.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Matsuyama, “but I would prefer he takes it a bit easier tomorrow.”

Morikawa has focused on refining his swing in the off-season, but perhaps more crucially, he’s worked on his mindset. His aim is to invest wholeheartedly in each shot, across every day and tournament to see where it leads.

Sunday thus became a significant test.

“Looking at the greats, they consistently did that,” Morikawa observed.

“Take Tiger, for instance; he achieved that week in and week out. If I were to ask myself whether I’ve done that over the past six years each time, I’d probably say no. But it’s difficult. It truly is. That’s my mindset going into this year: ‘I’ve got four days, let’s see what happens.’”

Morikawa has experienced his fair share of opportunities at Kapalua, having once held a six-shot lead two years ago before finishing with a disappointing 72, leaving him in the wake of Jon Rahm, who shot a closing 63.

Last season, he was in the final group three times during key events — once behind Scottie Scheffler at the Masters, sharing the lead with Xander Schauffele at the PGA Championship, and four shots behind Scheffler heading into Memorial.

He is now set on chasing Matsuyama, who is vying for his third victory in ten months. This focus reminds Morikawa of his early days as a professional in 2019.

“I had seven opportunities for sponsor exemptions and wasn’t sure if I’d secure my card, so I put everything on the line because I had that goal,” Morikawa explained.

“Well, I’m going to give it all I have tomorrow because I’m determined to win.”