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By Cronkite News staff
SCOTTSDALE – In his early years of playing golf, Ryo Hisatsune idolized Hideki Matsuyama. Now he’s sitting one spot above him and atop the WM Phoenix Open leaderboard.
Four birdies and an eagle during a back-nine stretch, including a birdie at 17 after landing in the water, has Hisatsune, 23, at 11-under after two rounds at the TPC Scottsdale. He holds a one-stroke lead over Matsuyama, 33, the man who has inspired so many Japanese golfers with his PGA Tour success, and who was the first to win a men’s major golf championship: the 2021 Masters Tournament.
Now the two will be paired in Saturday’s third round.
“Absolutely a dream to play,” Hisatsune said about a pairing with Matsuyama. “Especially in … Phoenix.”
Friday’s round revealed some unexpected successes — Pierceson Coody, seeking his first tour win, sits in a tie for third with Chris Gotterup — and disappointing finishes. Brooks Koepka missed the cut by shooting a 2-over in his second tournament after leaving LIV Golf and returning to the PGA Tour. His switch to a new putter didn’t seem to help, but just being back on the tour seemed to lift his spirits. Others who missed the cut include Jordan Spieth, who finished 3-over.
And keep an eye on Scottie Scheffler, who shot 6-under Friday after a 2-over Thursday and now sits just four shots out of third place.
Also look out for Matsuyama. His impressive scorecard resembled an aviary. Birdie birdie birdie birdie birdie birdie. The PGA pro’s round took flight early Friday morning at TPC Scottsdale before finding a comfortable resting place near the top of the leaderboard at 10-under.
The emergence of young Japanese stars on the DP World Tour, formerly the European Tour, is starting to be felt on the PGA Tour. Some of it is the success of Matsuyama, but it’s also inspiration among peers. Nothing feeds the competitive beast of a professional athlete like talented rivals.
Matsuyama’s round included eight birdies to finish the day 7-under. It was his second day of bogey-free golf and a potential harbinger of the 2026 season after finishing in the top 15 in his previous two tournaments.
“I love playing here,” Matsuyama said though an interpreter. “The energy that’s out there, so many fans cheering you on. You hit a bad shot, they’ll boo you and there is some pressure, but I love it.”
There wasn’t much booing Friday. In fact, one of his birdies came at the highly scrutinzed 16th hole, where he sank a 30-foot putt to secure the crowd’s appreciation.
Not all golfers embrace 16, but Matsuyama loves the pressure.
“I mean, it’s always exciting to finish 15, take a couple deep breaths, and, boy, you feel it when you walk through that tunnel out onto the 16 tee,” he said. “Then when I hole-out there at 16 it’s kind of a relief, ‘Oh, I did it.’”
Si Woo Kim loves the tournament so much it was almost a letdown after he shot a 6-under par – including an eagle at 13 and a birdie at 16 – through six holes, and then had to finish his round on the front nine.
“When you start back nine first, (it feels) a little boring (on the) front nine.”
He finished the day tied for fifth after shooting 9-under and now shares the space with Englishman John Parry, 39, who joined the PGA Tour for the first time this year via the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai rankings and is experiencing crowds like he’s never seen. Fortunately for him, his two days at 16 have equated to two birdies.
“Yeah, it’s phenomenal. … It’s been a good hole for me,” he said. “Yeah, spectacular hole. It’s one you got to just accept what it is and just try and enjoy it. Half them – well, I know they’re enjoying themself, but I think they’re enjoying the beer a bit more than the golf.
“You just got to accept that’s what they’re there for. It’s great.”
Other interesting names on the board include Finnish golfer Sami Välimäki, who enters Saturday at 4-under. He the cousin of former Coyotes player Juuso Välimäki.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Hisatsune leads WM Phoenix Open, will play with idol Matsuyama in 3rd
Continue reading...
SCOTTSDALE – In his early years of playing golf, Ryo Hisatsune idolized Hideki Matsuyama. Now he’s sitting one spot above him and atop the WM Phoenix Open leaderboard.
Four birdies and an eagle during a back-nine stretch, including a birdie at 17 after landing in the water, has Hisatsune, 23, at 11-under after two rounds at the TPC Scottsdale. He holds a one-stroke lead over Matsuyama, 33, the man who has inspired so many Japanese golfers with his PGA Tour success, and who was the first to win a men’s major golf championship: the 2021 Masters Tournament.
Now the two will be paired in Saturday’s third round.
“Absolutely a dream to play,” Hisatsune said about a pairing with Matsuyama. “Especially in … Phoenix.”
Friday’s round revealed some unexpected successes — Pierceson Coody, seeking his first tour win, sits in a tie for third with Chris Gotterup — and disappointing finishes. Brooks Koepka missed the cut by shooting a 2-over in his second tournament after leaving LIV Golf and returning to the PGA Tour. His switch to a new putter didn’t seem to help, but just being back on the tour seemed to lift his spirits. Others who missed the cut include Jordan Spieth, who finished 3-over.
And keep an eye on Scottie Scheffler, who shot 6-under Friday after a 2-over Thursday and now sits just four shots out of third place.
Also look out for Matsuyama. His impressive scorecard resembled an aviary. Birdie birdie birdie birdie birdie birdie. The PGA pro’s round took flight early Friday morning at TPC Scottsdale before finding a comfortable resting place near the top of the leaderboard at 10-under.
The emergence of young Japanese stars on the DP World Tour, formerly the European Tour, is starting to be felt on the PGA Tour. Some of it is the success of Matsuyama, but it’s also inspiration among peers. Nothing feeds the competitive beast of a professional athlete like talented rivals.
Matsuyama’s round included eight birdies to finish the day 7-under. It was his second day of bogey-free golf and a potential harbinger of the 2026 season after finishing in the top 15 in his previous two tournaments.
“I love playing here,” Matsuyama said though an interpreter. “The energy that’s out there, so many fans cheering you on. You hit a bad shot, they’ll boo you and there is some pressure, but I love it.”
There wasn’t much booing Friday. In fact, one of his birdies came at the highly scrutinzed 16th hole, where he sank a 30-foot putt to secure the crowd’s appreciation.
Not all golfers embrace 16, but Matsuyama loves the pressure.
“I mean, it’s always exciting to finish 15, take a couple deep breaths, and, boy, you feel it when you walk through that tunnel out onto the 16 tee,” he said. “Then when I hole-out there at 16 it’s kind of a relief, ‘Oh, I did it.’”
Si Woo Kim loves the tournament so much it was almost a letdown after he shot a 6-under par – including an eagle at 13 and a birdie at 16 – through six holes, and then had to finish his round on the front nine.
“When you start back nine first, (it feels) a little boring (on the) front nine.”
He finished the day tied for fifth after shooting 9-under and now shares the space with Englishman John Parry, 39, who joined the PGA Tour for the first time this year via the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai rankings and is experiencing crowds like he’s never seen. Fortunately for him, his two days at 16 have equated to two birdies.
“Yeah, it’s phenomenal. … It’s been a good hole for me,” he said. “Yeah, spectacular hole. It’s one you got to just accept what it is and just try and enjoy it. Half them – well, I know they’re enjoying themself, but I think they’re enjoying the beer a bit more than the golf.
“You just got to accept that’s what they’re there for. It’s great.”
Other interesting names on the board include Finnish golfer Sami Välimäki, who enters Saturday at 4-under. He the cousin of former Coyotes player Juuso Välimäki.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Hisatsune leads WM Phoenix Open, will play with idol Matsuyama in 3rd
Continue reading...
