Hideki Matsuyama Leads with Impressive Performance at The Sentry

Hideki Matsuyama takes a one-stroke lead at The Sentry after a stellar bogey-free round, making a strong start to his 2025 PGA TOUR season. With a total score of 16-under par, he narrowly leads over Collin Morikawa. Matsuyama aims to add another victory to his 10 career wins.

Japanese golfing sensation Hideki Matsuyama seized a one-shot lead after 36 holes at The Sentry, marking a triumphant start to his 2025 PGA TOUR campaign.

On Friday, Matsuyama, 32, showcased a flawless round at the Plantation Course, notching eight birdies to secure a bogey-free 65, propelling him to a 16-under total.

Trailing close behind is major winner Collin Morikawa, also shooting 65 in this season's inaugural USD 20 million Signature event.

Sharing the third position at 14-under are Corey Conners, Maverick McNealy, Tom Hoge, and Thomas Detry, each demonstrating remarkable form.

Despite his lead, Matsuyama expressed some dissatisfaction, failing to capitalize on all par-5s, notably ending with a frustrating three-putt on the 18th.

Central to his game was his exemplary iron play, enabling him to convert six birdies from within eight feet, complemented by a new putter that helped drain a 35-footer on the par-3 11th hole.

Determined and driven, Matsuyama remains the most successful Asian golfer on the PGA TOUR, boasting 10 career titles, including two wins from last season.

His back-to-back 65s matched his second-best 36-hole score on TOUR, nearly equalling his career-best of 129 set at the 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship.

Sungjae Im, another strong contender, overcame two early bogeys to deliver a round of 67, finding himself six strokes behind.

Meanwhile, Indian Americans Aksay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala hold T-49 and T-51, respectively, while Aaron Rai stands at T-29.

(With inputs from agencies.)