– Hideki Matsuyama (-16) has displaced Tom Hoge as the leader of the The Sentry Tournament. The Japanese player has showcased his repertoire. His skills. His signature moves. The ones that have always worked. Shots to the green as if he were snacking on crisps. A round of 65 strokes without bogeys and without particularly taking advantage of the par 5s. He didn’t need to. His specialty is controlling distances, leaving them close, always at flag height. Arguably, the best in the world in this specialty with the permission, of course, of Mr. Scheffler.
– The second round of the Sentry has been even more favourable than the first. Less wind, more birdies. The Plantation course at Kapalua has no defence, still somewhat soft from the rain. A dart contest. Only its greens, huge and with a movement reminiscent of Maialen Chorraut‘s descents, minimally complicate the task for these extraordinary players. The pace continues relentlessly towards a winning score between -25 and -30.
– One stroke behind Matsuyama is Collin Morikawa (-15), a classic in the Hawaiian heights. Japanese style prevails in Kapalua. Morikawa has finished in the top 10 of the tournament in all his appearances. His irons were made to play this course. However, he has yet to win, and it’s not for lack of opportunities. Five consecutive birdies from the 13th to the 17th are the reason for that second place. And that’s despite missing the easy 18th. You can always count on him, although his winless streak since the ZOZO in 2023 is starting to weigh a bit.
– The third place is shared by Corey Conners, Thomas Detry, Tom Hoge, and Maverick McNealy, all players cut from the same cloth: very good from tee to green and especially with irons. That’s what the Plantation demands. All of them, also, with more game than victories. Well, in Detry’s case, he’s still searching for his first. They are all at -14, two strokes behind Matsuyama.
– It’s official. Xander Schauffele has lost. We refer to the first virtual duel against Scottie Scheffler. While the World Number One won his first tournament after the break, the Hero in the Bahamas, Schauffele is already out of contention for victory in Hawaii. And there are still 36 holes to play. He is at -4, twelve strokes behind Matsuyama. Yes, anything is possible, but winning, as they say, seems like a pipe dream. The World Number 2 and winner of the PGA and the Open in 2024 has been particularly erratic from the tee. Unfamiliar. The Plantation is not the most problematic setting for this issue, but it obviously limits the precision needed to aim for the flag and leave them close, a crucial area to be at the top in these parts.
– Keegan Bradley (-13) is now seventh after delivering a card of 64 strokes, nine under par. The captain is not joking around. He started with four birdies in five holes and finished with an eagle. Yes, he’s serious about qualifying to play at Bethpage while holding the team captaincy.
– Justin Thomas (-4), Matthieu Pavon (-2), Sahith Theegala (-2), and Nick Dunlap (PAR) form, along with the aforementioned Schauffele, the club of early-year disappointments. They are all far from what was expected of them. Meanwhile, the strong Will Zalatoris (-11) has lost a lot of ground today with a round of 70 strokes, but he remains within distance to have something to say over the weekend.
– David Riley scored 80 strokes today at The Sentry, exactly 16 more than Bradley. For one of these guys to score 80 strokes at Kapalua, you have to be serious. A day to forget in all segments of the game. And that’s despite making five birdies, although he wiped them all out with a ‘9’ on the 17th.
