Hideki Matsuyama is setting a pretty high bar for the rest of his 2025 PGA Tour season.
The 32-year-old broke a tour record with his 35-under final score to win The Sentry at Kapalua in Hawaii. His birdie putt on No. 18 lifted him over the top to put him past Cameron Smith's mark from 2022.
"That last putt, it felt like if I make it, then it's going to be the record," Matsuyama said through his translator. "So I'm so happy that it went in."
The 2021 Masters champion went eight-under 65 in three of the rounds. His best day came Saturday as he recorded 11 birdies and went 11 under.
The win earned Matsuyama $3.6 million in prize money and 700 points in the FedEx Cup.
The Plantation Course at Kapalua is a golfer's paradise in more ways than one. Beyond the picturesque scenery, the PGA Tour's official site noted the 2022 Sentry tournament saw the three highest single-round scores ever, with Jon Rahm (33 under) and Matt Jones (32 under) finishing behind Smith.
This year, Collin Morikawa had to settle for second place despite carding a 32-under over 72 holes, and he could only chuckle at how he played so well yet still was the runner-up.
Potential changes to the scoring at Kapalua could ensure Matsuyama's new record lasts for a little while.
Golf Channel's Mark Rolfing reported tournament organizers are contemplating making The Sentry a par-72 event instead of its current par-73 standard. They would do that by giving golfers only four shots to make par on the 520-yard fifth hole.
Matsuyama would've lost four shots under the proposed format since his four birdies on No. 5 would've been pars.
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