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- Planet Golf News for Monday, January 6, 2025
Planet Golf News for Monday, January 6, 2025
Hideki Matsuyama chases down the 72-hole scoring record while winning The Sentry, his 11th PGA Tour victory | PGA Tour pro Taylor Pendrith makes incredible Kapalua history with miracle hole out | Will Zalatoris, Cam Davis Penalized for Playing Each Other's Ball in Sentry Final Round | New York Vs The Bay: TGL Week One Preview
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Monday, January 6, 2025
PlanetGolfNews + Marie Birdie
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[ THE LEADERBOARD ]
Today’s Top Golf News in Three Minutes
Good Morning,
Golf’s opening act of 2025 didn’t just roll out the red carpet—it lit it on fire. Hideki Matsuyama decided to kick off the new PGA Tour season by absolutely annihilating the field at The Sentry Tournament of Champions. Not only did he win, but he did so in record-breaking fashion, finishing 35-under par. Yes, 35-under. That’s not a typo. Hideki made the Plantation Course at Kapalua look like a casual weekend putt-putt session, even throwing in an eagle from 100 yards just for fun. Collin Morikawa tried to keep up but ended up three shots back, which, considering Hideki’s pace, is like saying you almost kept up with a Ferrari on your bicycle. Morikawa summed up the situation eloquently: “Excuse my language, but f—, 35 under par?” Indeed, Collin. Indeed.
And while Hideki was rewriting the record books, Taylor Pendrith was busy making history of his own. He nailed an albatross—the mythical double eagle—on the par-5 5th hole, the first in the event’s 27-year history. An incredible feat, right? Too bad no one saw it live because the cameras weren’t rolling. Yes, the PGA Tour, in all its multi-million-dollar glory, somehow managed to miss capturing one of the rarest shots in golf. Fans weren’t thrilled. Maybe they were too busy upgrading their drone collection?
As if the traditional golf scene wasn’t buzzing enough, the sport’s tech-infused cousin, TGL, decided to crash the party with its futuristic flair. Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s new indoor golf league is about to launch, and it’s looking more like an e-sports arena than anything resembling a fairway. Massive simulators, rotating greens, and something called “The Hammer” that doubles points on a hole? Sure, why not. Add in Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson owning a team, and suddenly golf feels like it’s trying to win over Gen Z. The inaugural match—New York Golf Club vs. The Bay—is set for tomorrow. If you’re into real golf blended with the chaos of video games, this might just be your new favorite thing.
Meanwhile, The Sentry had its usual dose of drama. Will Zalatoris and Cam Davis both played the wrong ball during the final round, picking up two-stroke penalties. A rookie mistake that gave us all a chance to feel better about our weekend hacks. Not to be outdone, Phil Mickelson announced his new YouTube channel, promising 2v2 matches, backyard trick shots, and whatever else Lefty dreams up. Even Maryland’s latest Powerball winner got in on the golf mania, crediting his $151,000 windfall to numbers inspired by a hole-in-one he witnessed. That’s right: a hole-in-one led to a lottery jackpot. Somewhere out there, a golf god is smirking.
So, there you have it. Hideki Matsuyama crushed records, Taylor Pendrith made history, TGL is about to launch golf into the tech stratosphere, and we all learned that playing the wrong ball still happens, even to the pros. If this is just the start of the golf season, we’re in for one wild year.
Today’s Top Golf News
Today’s Feature Golf Question
What is the PGA Tour’s 72-hole scoring record? This question brings to mind extraordinary performances like those at the 2022 Sentry Tournament of Champions, where Cameron Smith set a new record with a remarkable 34-under-par finish at the Kapalua Plantation Course, surpassing Ernie Els’ previous record of 31-under par from 2003. The tournament also featured Jon Rahm and Matt Jones, who both finished over 30-under par, showcasing the event’s historic low scoring. Additionally, the significance of aggregate scores is evident in the records of Justin Thomas and Ludvig Aberg, who each posted totals of 253 during separate tournaments, highlighting the exceptional scoring abilities seen in professional golf.
Major Golf Tournaments from this past weekend
The Sentry - PGA Tour - Kapalua Resort - Kapalua, HI
The 2025 Sentry Tournament of Champions at the Plantation Course in Kapalua, Maui, concluded with a record-breaking performance by Hideki Matsuyama. The Japanese golfer secured victory with a final round 8-under 65, finishing at an astounding 35-under par for the tournament. This score broke the PGA Tour record for the lowest 72-hole score in relation to par, surpassing Cameron Smith's previous record of 34-under set in 2022.
Matsuyama's win was highlighted by his consistent and exceptional play throughout the event. He set a new PGA Tour record with 35 holes played at birdie or better for the tournament. His final round included a crucial 8-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole, which sealed his three-shot victory over Collin Morikawa.
Morikawa, who had been in contention throughout the tournament, finished in second place despite an impressive performance. He did not post a round worse than 66 all week, showcasing the high level of play at this year's event.
The tournament was characterized by ideal scoring conditions, with little wind affecting play. This led to a scoring fest, with multiple players posting low rounds. Sungjae Im, for instance, nearly tied the course record with a 62 in the third round.
Other notable performances included Thomas Detry, who finished in third place, and a strong showing from Xander Schauffele, the world No. 2 who entered the tournament with high expectations following his successful 2024 season.
The Sentry, which kicks off the PGA Tour's 2025 season, featured a star-studded field with 31 prior PGA Tour winners and 10 of the top 15 players in the world. The event, held from January 2-5, offered a substantial prize pool of $15 million, with Matsuyama claiming the winner's share of $2.7 million.
This victory marks Matsuyama's 11th career title on the PGA Tour and his third win in the last 10 months, further cementing his status as one of the tour's elite players. The tournament provided an exciting start to the new PGA Tour season, setting the stage for what promises to be a competitive and thrilling year in professional golf.
The Sentry Stories
Hideki Matsuyama chases down the 72-hole scoring record while winning The Sentry, his 11th PGA Tour victory - golfdigest.com
PGA Tour scoring record snapped by Hideki Matsuyama at The Sentry, finishes at 35-under - sbnation.com
Hideki Matsuyama sets PGA Tour record with The Sentry win - nytimes.com
Hideki Matsuyama, behind a historical PGA Tour score, wins Sentry event - golf.com
Hideki Matsuyama's PGA Tour record could be safe for a while due to potential Kapalua tweak - nbcsports.com
Collin Morikawa had the most brutally honest reaction to Hideki Matsuyama's record Kapalua win - nbcsports.com
Hideki Matsuyama smashes (!) all-time PGA Tour scoring record at The Sentry - golfmagic.com
30-under club: Hideki Matsuyama and the lowest 72-hole scores in relation to par in PGA Tour history - nbcsports.com
The Sentry Videos
Upcoming Tuesday: TGL
Today’s Best Golf Videos
What’s in the Bag (WITB)
Overheard in the Club House
UPCOMING TOURS
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