Josh Schrock
Getty Pictures
Hideki Matsuyama arrived at this week’s Sony Open contemporary off a historic win on the season-opening Sentry, trying to begin the season with back-to-back wins in Hawaii.
However the 32-year-old’s week received off to an inauspicious begin Thursday when he hit an errant tee shot on the ninth gap. Matsuyama misplaced the grip on his driver throughout his follow-through and launched it towards the patrons on the rope line.
Luckily for the previous Masters champion, the wayward membership hit the rope and missed the spectators.
The near-disaster didn’t faze Matsuyama on the 517-yard Par 5.
The off-line tee shot landed close to the boundary fence to the left, however that wasn’t a problem for Matsuyama. He escaped hazard and left his second shot simply wanting the inexperienced. A pitch and putt allowed him to go away the outlet with a birdie en path to a three-under-par 67.
Matsuyama’s 67 was adequate to place him in a tie for twenty sixth after Day 1. He’s at the moment three pictures again of Denny McCarthy, Harry Corridor, Eric Cole, Adam Schenk, Tom Hoge, and Paul Peterson. High novice Luke Clanton, who can safe his Tour card with a top-five end this week, is 5 pictures again at one below.
The Japanese star will get his Friday spherical began at 12:50 p.m. ET alongside Russell Henley (4 below) and Sahith Theegala (three below).
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Golf.com Editor
Josh Schrock is a author and reporter for Golf. com. Earlier than becoming a member of GOLF, Josh was the Chicago Bears insider for NBC Sports activities Chicago. He beforehand lined the 49ers and Warriors for NBC Sports activities Bay Space. A local Oregonian and UO alum, Josh spends his free time mountain climbing along with his spouse and canine, considering of how the Geese will break his coronary heart once more, and attempting to turn out to be semi-proficient at chipping. A real romantic for golf, Josh won’t ever cease attempting to interrupt 90 and by no means lose religion that Rory McIlroy’s main drought will finish. Josh could be reached at josh.schrock@golf.com.