HONOLULU — Patrick Fishburn discovered some early momentum and Denny McCarthy overcame a sluggish begin Friday, each winding up in the identical spot — a share of the lead within the Sony Open going into what figures to be a wide-open weekend at Waialae.
Fishburn ran off three straight birdies on the again 9 at first of his spherical and chipped in for birdie on the fifth gap, closing with one final birdie for a 5-under 65.
McCarthy missed a pair of comparatively quick par putts by his requirements early in his spherical. As soon as he rolled in a 25-foot birdie on the fifth gap, he was on his approach to a 66. McCarthy, thought to be one of many higher putters on the PGA Tour, missed an 8-foot birdie try on the closing gap.
They have been at 10-under 130, one shot away from Kensei Hirata (63) and Eric Cole (67), who had an opportunity to tie for the lead till lacking a 4-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th at Waialae.
Additionally one shot again was 36-year-old rookie Paul Peterson, who performed on 5 earlier excursions all over the world earlier than getting his PGA Tour card this yr. He selected to complete his spherical on the par-5 ninth gap, two-putted for birdie and a 67 in close to darkness.
The reduce was at 3-under 137. Amongst these lacking within the first full-field occasion of the yr have been 15 gamers who have been on Maui final week for The Sentry, a $20 million event that featured 2024 winners and the highest 50 within the FedExCup. That record included Billy Horschel, Chris Kirk and Austin Eckroat.
McCarthy wasn’t in the least bothered by among the shorter putts he missed due to taking part in within the afternoon when there already had been loads of foot visitors, and since he atoned for them by making his share of longer putts.
“Sort of even outs,” he mentioned.
Fishburn is a 32-year-old from Utah in his second yr on tour after utilizing a robust fall to ensure he had a full card for 2025, an essential yr as a result of solely the highest 100 from the FedExCup preserve their playing cards. He completed at No. 104 as a rookie.
That is second journey to the Sony Open and first time taking part in. He was among the many Korn Ferry Tour grads to got here out to Oahu for rookie orientation solely to seek out out the sphere had crammed and most of them wouldn’t be stepping into the event.
“It was a giant reduction being on the aircraft understanding I used to be going to get a tee time. Fully completely different situation,” he mentioned. “So yeah, joyful to get the tee time this yr.
One factor was sure. That report rating to par of 35 underneath by Hideki Matsuyama at Kapalua final week is protected. The Hawaii swing provides two vastly completely different programs — Kapalua constructed on a mountain, Waialae alongside the ocean. One is a resort course that’s lengthy and broad, the opposite is a non-public membership with doglegs and tight touchdown areas.
“This one is more durable for positive,” McCarthy mentioned. “You’re not going to have a 35-under winner right here.”
The main 5 gamers going into the weekend have by no means received on the PGA Tour, key as a result of an invite to the Masters is at stake. However successful is a great distance off with 25 gamers inside 4 pictures of the lead and 36 holes to play.
Amongst these two pictures behind have been figures from the final Ryder Cup exterior Rome — Sepp Straka of Austria, and U.S. captain Zach Johnson.
Johnson, who turns 49 subsequent month, holed out with a 9-iron from the third fairway for eagle and shot 31 on the entrance 9. He wound up with a 66.
Matsuyama had a 69 and was at 4 underneath. He stays within the combine to attempt to change into the third participant to comb the Hawaii tournaments in the identical yr. It was most not too long ago executed by Justin Thomas in 2017.
Johnson first joined the PGA Tour in 2004 on the Sony Open. Now he not has any standing, needing an exemption from the Sony Open to get into the event he as soon as received. He’s writing extra letters, making telephone calls, asking for a spot within the discipline.
“I’m not going to play like an enormous schedule this yr. I don’t really feel like I need to or must, clearly for precedence causes,” mentioned Johnson, who performed solely twice within the fall as a result of his son is taking part in highschool soccer and he didn’t need to miss a sport.
Woodland at Sony Open: ‘It is like I can see once more’
Gary Woodland completed his second spherical on the Sony Open in Hawaii 6-under par and he talks with Todd Lewis about how good he is feeling to start out 2025.
The group at 6-under 134 included Gary Woodland, who a yr in the past returned from mind surgical procedure to take away a lesion that was resulting in seizures and unfounded fears of dying. Woodland’s swing has been coming collectively. He says he’s now seeing the golf course extra clearly and constructing some endurance into his sport.
“I really feel properly, however I’m on the golf course and I’m in my zone and never trying to find it,” Woodland mentioned. “I believe for a very long time — most of final yr — I didn’t know what to anticipate every shot, how I used to be going to really feel. It’s identical to I haven’t felt this manner in a very long time. I’m trending in the precise path. There are nonetheless some issues to get higher at, but it surely’s thrilling and the indicators are there.”
