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Planet Golf News for Sunday, January 5, 2025
Hideki Matsuyama arrived in Maui this week with 4 putters. He might leave with a record-setting victory | PGA Tour moves toward changes to FedEx Cup finale. Finding a solution everyone likes won't be easy | Keegan Bradley admits to having recurring dreams about the upcoming Ryder Cup: "Just have 'em all the time"
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Sunday, January 5, 2025
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[ THE LEADERBOARD ]
Today’s Top Golf News in Three Minutes
Good Morning,
Hideki Matsuyama decided to put on an absolute clinic at Kapalua this week, casually carding a bogey-free 62, complete with a staggering 11 birdies. That’s right—11. A personal best for him, because apparently anything less than perfection just won’t do. The man is now sitting pretty at 27-under, holding a slim one-shot lead over Collin Morikawa, who also fired a jaw-dropping 62 but had the audacity to not one-up Matsuyama. Tough break, Collin.
The tournament has turned into a two-man show as these guys have completely separated themselves from the rest of the field. Matsuyama is aiming for his third win in ten months, and frankly, with the way he’s playing, he might just waltz off with another trophy. Morikawa, meanwhile, is probably lying awake at night, plotting ways to outshine a guy who rolled into Maui with four putters in his bag. Four. Because why not?
Elsewhere, the PGA Tour is busy stirring the pot with talk of changing the FedEx Cup finale again. The current format, with its “starting strokes,” has been labeled confusing—because apparently explaining who’s winning shouldn’t require a degree in advanced mathematics. The Tour is throwing around ideas like bracket-style playoffs or head-to-head match play, which sound like fun until you remember it’s the PGA Tour, and getting everyone to agree on anything is like herding cats. Players like Adam Scott and Patrick Cantlay are all for a simpler system, which might mean going back to good ol’ traditional stroke play. Because sometimes the classics really are better.
Meanwhile, YouTube golf star Grant Horvat is now part-owner of Takomo Golf, a move that screams, “I’m living every golf nerd’s dream.” He’s all in on their irons and wedges but staying loyal to TaylorMade for his woods and driver, proving that even influencers know where to draw the line.
Back in Hawaii, the Ryder Cup is living rent-free in Keegan Bradley’s head, as the man admitted he’s been having recurring dreams about the event. With just months to go until the big showdown, it’s fair to say he’s more hyped than a kid on Christmas Eve. Over at LIV Golf, Jon Rahm is busy shutting down rumors that he regrets his move to the breakaway league, with Tyrrell Hatton chiming in to dismiss it all as “media bull****.” Classic Hatton.
On the fitness front, Will Zalatoris is channeling his inner Hulk, gaining 20 pounds of muscle through a high-protein diet that involves eating enough food to make the average human tap out. This new-and-improved version of Zalatoris should be fun to watch—assuming his fridge can keep up.
And finally, in a more somber twist, California’s Desert Dunes Golf Course has officially shut down. The course, a Robert Trent Jones Jr. design, struggled with financial woes and maintenance issues, leading to its closure. The good news? It might become a nature preserve, so at least someone will get to enjoy the views.
As the weekend wraps up, all eyes are on Matsuyama and Morikawa to see who can close the deal at Kapalua. Whether it’s birdie blitzes, gear changes, or dream-fueled Ryder Cup obsessions, golf is off to a chaotic and thoroughly entertaining start in 2025.
Today’s Top Golf News
Today’s Feature Golf Reads
Major Golf Tournaments happening this weekend
The Sentry - PGA Tour - Kapalua Resort - Kapalua, HI
The Sentry, the PGA Tour's first event of the 2025 season, is currently underway at the Plantation Course at Kapalua in Hawaii. After an exciting third round, Hideki Matsuyama has taken a one-shot lead over Collin Morikawa. Both players put on a spectacular display of golf, each carding an impressive 11-under 62 in Saturday's round.
Matsuyama's performance was particularly noteworthy as he set a new 54-hole tournament record, reaching 27-under par. His round included a personal best of 11 birdies, the most he has ever made in a single round on the PGA Tour. Morikawa, not far behind at 26-under par, also had an outstanding day, starting with five under par in his first five holes, including an eagle on the fifth.
The duo has created significant separation from the rest of the field. Thomas Detry sits in third place at 22-under par, followed by Sungjae Im at 21-under and Harry Hall at 20-under. The scoring conditions at Kapalua have been exceptionally favorable, with little wind and wide fairways allowing for aggressive play.
As the tournament heads into its final round on Sunday, all eyes will be on Matsuyama and Morikawa as they battle for the title and the substantial $3.6 million winner's purse. The stage is set for an exciting conclusion to The Sentry, with the possibility of challenging Cameron Smith's tournament record of 34-under par, set in 2022.
The Sentry Stories
Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa both shoot 62 to separate from Sentry field - nbcsports.com
Hideki Matsuyama arrived in Maui this week with 4 putters. He might leave with a record-setting victory - golfdigest.com
2025 Sentry leaderboard, takeaways: Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa set for final-round duel at Kapalua - cbssports.com
Pro's seven-birdie streak ends with 'devastating' par - golf.com
The Sentry Videos
Ryder Cup (Sept 25-28, 2025)
Today’s Best Golf Videos
What’s in the Bag (WITB)
Overheard in the Club House
UPCOMING TOURS
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