Hideki Matsuyama has broken Cameron Smith's PGA Tour 72-hole scoring record, winning The Sentry tournament in Hawaii at 35 under par.
The unflappable Japanese star shot a closing eight under 65 to win by three shots.from fellow major winner Collin Morikawa (67) on the Plantation course at Kapalua on Monday AEDT.
Matsuyama's 35 under total - from rounds of 65 65 62 65 - was one stroke better than the tour's 72-hole record to par set by Australian Smith when he won the same tournament in 2022 by one shot from Jon Rahm at 34 under.
Matsuyama made an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole, lightly pumping his fist.
The 2021 Masters champion set another PGA Tour record with that final birdie, his 35th hole at birdie or better for the tournament. Smith in 2022 and Sungjae Im last year held the previous record.
"That last putt, it felt like if I make it, then it's going to be the record," Matsuyama said. "So I'm so happy that it went in."
World No.6 Matsuyama earned his 11th career title on the PGA Tour, and his third win in the last 10 months, all against some of the strongest fields.
"I was able to have a great offseason and get a fresh start this week and play well this week," he said. "So it was a great way to start (the year)."
It was another scoring fest on the Plantation course on weeks when there is little wind, such as this one to start the new PGA Tour season.
Australians Cam Davis (69) and Adam Scott (70) could not keep up with the red-hot pace as they slipped out of the top 10 in the final round following their 64s the previous day.
Davis was tied 13th, 13 shots behind Matsuyama, with Scott a further shot back while countryman Jason Day (70) tied for 40th at 14 under.
Morikawa had to settle for second place despite not posting a round worse than 66 all week.
"Just going through the shots I left out there," Morikawa said. "There was a good handful that I wish I could have back. ... I know there is a lot of positives, and it's going to take me a few hours or a day to get over it."
South Korea's Im was third, three shots adrift of Morikawa, after a closing 62.
Matsuyama is the seventh player to win both Hawaii tournaments on the PGA Tour schedule.
Justin Thomas (2017) and Ernie Els (2003) are the only players to win both in the same year. Matsuyama will have a chance to join them next week in the Sony Open on Oahu, where he won three years ago.
with The AP
