Matsuyama starts year with dominant win by setting 72-hole PGA record at The Sentry

Hideki Matsuyama started his 2025 season in the most spectacular way by breaking the 72-hole PGA Tour tournament scoring record – firing an eight-under par 65 to finish on 35-under par 257 and win the Sentry tournament on Sunday.

The 32-year-old outclassed American Collin Morikawa to capture his 20th worldwide title and 11th PGA Tour victory in the 2025 season opener at the Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii, to take the low-par mark for four rounds.

Needing a birdie at the last for the record, Matsuyama chipped his third from just off the green, then rolled his final putt straight into the hole.

"That last putt, it felt like if I make it, it's going to be the record, so I'm so happy that it went in," said Matsuyama.

"I was able to get a great off-season and get a fresh start this week and play well this week so it's a great way to start," added the 2021 Masters champion, who also added Tokyo Electron to his growing list of sponsors this week.

Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion started the final round with a one-shot advantage over Morikawa, a two-time Major winner. He then went toe-to-toe with Morikawa, over the back nine but stayed ahead the whole way.

"I knew Collin was going to play good today so I said, 'Hey I'm going to shoot 10-under' and that's the attitude I had," said Matsuyama.

Matsuyama sank a birdie putt from just beyond 30 feet at the par-three 11^th to reach 32-under but Morikawa matched him from 11 feet to stay three adrift.

Answering the challenge, Matsuyama rolled in a birdie putt from just outside 21 feet at the 12^th to extend his lead to four shots.

Morikawa then reduced the deficit with birdies on 14 and 15 to stay within two shots back of the Japanese.

Matsuyama, however, landed his approach inside four feet at the 16th and sank the birdie putt to reach 34-under and stretch his advantage back to three strokes, before setting up his dramatic finish.

Ends.