Tom Hoge Leads The Sentry PGA Tour Opener

Matthieu Pavon, of France, hits from the 12th fairway during the first round of The Sentry golf event, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, at Kapalua Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Matt York)

KAPALUA, Hawaii - Tom Hoge took the lead at The Sentry in the PGA Tour season opener with a stellar 9-under 64, showcasing his golf prowess on the Kapalua course. Hideki Matsuyama and Will Zalatoris followed closely behind, shooting 65 and 66 respectively.

The Plantation course at Kapalua welcomed a field of 60 players, many of whom were looking to shake off the rust after a short winter break. The wide fairways provided a generous setting for the players to kick off the new PGA Tour season.

Xander Schauffele, the highest-ranked player in the field, faced challenges during the round, finishing with a 72. Despite a few setbacks, Schauffele remained optimistic about the upcoming days of the tournament.

Field of 60 players at Kapalua's Plantation course for PGA Tour opener.

Hoge leads with 9-under 64, Matsuyama and Zalatoris close behind.

Schauffele faces challenges with a 72, remains optimistic.

Hoge approaches tournament cautiously due to recent life changes.

Zalatoris impresses with a bogey-free round after focusing on fitness.

Morikawa, Young, and Conners finish strong at 66.

Finau returns after knee surgery with a solid start at 67.

Matsuyama shows brilliance but falls short of Hoge's lead.

Hoge, who had not won previously, approached the tournament with cautious optimism. His recent experiences, including becoming a father and limited practice time due to weather conditions, added to the unpredictability of his performance.

Zalatoris, who had taken time off to focus on building muscle strength, showed promising results with a bogey-free round. His dedication to physical fitness and overcoming past back issues reflected in his improved performance on the course.

The first day of the new season saw impressive performances from Collin Morikawa, Cameron Young, and Corey Conners, who finished at 66. Tony Finau, returning after a four-month hiatus due to knee surgery, also made a solid start with a score of 67.

Matsuyama, coming off a series of tournaments in Japan, displayed moments of brilliance on the course but fell short of catching up to Hoge's lead. The competitive spirit among the players set the stage for an exciting season ahead.

The absence of Scottie Scheffler, the top-ranked player who sustained an injury, and the revised structure of the FedEx Cup, which now retains only the top 100 players with full cards for the next year, added new dimensions to the start of the season.

As the tournament progresses, golf enthusiasts eagerly anticipate more thrilling performances and intense competition among the players vying for victory at The Sentry in Kapalua.