Matsuyama "Did You See the Eagle That Won in Overtime?"... Lee Kyung-hoon Tied for 48th Place

PGA Tour 'Hawaii 2nd Event' Sony Open Final Day "7 Under Par + Playoff Eagle", Henry Tears Up in 2nd Place

Hideki Matsuyama is cheering after making a birdie on the 15th hole on the final day of the Sony Open. Hawaii, USA - Photo by Getty Images/Multibits

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] "Wood shot → wood shot → 1-putt eagle."

It is the power of Hideki Matsuyama (Japan). On the 17th (Korean time) at the Waialae Golf Club in Honolulu, Hawaii (par 70, 7,044 yards), the final day of the PGA Tour Sony Open (total prize money $7.5 million), he surged with 7 under par to tie for the lead with Russell Henley (USA) at 23 under par 257 strokes, then made a 'winning eagle' on the first hole of the playoff at the 18th hole (par 5). This is his 8th career win, three months after the Zozo Championship in October last year, with a winner's prize of $1.35 million (1.61 billion KRW).

Matsuyama is the player who became the first Asian to win the Masters last April. He is the second after Yang Yong-eun (age 50, 2009 PGA Championship) to win among the four major championships. He secured his first win of the 2022 season early with a 5-stroke victory (15 under par 265 strokes) at the Zozo Championship held at his home course, Accordia Golf Narashino Golf Club (par 70) in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, in October. With this victory, he immediately rose to No. 1 in the FedEx Cup points ranking (1152.70).

Starting the day two strokes behind in second place, Matsuyama made seven birdies. He energized the game with 'stepping stone birdies' on holes 2 and 4, a birdie on hole 8 (par 4), consecutive birdies on holes 10 and 11 in the back nine, and a birdie on hole 15 (par 4). The highlight was the final 18th hole (par 5). With a 338-yard tee shot, he easily made a '2-on 2-putt' birdie, closing the gap by five strokes over the last nine holes. On the first playoff hole, when Henley's tee shot landed in a bunker, Matsuyama focused on securing the fairway with a wood shot and placed his second shot close to the hole to seize the victory.

Henley, on the other hand, overshot the green on his third shot and eventually collapsed with a '4-on 2-putt' bogey. Missing a 3.1-meter birdie putt on the 18th hole to avoid the playoff was a lasting regret. Kevin Kisner (USA) made a late surge with 6 under par to finish tied for third place (19 under par 261 strokes). For Korea, Lee Kyoung-hoon (31) remained tied for 48th place (8 under par 272 strokes), and Kim Si-woo stayed at even par, ending up tied for 55th place (7 under par 273 strokes).

Russell Henley is looking at the ball immediately after putting on the 15th hole of the final day of the Sony Open. Hawaii (USA) = Getty Images / Multibits

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