Hisatsune leads Matsuyama at Phoenix Open

Stimpmeter · February 7, 2026, 5:30am

Ryo Hisatsune rode a back-nine binge to an eight-under par 63 on Friday to take a one-shot lead over fellow Japanese Hideki Matsuyama at the PGA Tour’s Phoenix Open.

Hisatsune picked up six strokes in the space of five holes on the back nine at TPC Scottsdale, building an 11-under-par total of 131.

Former Masters champion Matsuyama had a six-birdie streak of his own in a seven-under-par 64 to reach 10-under-par 132.

Christo Lamprecht was on two-under 140 (T52) after carding 73, while the other South Africans in the field all missed the cut, which fell at one under.

Hisatsune, a 23-year-old chasing his first PGA Tour title, made two birdies on the front nine before launching his surge with a four-foot birdie at the 13th.

He drained a 23-foot birdie putt at the 14th, rolled in an eight-foot eagle at the par-five 15th, and a seven-foot birdie at the 16th. He capped the run with a remarkable birdie at the par-four 17th, where he found water off the tee and, after taking his drop, chipped in.

Hisatsune is on a heater! Solo leader.

Name a happier guy right now @WMPhoenixOpen. pic.twitter.com/jv6d02DlNy

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 6, 2026

“It was very lucky,” he admitted, adding that it was also “more fun”.

He called playing alongside Matsuyama in the final group on Saturday a “dream”.

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Matsuyama, who won back-to-back Phoenix Open titles in 2016 and 2017, teed off on the 10th and surged up the leaderboard with six straight birdies from the 13th through the 18th.

He rolled in a nine-foot birdie putt at the par-five 13th, drained three-foot birdie putts at the 14th and 15th, and drilled a 29-foot birdie putt at the 16th to delight the throng of fans in the multi-level hospitality suites surrounding the hole.

He admitted the huge crowds can make for a nervy experience, but Matsuyama – who has five top-five finishes and five top-10 finishes in Phoenix – said he loves the atmosphere.

“The energy that’s out there, so many fans cheering you on,” he said. “You hit a bad shot, they’ll boo you and there is some pressure, but I love it.”

Riding high after the birdie at the 16th, Matsuyama drove the green at the par-four 17th and two-putted for birdie from 50 feet, then stuck his second shot at the 18th inside four feet for another birdie.

He added birdies at the 4th and 5th before a closing bogey at the 9th.

“It’s a great golf course,” Matsuyama said. “You have to play well here, strike the ball well to play well, and the crowd gets me geared up for that.”

Overnight leader Chris Gotterup, seeking a second win of 2026 after his triumph at the Sony Open in Hawaii last month, carded an even-par 71 and at eight-under-par 134 was tied for third with Pierceson Coody, who posted a three-under 68.

World No 1 Scottie Scheffler, in danger of missing the halfway cut after an opening-round 73, bounced back with six birdies in a six-under 65 and at four under par made the cut with three strokes to spare.

Scheffler has now made 66 consecutive cuts, the longest active streak on Tour.

Scheffler, seven shots back going into the weekend, won the 2022 Phoenix Open after trailing by nine at the halfway stage.

Five-time Major winner Brooks Koepka missed the cut in his second tournament since returning to the PGA Tour from the breakaway LIV Golf league.

Koepka followed an opening 75 with a two-under 69 and at two over par missed the cut.

– AFP

Photo: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

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