AFP – American Tom Hoge fired a 9-under-par round of 64 to grab the first-round lead at the PGA Tour’s season-opening The Sentry tournament in Kapalua, Hawaii on Thursday.
Hoge led by a stroke from compatriot Will Zalatoris and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama at the first of eight ‘signature events’ on the tour.
Those events are designed to bring the elite of the tour together at regular points throughout the season but world number one Scottie Scheffler is missing after hurting his hand in a Christmas dinner cooking accident.
Hoge began in fine style with birdies on four of the opening five holes before he three-putted on the par-4 sixth for a bogey. The 35-year-old, whose solitary win on the PGA Tour came at Pebble Beach in 2022, bounced back though with birdies on the seventh and ninth holes, reaching the turn in 31.
He made four birdies on the back nine, including on the par-5 18th, and was delighted with his work on the greens in particular.
“I really didn’t have many expectations coming in, because there wasn’t a whole lot of play or practice the last few months. But felt like I was putting really well coming into the week,” he said.
Hoge was among the early players out and benefitted from relatively still conditions while those playing later in the afternoon had to contend with some gusty winds.
“We had a few holes where there wasn’t a whole lot of impact from the wind. By the time we made the turn it came up pretty strong,” he said.
While there is only a short break in the PGA Tour’s schedule between seasons, Hoge said he had made sure to take plenty of time off.
