Hideki Matsuyama Sets PGA Tour History with Record 35-Under at The Sentry: Japan's Star Dominates at Kapalua

Hideki Matsuyama began the 2025 PGA Tour season by achieving something unprecedented: the lowest score in relation to par in PGA Tour history. His 35-under total at The Sentry at Kapalua's Plantation Course shattered the previous record and announced that the Japanese star remains a dominant force in professional golf.

The Record-Setting Performance

Matsuyama's four-round total of 35-under 257 surpassed Cameron Smith's previous record of 34-under, set at the same venue in 2022. The 32-year-old Japan native posted rounds of 65-65-62-65 at the par-73 course, finishing three strokes clear of Collin Morikawa.

The performance was comprehensive in its excellence. Matsuyama's third round 62—an 11-under score—was arguably the finest competitive round of his career. He made 11 birdies in a single day, building an insurmountable advantage that even Morikawa's determined chase couldn't overcome.

Breaking Down the Numbers

Matsuyama's record-setting week produced multiple statistical milestones:

• 35-under par: The lowest 72-hole score in relation to par in PGA Tour history
• 33 birdies and 2 eagles: A new PGA Tour record for birdies or better in a 72-hole tournament, surpassing Sungjae Im's mark from the 2024 Sentry
• 35 holes at birdie or better: A new PGA Tour record
• 11 birdies in Round 3: His best single-round performance

These numbers represent not merely exceptional golf but historically unprecedented excellence. Matsuyama's consistency throughout the week—never posting a round worse than 65—demonstrated that his scoring wasn't dependent on a single breakthrough round but rather sustained brilliance across all four days.

Career Milestone and Financial Achievement

The Sentry victory marked Matsuyama's 11th career PGA Tour title and 20th worldwide win. As a Signature Event with a $20 million purse, the $3.6 million winner's check pushed his career earnings beyond $60 million.

More significantly, this triumph represented Matsuyama's third victory in his last 16 PGA Tour starts, dating back to the previous season. This win density suggests Matsuyama has entered another peak performance phase in his career—a development with significant implications for the 2026 Presidents Cup.

Historic Context

Matsuyama's achievements must be understood within proper historical context. The 2021 Masters champion became the first Japanese golfer to win a men's major championship, breaking barriers that had stood for over a century of professional golf.

His victory at The Sentry extends this pioneering legacy. Matsuyama now holds the PGA Tour's scoring record—a mark that may stand for years or even decades. This achievement places him among the most accomplished golfers of his generation, regardless of nationality.

Technical Excellence at Kapalua

The Plantation Course at Kapalua provides a unique scoring environment. Its par-73 layout, wide fairways, and receptive greens create opportunities for aggressive play. However, exploiting these opportunities requires exceptional driving accuracy, approach precision, and putting excellence.

Matsuyama excelled in all areas. His approaches found the correct portions of greens, leaving manageable birdie opportunities. His putting—historically a vulnerable area of his game—proved reliable throughout the week. His Saturday assault on the course (11 birdies) demonstrated that when all aspects of his game align, Matsuyama can score at unprecedented levels.

Implications for Team Golf

Matsuyama's record-setting performance carries enormous implications for the International Team's 2026 Presidents Cup prospects. As the highest-ranked International player and the team's most accomplished major champion, Matsuyama represents Captain Geoff Ogilvy's most reliable weapon.

If Matsuyama can sustain this form into September 2026 at Medinah, the International Team's competitive prospects improve dramatically. His ability to score at this level suggests he can compete with—and potentially defeat—any American player in head-to-head competition.

The challenge for Ogilvy will be deploying Matsuyama strategically to maximize his impact across fourballs, foursomes, and singles. Matsuyama's consistency makes him valuable in alternate-shot formats, while his scoring ability makes him dominant in four-ball competition.

Japanese Golf's Rising Prominence

Matsuyama's continued excellence reflects the broader rise of Japanese golf on the world stage. Young Japanese players are increasingly competitive on global tours, inspired by Matsuyama's pioneering achievements.

His 2025 Sentry victory—achieved with such comprehensive dominance—reinforces his status as Japanese golf's greatest champion and an inspiration for future generations.

The Morikawa Chase

Collin Morikawa's runner-up finish (32-under) deserves recognition. Morikawa held or shared the lead after each of the first three rounds and made an impressive charge on Sunday, but couldn't overcome Matsuyama's three-stroke cushion.

The Matsuyama-Morikawa duel provided compelling theater, matching two of golf's most technically gifted players in a scoring shootout. Morikawa's final-round 67 was excellent but insufficient against Matsuyama's closing 65.

This dynamic—elite players pushing each other to unprecedented scoring levels—reflects the competitive excellence that defines modern professional golf.

Looking Ahead

Matsuyama's record-setting Sentry victory establishes him as a primary contender for every tournament he enters in 2025. If he can maintain this form throughout the season, multiple additional victories seem likely.

For the Presidents Cup, his performance suggests the International Team possesses at least one player capable of competing with—and potentially exceeding—America's best. Scottie Scheffler may be the world's number one player, but Matsuyama's 35-under at Kapalua proves he can score at levels even Scheffler hasn't matched.

Conclusion

Hideki Matsuyama's 35-under victory at The Sentry represents more than a tournament win—it represents the achievement of something no golfer has ever accomplished in PGA Tour history. His scoring record may stand for years or even decades.

For the International Team, Matsuyama's early-season dominance provides hope that the 2026 Presidents Cup might finally produce a different result. When a player can shoot 35-under par in competitive conditions, the possibilities seem limitless.

Hideki Matsuyama began 2025 by making history. The rest of the year—and the 2026 Presidents Cup—will reveal whether this record-setting performance was a singular achievement or the beginning of sustained dominance that reshapes international team golf competition.