Hideki Blows Hot as Ocean Course Bares its Teeth

Kiawah Island, South Carolina, United States: As the winds whipped up, Hideki Matsuyama blew hot. His fellow Japanese Takumi Kanaya and Rikuya Hoshino were blown away.

On a wild day at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course, Matsuyama rose magnificently to the challenge, a four-under-par 68 being the equal best round of a day on which just four players bettered 70.

At the half-way stage of the PGA Championship, Matsuyama is in a share of fourth place on 141 – just two strokes off the pace being jointly set by South African Louis Oosthuizen and veteran American Phil Mickelson.

The two-time Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship winner snared six birdies against two bogeys as he laid down a marker that he’s in the mood to claim a second successive Major championship title, having made his Major breakthrough last month at the Masters Tournament.

“I really hit my driver and second shots very well today, and that gave me a lot of birdie opportunities, which I was able to capitalise on,” said Matsuyama. “It looks like you have to accumulate a lot of birdies, as many as you can, until you get to those last four or five holes, which are very difficult. Being able to make birdies on those downwind holes makes it a whole lot easier because you're not under pressure. You can lose a stroke here or there on the final holes.

“It's up to the weather what's going to happen between the morning wave and afternoon on Saturday and Sunday. However, hopefully my play today will carry over to the weekend.” 

While Matsuyama is contemplating a thrilling weekend charge, Kanaya and Hoshino departed the scene with tails firmly between their legs having struggled to come to terms with conditions the like of which they’d not have experienced on their home soil.

Hoshino, winner of last week’s Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup Golf on the Japan Tour, signed for a second-round 83 which included seven bogeys and two double-bogeys.

His two-day total of 159 was two ahead of Kanaya, the 2018 AAC winner and number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking last year before turning pro. He carded an 86, needing 48 strokes on the back nine, including a nine at the par-three 17th where he twice found water and three-putted.

Joining Matsuyama in flying the flag for the Asia-Pacific region over the weekend are Koreans Im Sung-jae (tied seventh on 142), An Byeong-hun (tied 50th, 148) and Chan Kim (tied 63rd, 149) and Australians Cam Smith (tied 25th, 145) and Lucas Herbert (tied 50th, 148).

Making an early exit were Koreans Kim Si-woo (151), KH Lee (155) and YE Yang, who was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard.

Thai Jazz Janewattananond followed an opening 77 with an 80 that featured a seven at the second and an eight at the 11th, both par-fives.