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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Ryo Hisatsune electrified the Phoenix Open crowds Friday, turning a splashdown into a stunning birdie and surging into the lead with an 11-under 131 total.The 23-year-old’s remarkable play underscores the unpredictable nature of golf and sets the stage for a thrilling weekend at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course.
Hisatsune’s Chip-In Sparks Charge, Scheffler Stays in hunt
Japan’s Hisatsune and matsuyama lead a competitive field, while world no. 1 Scheffler remains within striking distance.
- Ryo Hisatsune fired a bogey-free 8-under 63 to take the second-round lead.
- Scottie Scheffler carded a 65 to remain in contention.
- Hideki matsuyama made a significant move with six straight birdies, briefly leading at 10 under.
- Brooks Koepka struggled and missed the cut in his second tournament back on the PGA Tour.
Scottie Scheffler, rebounding from his first missed cut as the 2022 FedEx St.Jude Classic, posted a 2-under 33 on the front nine and followed it up with four birdies on the back, finishing with a bogey-free 65 and reaching 4 under, seven shots off the lead.
What’s the significance of Scheffler’s comeback? The world’s No. 1 player has twice won tournaments when trailing by more than seven strokes, including the 2022 Phoenix Open, where he overcame a nine-shot deficit for his first PGA Tour victory.
“Felt a bit lost out there at times yesterday, so today felt a lot better, felt more in control of my game,” Scheffler said. “You can obviously see that through the cleaner card today.”
Two-time Phoenix Open champion Brooks Koepka struggled,finishing at 2 over and missing the cut in his second tournament back on the PGA Tour after being reinstated. He followed an opening 75 with a 69.
The day belonged to the Japanese contingent, with Hideki Matsuyama also making a significant move. Matsuyama had six straight birdies to shoot 64 in the morning wave, briefly taking the lead at 10 under.
Hisatsune surpassed Matsuyama with a blistering run of six under par in a five-hole stretch, highlighted by his chip-in on 17. he also birdied the 13th and 14th, and sank an 8-foot eagle putt on the par-5 15th, before sinking a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-3 16th.
Overnight leader Chris gotterup shot 71, joining Pierceson Coody (68) at 8 under. Hisatsune tied for second at Torrey Pines last week after missing the cut in the season-opening Sony Open and had four top-10s as a PGA Tour rookie last year.
Hisatsune will be paired with Matsuyama in Saturday’s third round. “It’s some dreams on my pairing,” Hisatsune said.
Matsuyama opened with a bogey-free 68 and began his second round with three straight pars before catching fire. He birdied the par-5 13th despite hitting his drive into the desert and hit his approach to 3 feet on the 498-yard par-4 14th for another birdie.He added another from 3 feet and then a 29-foot birdie putt on 16.
Matsuyama finished with a two-putt birdie on the reachable par-4 17th and capped a 6-under 30 on the back nine with a 4-foot birdie putt on No. 18. He hit it inside 10 feet for two more birdies on Nos. 4-5, but bogeyed the par-4 ninth after pulling his tee shot into the thick left rough.
“It’s a grate golf course,” Matsuyama said through an interpreter. “You have to play well here
