HONOLULU — Patrick Fishburn discovered some early momentum and Denny McCarthy overcame a sluggish begin Friday, each winding up in the identical spot — a share of the lead within the Sony Open going into what figures to be a wide-open weekend at Waialae.
Fishburn ran off three straight birdies on the again 9 at the beginning of his spherical and chipped in for birdie on the fifth gap, closing with one final birdie for a 5-under 65.
McCarthy missed a pair of comparatively brief par putts by his requirements early in his spherical. As soon as he rolled in a 25-foot birdie on the fifth gap, he was on his approach to a 66. McCarthy, thought to be one of many higher putters on the PGA Tour, missed an 8-foot birdie try on the closing gap.
They had been at 10-under 130, one shot away from Kensei Hirata (63) and Eric Cole (67), who had an opportunity to tie for the lead till lacking a 4-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th at Waialae.
Additionally one shot again was 36-year-old rookie Paul Peterson, who performed on 5 earlier excursions all over the world earlier than getting his PGA Tour card this yr. He selected to complete his spherical on the par-5 ninth gap, two-putted for birdie and a 67 in close to darkness.
The minimize was at 3-under 137. Amongst these lacking within the first full-field occasion of the yr had been 15 gamers who had been on Maui final week for The Sentry, a $20 million event that featured 2024 winners and the highest 50 within the FedExCup. That checklist included Billy Horschel, Chris Kirk and Austin Eckroat.
McCarthy wasn’t in the slightest degree bothered by among the shorter putts he missed due to enjoying within the afternoon when there already had been loads of foot site visitors, and since he atoned for them by making his share of longer putts.
“Sort of even outs,” he mentioned.
Fishburn is a 32-year-old from Utah in his second yr on tour after utilizing a powerful fall to verify he had a full card for 2025, an necessary yr as a result of solely the highest 100 from the FedExCup maintain their playing cards. He completed at No. 104 as a rookie.
That is second journey to the Sony Open and first time enjoying. He was among the many Korn Ferry Tour grads to got here out to Oahu for rookie orientation solely to search out out the sector had stuffed and most of them wouldn’t be moving into the event.
“It was a giant aid being on the airplane figuring out I used to be going to get a tee time. Utterly totally different state of affairs,” he mentioned. “So yeah, joyful to get the tee time this yr.
One factor was sure. That document rating to par of 35 underneath by Hideki Matsuyama at Kapalua final week is protected. The Hawaii swing presents two vastly totally different programs — Kapalua constructed on a mountain, Waialae alongside the ocean. One is a resort course that’s lengthy and vast, the opposite is a non-public membership with doglegs and tight touchdown areas.
“This one is more durable for certain,” McCarthy mentioned. “You’re not going to have a 35-under winner right here.”
The main 5 gamers going into the weekend have by no means received on the PGA Tour, key as a result of an invite to the Masters is at stake. However profitable is a great distance off with 25 gamers inside 4 pictures of the lead and 36 holes to play.
Amongst these two pictures behind had been figures from the final Ryder Cup exterior Rome — Sepp Straka of Austria, and U.S. captain Zach Johnson.
Johnson, who turns 49 subsequent month, holed out with a 9-iron from the third fairway for eagle and shot 31 on the entrance 9. He wound up with a 66.
Matsuyama had a 69 and was at 4 underneath. He stays within the combine to attempt to change into the third participant to comb the Hawaii tournaments in the identical yr. It was most just lately achieved by Justin Thomas in 2017.
Johnson first joined the PGA Tour in 2004 on the Sony Open. Now he not has any standing, needing an exemption from the Sony Open to get into the event he as soon as received. He’s writing extra letters, making cellphone calls, asking for a spot within the discipline.
“I’m not going to play like an enormous schedule this yr. I don’t really feel like I wish to or have to, clearly for precedence causes,” mentioned Johnson, who performed solely twice within the fall as a result of his son is enjoying highschool soccer and he didn’t wish to miss a recreation.
The group at 6-under 134 included Gary Woodland, who a yr in the past returned from mind surgical procedure to take away a lesion that was resulting in seizures and unfounded fears of dying. Woodland’s swing has been coming collectively. He says he’s now seeing the golf course extra clearly and constructing some endurance into his recreation.
“I really feel properly, however I’m on the golf course and I’m in my zone and never trying to find it,” Woodland mentioned. “I feel for a very long time — most of final yr — I didn’t know what to anticipate every shot, how I used to be going to really feel. It’s similar to I haven’t felt this fashion in a very long time. I’m trending in the precise path. There are nonetheless some issues to get higher at, but it surely’s thrilling and the indicators are there.”
