The stalwart Japanese star shot a final eight sub-65 to win by three shots from fellow major winner Collin Morikawa (67) at the Plantation course in Kapalua on Monday AEDT.
Matsuyama’s total score of 35 under – from rounds of 65 65 62 65 – was one stroke better than the 72-hole course record set by Australian Smith, who won the same tournament in 2022 by one shot of John Rahm’s 34-under.
Matsuyama made a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole with a slight fist bump, the only emotion he showed all week.
The 2021 Masters champion set another PGA Tour record with his final birdie, his 35th hole-in-one for birdie or better in the tournament. Smith in 2022 and Sungjae Im last year set the previous record.
World No. 6 Matsuyama won his 11th career PGA Tour title and third victory in the last 10 months, all against some of the strongest competition.
Australians Cam Davis (69) and Adam Scott (70) were unable to maintain their blistering pace as they fell out of the top ten in the final round after scoring 64 the previous day.
Davis was 13th, 13 shots behind Matsuyama, Scott made another shot and compatriot Jason Day (70) finished 40th at 14 under.
South Korea’s Im was third, three shots behind Morikawa, after a final 62.
from AP
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