Scottie Scheffler drives off the Kapalua Plantation Course’s 14th tee during the second round of The Sentry on Friday. — The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
KAPALUA — Scottie Scheffler is the No. 1-ranked golfer in the world who just won his second straight Jack Nicklaus Trophy as the PGA Tour player of the year.
He found himself at the top of the leaderboard Friday at the midway point of The Sentry, the PGA Tour opener at the Kapalua Plantation Course.
He stands at 16-under-par 130 after a 9-under 64 on Friday. He knows, with the benign conditions that have left the 7,596-yard layout somewhat defenseless, that it will take more of the same type of scoring to hold the winner’s trophy and cash the $3.6 million champion’s check on Sunday.
“Probably a lot more of what I did today and yesterday,” Scheffler said. “Scores around this place are pretty low, but it’s one of those places if you go out there and play well you’re going to get rewarded. If you start not hitting it in the right spots, you can get in trouble. Just got to keep the pedal down out here.”
Tyrrell Hatton fired the round of the day — and the low round of his career — with an 11-under 62. He finished the round birdie, birdie, birdie, eagle and is tied with Brendon Todd (64) and Sungjae Im (66) at 131, one stroke behind Scheffler.
Scottie Scheffler watches his drive off the Kapalua Plantation Course’s 15th tee find the rough Friday afternoon. Scheffler survived to make his fourth straight birdie on the back nine. — The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
Hatton said the more than 24-hour trip from England to Kapalua — he arrived late Saturday night — had taken a toll on his body.
“Yeah, it was a really good day,” Hatton said. “If I’m being honest, body didn’t feel great, and tee to green wasn’t, didn’t feel amazing. I had a mad day on the greens. Every putt I seemed to look at went in, which is a nice feeling. Hopefully that continues over the weekend.”
Hatton elaborated that he still felt fatigue and jet lag, especially after taking most of December off from golf.
“Just very stiff. I think traveling from England, the 25 and a half hours, door to door, and my body still, I wouldn’t say I looked after myself in the December period, maybe that played a part,” he said smiling. “Yeah, so body hasn’t been moving well. I’m sure if you had seen some flight tracers of some of my tee shots you would be disgusted. They’re kind of going into not too bad of spots, so, yeah, managing fairly well at the moment.”
When asked what he thought the day might go like, Hatton laughed.
Tyrell Hatton watches his drive on No. 11 Friday. — The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
“Well, I guess it shows how much of a stupid game it is,” he said. “Obviously, I putted amazing today, that’s the big thing for how my score ended up as low as it was. Yeah, with how bad my body felt, I’m surprised that, going out this morning, that score was just not even entering my mind. It’s more probably like over, (11) over par.”
Scheffler is making his third appearance here — he finished tied for 13th in 2021 and tied for seventh last year — and he said course knowledge is valuable here, at least when the wind is a little more consistent.
“I think it helps a decent amount,” Scheffler said. “This is a place where we typically see a lot of the same wind direction. Today was actually the opposite that I’ve always seen the golf course, so my course knowledge didn’t help too much going into today. It was a bit of an unusual day with the wind direction, but just adjusted, and obviously the scores are pretty low.”
Todd was also smiling when asked what it might take to win here this weekend. The PGA Tour’s top five scores to par for a four-round event have all been shot here, including the record 34 under that Cam Smith fired in winning here two years ago.
“Gosh, I was telling my son, he said if I shoot 6-under four times that’s 24-under. I said, ‘That’s not going to be enough to win.’ He said, ‘Really?’ “ Todd said. “I said, ‘Well, 34 under won two years ago.’ I think we’re looking like something like that. Something in the low 30s. There’s just so many great players and the golf course is in perfect shape and without the wind you’re able to hit wedges close and reach the par-5s.”
The gallery watches the threesome of Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth and Viktor Hovland tee off on the Kapalua Plantation Course’s 11th hole during the second round of The Sentry on Friday. — The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
There are 18 players within four shots of Scheffler’s lead.
Collin Morikawa, last year’s runner-up, is two strokes back in a group of five tied for fifth going to the weekend even though he was not overly pleased with his 67 Friday.
“Just never got any momentum going,” Morikawa said. “Never felt comfortable with some shots. Irons actually felt the best part of my game. I just wasn’t able to convert on the putts. Hit some good putts, they didn’t go in. Speed was a little off. Out here you just got to just find a groove out here.
“If you can find a groove out here you can make three, four, five birdies in a row. We have seen it with a lot of these guys, hopefully we get in that groove starting tomorrow.”
* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com
Jason Day tees off on the 14th hole Friday. — The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
_______________
The Sentry
Friday’s Second-Round Leaders
At Kapalua Plantation Course
Scottie Scheffler66-64–130-16
Sungjae Im tees off on No. 11 Friday. — The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
Tyrrell Hatton69-62–131-15
Sungjae Im65-66–131-15
Brendon Todd67-64–131-15
Byeong Hun An68-64–132-14
Viktor Hovland65-67–132-14
Chris Kirk67-65–132-14
Collin Morikawa65-67–132-14
_______________
PGA TOUR THE SENTRY
Friday’s Second Round
At Kapalua Plantation Course
Scottie Scheffler66-64–130-16
Tyrrell Hatton69-62–131-15
Sungjae Im65-66–131-15
Brendon Todd67-64–131-15
Byeong Hun An68-64–132-14
Viktor Hovland65-67–132-14
Chris Kirk67-65–132-14
Collin Morikawa65-67–132-14
Akshay Bhatia69-64–133-13
Matt Fitzpatrick69-64–133-13
Brian Harman67-66–133-13
Jordan Spieth66-67–133-13
Sepp Straka67-66–133-13
Sahith Theegala64-69–133-13
Patrick Cantlay66-68–134-12
Jason Day65-69–134-12
Emiliano Grillo66-68–134-12
Patrick Rodgers69-65–134-12
Adam Schenk69-65–134-12
Tony Finau69-66–135-11
Xander Schauffele66-69–135-11
Cameron Young68-67–135-11
Eric Cole70-66–136-10
Adam Hadwin70-66–136-10
Tom Hoge67-69–136-10
Max Homa67-69–136-10
Si Woo Kim70-66–136-10
Kurt Kitayama72-64–136-10
Taylor Moore71-65–136-10
J.T. Poston68-68–136-10
Camilo Villegas65-71–136-10
Sam Burns69-68–137-9
Nicolas Echavarria70-67–137-9
Harris English71-66–137-9
Rickie Fowler70-67–137-9
Lee Hodges72-65–137-9
Luke List67-70–137-9
Erik Van Rooyen72-65–137-9
Lucas Glover72-66–138-8
Nick Hardy71-67–138-8
Mackenzie Hughes68-70–138-8
Tom Kim68-70–138-8
Adam Svensson70-68–138-8
Nick Taylor69-69–138-8
Matt Wallace68-70–138-8
Ludvig Aberg69-70–139-7
Keegan Bradley69-70–139-7
Wyndham Clark71-68–139-7
Corey Conners69-70–139-7
Hideki Matsuyama71-68–139-7
Denny McCarthy70-69–139-7
Tommy Fleetwood70-70–140-6
Justin Rose71-69–140-6
Russell Henley69-72–141-5
Davis Riley70-71–141-5
Seamus Power71-71–142-4
Cameron Davis75-68–143-3
Vincent Norrman73-70–143-3
Andrew Putnam74-71–145-1
Today’s Third-Round Tee Times
Tee No. 1
7:57 a.m.–Tom Hoge, J.T. Poston, Si Woo Kim.
8:09 a.m.–Taylor Moore, Eric Cole, Camilo Villegas.
8:21 a.m.–Tony Finau, Adam Hadwin, Kurt Kitayama.
8:33 a.m.–Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Cameron Young.
8:45 a.m.–Jason Day, Adam Schenk, Patrick Rodgers.
8:57 a.m.–Brian Harman, Sepp Straka, Emiliano Grillo.
9:09 a.m.–Akshay Bhatia, Sahith Theegala, Jordan Spieth
9:21 a.m.–Collin Morikawa, Byeong Hun An, Matt Fitzpatrick.
9:33 a.m.–Sungjae Im, Chris Kirk, Viktor Hovland.
9:45 a.m.–Scottie Scheffler, Tyrrell Hatton, Brendon Todd.
Tee No. 10
7:57 a.m.–Max Homa, Nico Echavarria, Erik van Rooyen.
8:09 a.m.–Sam Burns, Lee Hodges, Luke List.
8:21 a.m.–Harris English, Rickie Fowler, Matt Wallace.
8:33 a.m.–Nick Taylor, Lucas Glover, Adam Svensson.
8:45 a.m.–Tom Kim, Nick Hardy, Mackenzie Hughes.
8:57 a.m.–Keegan Bradley, Corey Conners, Wyndham Clark.
9:09 a.m.–Hideki Matsuyama, Denny McCarthy, Ludvig Aberg.
9:21 a.m.–Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Davis Riley.
9:33 a.m.–Russell Henley, Seamus Power, Cam Davis.
9:45 a.m.–Vincent Norrman, Andrew Putnam.
Collin Morikawa studies his golf shoe on the first hole after installing a new spike before his round Friday. — The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
Spieth (right) watches his drive off the first tee Friday along with playing partner Scheffler. — The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
First-round leader Sahith Theegala chips to the 14th green Friday. — The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
Today's breaking news and more in your inbox
Today • HHSAA swimming and diving 8:30 a.m.—State championships, dive finals, at Kihei Aquatic Center. 1 ...
BOWLING ALOHA FRIDAY LEAGUE Feb. 2 Results At Wailuku Lanes Standings—Anela’s 61, Jonathan’s 59.5, ...
Lola Donez scored 19 points in her final game with the Lahainaluna High School girls basketball team as the Lunas ...
Top-seeded Iolani School got a golden goal off the post in the 89th minute on Friday night for a 1-0 overtime win ...
Today • HHSAA swimming and diving 10 a.m.—State championships, dive prelims, at Kihei Aquatic ...
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7rq3UoqWer6NjsLC5jqynqKqkqHytu8Kao2aroKS%2Ftb%2BOa2drbF9lfnDAx55krJ2eqb%2B6edKcn56elqGys3nOp2Stp6Bitaatw6KloGWZo8GwedaenKSdnpl8