{"id":4680,"date":"2026-05-26T11:35:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T11:35:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/4680\/"},"modified":"2026-05-26T11:35:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T11:35:16","slug":"ryo-hisatsune-holds-lead-over-idol-hideki-matsuyama-at-wm-phoenix-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/4680\/","title":{"rendered":"Ryo Hisatsune holds lead over idol Hideki Matsuyama at WM Phoenix Open"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Cronkite News Staff, Cronkite News
February 6, 2026<\/p>\n

By Cronkite News staff<\/p>\n

SCOTTSDALE \u2013\u00a0In his early years of playing golf, Ryo Hisatsune idolized Hideki Matsuyama. Now he\u2019s sitting one spot above him and atop the WM Phoenix Open leaderboard.<\/p>\n

Four birdies and an eagle during a back-nine stretch, including a birdie at 17 after landing in the water, has Hisatsune, 23, at 11-under after two rounds at the TPC Scottsdale. He holds a one-stroke lead over Matsuyama, 33, the man who has inspired so many Japanese golfers with his PGA Tour success, and who was the first to win a men’s major golf championship: the 2021 Masters Tournament.<\/p>\n

Now the two will be paired in Saturday\u2019s third round.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely a dream to play,\u201d Hisatsune said about a pairing with Matsuyama. \u201cEspecially in \u2026 Phoenix.\u201d<\/p>\n

Friday\u2019s round revealed some unexpected successes \u2013 Pierceson Coody, seeking his first tour win, sits in a tie for third with Chris Gotterup \u2013 and disappointing finishes. Brooks Koepka missed the cut by shooting a 2-over in his second tournament after leaving LIV Golf and returning to the PGA Tour. His switch to a new putter didn\u2019t seem to help, but just being back on the tour seemed to lift his spirits. Others who missed the cut include Jordan Spieth, who finished 3-over.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And keep an eye on Scottie Scheffler, who shot 6-under Friday after a 2-over Thursday and now sits just four shots out of third place.<\/p>\n

Also look out for Matsuyama. His impressive scorecard resembled an aviary. Birdie birdie birdie birdie birdie birdie. The PGA pro\u2019s round took flight early Friday morning at TPC Scottsdale before finding a comfortable resting place near the top of the leaderboard at 10-under.<\/p>\n

\"\"Scottie Scheffler smiles as the fans cheer after his shot off the tee box at the 10th hole during the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on Feb. 6, 2026. (Photo by Kinlagh Boudreau\/Cronkite News)<\/p>\n

\"\"U.S. Olympian Michael Phelps (right) and former Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley (middle) take in the scenes at the 16th hole during the WM Phoenix Open at the TPC Scottsdale on Feb. 6, 2026. (Photo by Kinlagh Boudreau\/Cronkite News)<\/p>\n

\"\"Rickie Fowler measures his shot before putting at the first hole at the TPC Scottsdale during the WM Phoenix Open on Feb. 6, 2026. (Photo by Kinlagh Boudreau\/Cronkite News)<\/p>\n

The emergence of young Japanese stars on the DP World Tour, formerly the European Tour, is starting to be felt on the PGA Tour. Some of it is the success of Matsuyama, but it\u2019s also inspiration among peers. Nothing feeds the competitive beast of a professional athlete like talented rivals.<\/p>\n

Matsuyama\u2019s round included eight birdies to finish the day 7-under. It was his second day of bogey-free golf and a potential harbinger of the 2026 season after finishing in the top 15 in his previous two tournaments.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love playing here,\u201d Matsuyama said though an interpreter. \u201cThe energy that’s out there, so many fans cheering you on. You hit a bad shot, they’ll boo you and there is some pressure, but I love it.\u201d<\/p>\n

There wasn\u2019t much booing Friday. In fact, one of his birdies came at the highly scrutinzed 16th hole, where he sank a 30-foot putt to secure the crowd\u2019s appreciation.<\/p>\n

Not all golfers embrace 16, but Matsuyama loves the pressure.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, it’s always exciting to finish 15, take a couple deep breaths, and, boy, you feel it when you walk through that tunnel out onto the 16 tee,\u201d he said. \u201cThen when I hole-out there at 16 it’s kind of a relief, \u2018Oh, I did it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Si Woo Kim loves the tournament so much it was almost a letdown after he shot a 6-under par \u2013 including an eagle at 13 and a birdie at 16 \u2013 through six holes, and then had to finish his round on the front nine.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you start back nine first, (it feels) a little boring (on the) front nine.\u201d<\/p>\n

He finished the day tied for fifth after shooting 9-under and now shares the space with Englishman John Parry, 39, who joined the PGA Tour for the first time this year via the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai rankings and is experiencing crowds like he\u2019s never seen. Fortunately for him, his two days at 16 have equated to two birdies.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Yeah, it’s phenomenal. \u2026 It’s been a good hole for me,\u201d he said. \u201cYeah, spectacular hole. It’s one you got to just accept what it is and just try and enjoy it. Half them \u2013 well, I know they’re enjoying themself, but I think they’re enjoying the beer a bit more than the golf.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou just got to accept that’s what they’re there for. It’s great.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other interesting names on the board include Finnish golfer Sami V\u00e4lim\u00e4ki, who enters Saturday at 4-under. He the cousin of former Coyotes player Juuso V\u00e4lim\u00e4ki.<\/p>\n

This <a target=”_blank” href=”https:\/\/cronkitenews.azpbs.org\/2026\/02\/06\/phoenix-open-round-two-matsuyama\/”>article<\/a> first appeared on <a target=”_blank” href=”https:\/\/cronkitenews.azpbs.org”>Cronkite News<\/a> and is republished here under a <a target=”_blank” href=”https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nd\/4.0\/”>Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License<\/a>.<img src=”https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cronkitenews.azpbs.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/favicon1.png?resize=85%2C85&amp;ssl=1″ style=”width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;”><\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u2018A dream\u2019: Ryo Hisatsune leads WM Phoenix Open, will play with idol Hideki Matsuyama in third round<\/p>\n

Cronkite News Staff, Cronkite News
\nFebruary 6, 2026<\/p>\n

By Cronkite News staff<\/p>\n

SCOTTSDALE \u2013\u00a0In his early years of playing golf, Ryo Hisatsune idolized Hideki Matsuyama. Now he\u2019s sitting one spot above him and atop the WM Phoenix Open leaderboard.<\/p>\n

Four birdies and an eagle during a back-nine stretch, including a birdie at 17 after landing in the water, has Hisatsune, 23, at 11-under after two rounds at the TPC Scottsdale. He holds a one-stroke lead over Matsuyama, 33, the man who has inspired so many Japanese golfers with his PGA Tour success, and who was the first to win a men’s major golf championship: the 2021 Masters Tournament.<\/p>\n

Now the two will be paired in Saturday\u2019s third round.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely a dream to play,\u201d Hisatsune said about a pairing with Matsuyama. \u201cEspecially in \u2026 Phoenix.\u201d<\/p>\n

Friday\u2019s round revealed some unexpected successes \u2013 Pierceson Coody, seeking his first tour win, sits in a tie for third with Chris Gotterup \u2013 and disappointing finishes. Brooks Koepka missed the cut by shooting a 2-over in his second tournament after leaving LIV Golf and returning to the PGA Tour. His switch to a new putter didn\u2019t seem to help, but just being back on the tour seemed to lift his spirits. Others who missed the cut include Jordan Spieth, who finished 3-over.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And keep an eye on Scottie Scheffler, who shot 6-under Friday after a 2-over Thursday and now sits just four shots out of third place.<\/p>\n

Also look out for Matsuyama. His impressive scorecard resembled an aviary. Birdie birdie birdie birdie birdie birdie. The PGA pro\u2019s round took flight early Friday morning at TPC Scottsdale before finding a comfortable resting place near the top of the leaderboard at 10-under.<\/p>\n

\u2022 <\/p>\n

\u2022 <\/p>\n

\u2022 <\/p>\n

The emergence of young Japanese stars on the DP World Tour, formerly the European Tour, is starting to be felt on the PGA Tour. Some of it is the success of Matsuyama, but it\u2019s also inspiration among peers. Nothing feeds the competitive beast of a professional athlete like talented rivals.<\/p>\n

Matsuyama\u2019s round included eight birdies to finish the day 7-under. It was his second day of bogey-free golf and a potential harbinger of the 2026 season after finishing in the top 15 in his previous two tournaments.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love playing here,\u201d Matsuyama said though an interpreter. \u201cThe energy that’s out there, so many fans cheering you on. You hit a bad shot, they’ll boo you and there is some pressure, but I love it.\u201d<\/p>\n

There wasn\u2019t much booing Friday. In fact, one of his birdies came at the highly scrutinzed 16th hole, where he sank a 30-foot putt to secure the crowd\u2019s appreciation.<\/p>\n

Not all golfers embrace 16, but Matsuyama loves the pressure.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, it’s always exciting to finish 15, take a couple deep breaths, and, boy, you feel it when you walk through that tunnel out onto the 16 tee,\u201d he said. \u201cThen when I hole-out there at 16 it’s kind of a relief, \u2018Oh, I did it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Si Woo Kim loves the tournament so much it was almost a letdown after he shot a 6-under par \u2013 including an eagle at 13 and a birdie at 16 \u2013 through six holes, and then had to finish his round on the front nine.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you start back nine first, (it feels) a little boring (on the) front nine.\u201d<\/p>\n

He finished the day tied for fifth after shooting 9-under and now shares the space with Englishman John Parry, 39, who joined the PGA Tour for the first time this year via the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai rankings and is experiencing crowds like he\u2019s never seen. Fortunately for him, his two days at 16 have equated to two birdies.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Yeah, it’s phenomenal. \u2026 It’s been a good hole for me,\u201d he said. \u201cYeah, spectacular hole. It’s one you got to just accept what it is and just try and enjoy it. Half them \u2013 well, I know they’re enjoying themself, but I think they’re enjoying the beer a bit more than the golf.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou just got to accept that’s what they’re there for. It’s great.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other interesting names on the board include Finnish golfer Sami V\u00e4lim\u00e4ki, who enters Saturday at 4-under. He the cousin of former Coyotes player Juuso V\u00e4lim\u00e4ki.<\/p>\n

This article first appeared on Cronkite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.<\/p>\n

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