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 first 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 quick 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 method 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 around the globe 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 lower 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 match 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 least bothered by a number of 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.
“Form of even outs,” he mentioned.
Fishburn is a 32-year-old from Utah in his second yr on tour after utilizing a robust fall to ensure 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 sphere had crammed and most of them wouldn’t be moving into the match.
“It was an enormous aid being on the aircraft realizing I used to be going to get a tee time. Fully totally different situation,” he mentioned. “So yeah, pleased to get the tee time this yr.
One factor was sure. That report rating to par of 35 beneath by Hideki Matsuyama at Kapalua final week is secure. 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 large, the opposite is a personal membership with doglegs and tight touchdown areas.
“This one is more durable for positive,” 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 gained 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 outdoors 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 beneath. He stays within the combine to attempt to change into the third participant to brush the Hawaii tournaments in the identical yr. It was most just lately finished by Justin Thomas in 2017.
Johnson first joined the PGA Tour in 2004 on the Sony Open. Now he now not has any standing, needing an exemption from the Sony Open to get into the match he as soon as gained. He’s writing extra letters, making telephone calls, asking for a spot within the area.
“I’m not going to play like a large schedule this yr. I don’t really feel like I wish to or must, 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 sport.
