SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Some guys just love certain golf courses. See: Hideki Matsuyama and TPC Scottsdale.
Matsuyama is a two-time winner of the WM Phoenix Open, going back-to-back in 2016 and 2017. He has four top-5s and five top-10s and he’s fourth on the tournament’s all-time money list. So maybe it’s no surprise, then, what he did on the Stadium Course’s back nine on Friday. It was also impressive.
Matsuyama started his round with pars on Nos. 10, 11 and 12 before ripping off six straight birdies on the most fun holes on the course. Here’s a breakdown of those six holes:
No. 13, par 5: Drove it 309 yards, hit his third from 107 yards to 9 feet, made the birdie puttNo. 14, par 4: Drove it 332 yards, approach from 166 yards to 3 1/2 feet, made the birdie puttNo. 15, par 5: Drove it 303 yards, hit second to 78 yards, stuffed his third to 3 feet, made the birdie puttNo. 16: Playing 167 yards on Friday, hit his tee shot to 29 feet, drained the birdie puttNo. 17: Drove the green from 327 yards to nearly 51 feet, two-putted for birdieNo. 18: Drove it 323 yards, had 105 for his secon shot, stuck it to just inside four feet, made the birdie putt
He’s one of eight golfers to have six straight birdies at the Phoenix Open. Justin Leonard birdied the same stretch of six holes in 2004. Only J.J. Henry in 2006 has more consecutive birdies at this event with seven.
The birdie on 16 was his Frida highlight.
“I love playing here. The 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,” he said through his interpreter Bob Turner. “I really like and I’m grateful for how many fans come out and watch us play golf. It’s great golf course. You have to play well here, strike the ball well to play well and the crowd gets me geared up for that.”
Matsuyama’s second nine, the front side at TPC Scottsdale, wasn’t as eventful. He made par on Nos. 1, 2 and 3 and then had back-to-back birdies on Nos. 4 and 5. He burned the edge on No. 6, which quelled any talk of a 59. He then parred Nos. 7 and 8 before closing with a bogey for a 64. He’s 10 under through 36 holes and walked off the course leading by two.
Matsuyama started the 2025 season with a bang before hitting a lull. He won the season-opening Sentry in record fashion at Kapalua’s Plantation Course but didn’t record a top 10 in his next 22 starts. In the unofficial Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in Decemeber, he returned to his winning ways, claiming the title in Tiger’s tourney for a second time.
That must have sparked something. Matsuyama tied for 13th at the Sony Open in Hawaii and tied for 11th in last week’s Farmers Insurance Open and now he’s in position to become the fifth three-time winner in Phoenix Open history.