HONOLULU — The crowd closed in, and Hideki Matsuyama closed it out.
The 2021 Masters champion forced a playoff hole, then hit an unreal 277-yard approach shot to set up an eagle putt and win the 2022 Sony Open in Hawaii over Russell Henley in a classic finish on Sunday at Waialae Country Club.
“To be honest, I didn't even see it,” Matsuyama, who had the favor of the Waialae Country Club gallery of a few hundred, said through an interpreter of his all-time great shot in the event. “But everybody started cheering, and I knew it was good.”
After Henley struggled for a bogey on the playoff hole, all Matsuyama had to do was basically tap in for eagle from 2 feet. He became the second all-time Sony Open winner from Japan, after Isao Aoki in 1983. It was also the eighth PGA Tour win for Matsuyama, who tied K.J. Choi for the most wins for a player from Asia. He won $1.35 million.
To end regulation and cap a tightly played duel, a rabid gallery closed in around the No. 18 green, in an act described by PGA watchers as uncommon and not seen since Tiger Woods enchanted golfers a few years prior.
“Tiger has had that experience many times, especially at the TOUR Championship,” Matsuyama said. “Russell and I, that was our first time. I was surprised that all of a sudden there they were.”
Henley, the 2013 Sony Open champ who led this tournament since the second round, led by five shots at the turn Sunday and still had a chance to win it outright with a 10-foot putt on No. 18 that burned the right edge of the cup.
His bid to become the sixth two-time winner of the Sony Open came up inches short.
“I’m really still scratching my head on how I missed that,” Henley said. “It was really close to going in. I was close to getting a win. So tough to swallow, but Hideki played great all day and happy for him.”
The 72nd hole left the fans wanting more. But when the hole was replayed with Matsuyama and Henley tied at 23 under, the tournament staff established order and the crowd was not allowed to close in.
Whereas Henley hit into the same bunker on the right side of the No. 18 fairway twice, the reserved Matsuyama was controlled on hitting dead center.
Matsuyama began the day two shots behind Henley and put together a stalwart back nine.
He had a mixed crowd of supporters from Japan and locally that carried him through.
“I'll have my share of sake tonight and we'll see you all in San Diego at Torrey Pines,” Matsuyama said.
After Henley was unable to close the tournament with the winning putt, the crowd had to clear out on 18 as the players were going to play the hole over.
In the extra hole, it was Matsuyama who prevailed by hitting an all-time great shot in Sony Open history. His second shot dropped within 3 feet of the cup, and Henley, who hit into a bunker on his tee shot for the second straight time, was unable to make it up. Henley tried to hole out on his third shot from about 50 yards out, but it carried long, and he bogeyed the playoff. Matsuyama was able to tap in for eagle, easily.
Henley eagled No. 9 to take a five-shot lead at the turn, while Matsuyama three-putted for par. But he hung on for dear life on the back nine; he bogeyed No. 11 and had seven straight pars to end regulation.
“So tough to swallow, but Hideki played great all day and happy for him,” Henley said. “It stings. I played some great golf. I feel like I was in it the entire time mentally this time. I didn't have too many mental lapses like I have other tournaments where I've been close to the lead in the last couple years.”
Kevin Kisner and Seamus Power finished tied for third at 19 under.