MacIntyre Kick-Starts New Season In Hawaii, Revealing Simple New Year Golfing Resolution

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Top Scot Robert MacIntyre has kick-started his new season on Hawaii with a rock solid three-under 70 and then revealing a simple New Year golfing resolution on the opening day of The Sentry being again hosted on the Kapalua course in Hawaii.

MacIntryre, 28, posted five birdies and two bogeys in bright, warm but windy conditions to end the round sharing 23rd place in the 59-player $20m tournament.

American Tom Hoge, who was out in the very first group, leads the way in recording a blistering nine-under-par 64 to lead by a shot from Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama and American Will Zalatoris.

Hoge kick-started his round holing a 15-footer at the first while he managed nine other birdies and just the one dropped shot in a scoring effort to match a career-high from the third round of the 2023 Players Championship (62).

Hoge is eighth player to open The Sentry with a round of 9-under or better since the event moved to Maui in 1999, with two of the previous seven going on to win (Ernie Els/2003, Jon Rahm/2023).

As well, Hoge’s round is a best score at the event (R4/2023) in three starts (T3/2023, T38/2024).

“I really didn’t have much expectations coming in, because there wasn’t a whole lot of play or practice the last few months”, said Hoge.

“I felt like I was putting really well coming into the week. Started right off the bat on 1 with a nice 15, 20-footer that I made and then made another one on 3.

“And then chipped in on 4. So kind of a nice way to ease into the round and kind of get things going”.

World No. 2 Xander Schauffele struggled somewhat in signing for a one-under 72 while Viktor Hovland, and nursing a broken toe on his right foot, finished tied with MacIntyre and his 2023 European Ryder Cup team-mate.

MacIntyre is teeing-up for a first occasion since his T7th finish earlier last month at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas and after having spent Christmas with his family in his beloved Oban.

The double PGA Tour winner was slow out of the Hawaii gates with just one birdie over his over his opening 11 holes and that being holing a four-footer at the par-5 fifth hole and the No. 18 index hole on the Plantation course scorecard.

The World No. 16 then played the closing seven holes in two-under that included four birdies and half as many bogeys.

“It was a steady start and obviously nice to be here at The Sentry as it’s a special tournament at a special place”, said MacIntyre.

“It’s also a reward for last season’s good play, so nice to be here.  Though saying that, the course is a hard walk and it’s nice there is some buggy rides between holes or I would have collapsed after 14 holes (smiling).

“Though it’s still a regular Tour event as that’s how I have to look at it, as I try to treat every tournament I compete in the same.

“Look, it’s a small, elite field with a high purse and high points, so it’s everything to play for”.

In talking about ‘everything to play for’ this year marks MacIntyre’s ninth year in the pro ranks and a second straight full season on the PGA Tour.  His wins in the RBC Canadian Open and Genesis Scottish Open propelled for a first time, inside the top-20 on the World Rankings while he’s into the four majors for a first time since 2021.

As well, with it being a Ryder Cup year and with the Scot dearly looking to play under Luke Donald’s European Ryder Cup captaincy for a second straight occasion, MacIntyre was asked his 2025 New Year’s golfing resolution.

“All I want to do is just try and enjoy myself”, said the straight-talking Scot.

 



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