Phoenix Open’s Rising Sun: Why Ryo Hisatsune’s Breakthrough Matters More Than You Think
Having spent 35 years around professional golf—including a stretch caddying for Tom Lehman back when we actually knew what we were doing with a 7-iron—I’ve learned to read the Tour like a stock ticker. You watch for patterns, for momentum shifts, for the moment when a young player stops looking like they belong and actually starts playing like they own the place.
That moment happened Friday at TPC Scottsdale.
Ryo Hisatsune’s 8-under 63 isn’t just a good round. In my experience, it’s a statement. The 23-year-old Japanese phenom didn’t just climb the leaderboard; he trampled it, vaulting from the middle of the pack to the outright lead at 11-under 131 in what amounts to his second full season on the PGA Tour. More importantly, he did it in a way that showed he’s not just talented—he’s *ready*.
The Chip-In Heard ‘Round Stadium Course
Let’s talk about that moment on 17, because it crystallizes something crucial about where professional golf is headed. Hisatsune’s drive found the water. By all rights, he should’ve been frustrated, muttering under his breath, playing for bogey. Instead, he chipped in for birdie and kept going—four more birdies in his final two holes to rocket past overnight leader Chris Gotterup and even two-time champ Hideki Matsuyama.
“It was very lucky,” Hisatsune said through an interpreter. “A nice tee shot, but I kind of a pulled it little bit into the water. Some more reset and make it, (so) going to be more fun.”
That response tells you everything. No excuses. No wallowing. Just reset and execute. I’ve watched enough up-and-coming players to know that temperament matters as much as swing mechanics, especially at 23. This kid’s got it.
What strikes me most is that Hisatsune came into the week having just tied for second at Torrey Pines after missing the cut at Sony Open. That’s the kind of momentum swings you see from hungry young players finding their footing. He had four top-10 finishes as a PGA Tour rookie last year. Now he’s leading a marquee event. That’s not luck—that’s trajectory.
The International Pipeline Is Real
Friday’s leaderboard told an interesting story: two Japanese players absolutely electrifying the crowds. Matsuyama’s bogey-free 68 in the first round set the table, and then his 6-under 30 on the back nine in round two showed why he’s a two-time Phoenix Open champion. The man doesn’t miss at TPC Scottsdale when he’s dialed in.
“It’s a great golf course,” Matsuyama said through an interpreter. “You have to play well here, strike the ball well to play well and the crowd gets me geared up for that.”
In my three decades covering the tour, I’ve watched the international element reshape professional golf. We’ve gone from American dominance to a genuinely global competition. Matsuyama understands that better than most—he’s won majors, been to the Masters multiple times, and he carries that veteran composure. But Hisatsune? He’s part of the next wave. The young Japanese talents aren’t waiting their turn anymore; they’re showing up as rookies expecting to compete immediately.
Here’s what people miss: the level of junior golf in Japan, South Korea, and throughout Asia has reached a point where these players arrive on the PGA Tour as finished products, not projects. Hisatsune didn’t stumble into a 63 on Friday. He executed a plan.
Scheffler’s Reminder About World No. 1 Resilience
Let’s not let Scottie Scheffler’s steady 65 get lost in the Hisatsune narrative. The world’s top player opened with a 73 that genuinely put him in danger—something that hadn’t happened since the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Classic. By his standards, that’s ancient history. Most top players would’ve panicked. Scheffler worked on his grip and went to work.
“Felt a bit lost out there at times yesterday, so today felt a lot better, felt more in control of my game. You can obviously see that through the cleaner card today.”
Seven shots back isn’t insurmountable for a player of Scheffler’s caliber, especially given that he won the 2022 Phoenix Open from nine shots down. He extended his streak to 66 consecutive cuts made—the longest active run on the PGA Tour. That’s not a stat people talk about enough. In the modern era, with 156-player fields and brutal cuts, that’s genuinely remarkable.
I think what we’re seeing here is two separate narratives converging. Scheffler remains the standard-bearer, the player everyone else has to catch. But Hisatsune represents the next generation of international talent that’s no longer content to chase—they’re coming to lead.
The Odd Man Out
Brooks Koepka’s missed cut (finishing at 2 over) in his second tournament back from reinstatement raises a different question entirely. The two-time Phoenix champ looked out of sync, carding 75-69. I don’t read much into one tournament for a player of Koepka’s pedigree, but it does highlight how difficult the adjustment back to the PGA Tour can be, even for former champions.
Saturday Shapes Up
The pairing of Hisatsune and Matsuyama on Saturday is genuinely compelling—two Japanese players, one looking to announce himself at the highest level, one reminding everyone he never left. That’s good golf theater, and frankly, it’s good for the tour to have that kind of international storyline carrying a major event.
Scheffler will be lurking nearby, ready to remind everyone why he’s the favorite in nearly everything. The weekend at Scottsdale is shaping up beautifully, and that’s when you know the week is built on something real.
