The Desert’s New Masters: Why Japanese Stars Are Rewriting the Phoenix Open Script
I’ve been covering professional golf long enough to know that trends rarely announce themselves with fanfare. They show up quietly, sometimes on a Friday afternoon in the desert, when a 23-year-old named Ryo Hisatsune fires a 63 and suddenly the conversation shifts. After 35 years on the tour beat, I’ve learned to pay attention when the established order starts to feel less certain, and what I’m seeing at TPC Scottsdale this week feels like one of those pivotal moments.
Through 36 holes of the 2026 WM Phoenix Open, we have Japanese stars commanding the leaderboard in a way that would have been unthinkable even five years ago. Hisatsune sits atop the board at 11-under, with two-time Phoenix champ Hideki Matsuyama lurking one shot behind at 10-under. That’s not just a coincidence or a quirk of the draw. That’s a statement about where global golf is heading, and it deserves our attention.
Fresh Form and Stadium Swagger
Let’s start with what Hisatsune has done. The kid rolled into the desert fresh off a T2 finish at Farmers Insurance, and rather than suffer the typical letdown that follows a near-miss, he’s somehow gotten better. His charge on the back nine—six-under through holes 13-17, punctuated by a chip-in birdie after an errant drive on 17—had the electricity of someone who’s figured something out mid-tournament. I’ve seen that look before. It’s dangerous.
What strikes me most about Hisatsune’s position is the question embedded in his success: Can he sustain it? I write that not as doubt, but as genuine curiosity. “The question for Hisatsune going into the weekend is whether he can be consistent enough to stay at the top of the leaderboard. He’s been a streaky player, capable of getting hot and piling up birdies, but also will run into stretches where he gives a few back.” That’s the rub with young players who rely on momentum—feast or famine. But having watched Tom Lehman’s bag for years, I learned that even streaky players can learn to smooth their game with experience. Hisatsune’s third full season on the PGA Tour could be the inflection point.
Matsuyama, meanwhile, is playing with the confidence of a man who knows this place intimately. His 30 on the front nine Friday morning had the look of someone reminding himself—and everyone else—why he’s won here twice. “Matsuyama’s career record at the WM Phoenix Open is incredible, but a lot of that success came early in his career—including his two wins in 2016 and 2017.” That’s true, but it’s also incomplete. There’s a difference between being a two-time winner who hasn’t won lately and being a former champ who’s simply waiting for it to click again. I think Matsuyama falls into the latter category. His drought at Phoenix—just one top-10 since his last win—feels more like a pause than a decline.
The Scheffler Reminder
Now, let’s talk about the World No. 1 for a moment, because Scottie Scheffler’s near-miss with the cut line tells us something crucial about pressure and resilience on this tour. After a blistering 2-over first round, Scheffler found himself in unfamiliar territory—actually having to sweat the weekend. Most players at his level would panic. Instead, he shot 65 on Friday and not only made the cut but positioned himself to make a legitimate run.
What’s more impressive is that Scheffler extended his made-cut streak to 66 consecutive tournaments—the longest active streak on the PGA Tour. That’s not luck. That’s not even talent alone. That’s an elite competitor who understands that sometimes you need to scramble, accept a missed fairway or two, and trust your short game. Coming off a day where he was “uncharacteristic” with his irons, he adjusted. “Scheffler seemed to get back on track with his ball-striking on Friday and was able to warm up the putter to make his move well inside the cut line.” That’s the kind of resilience that wins majors.
Yes, Scheffler is at 10-1 odds, well behind the favorites. But I’d gently suggest that betting markets sometimes undervalue a player who’s already made the cut and knows he only needs to play four more good rounds. I’ve seen that movie before.
The Weekend Script
Si Woo Kim shot the low round on Friday with a 62, jumping from the middle of the pack into serious contention. Chris Gotterup and Pierceson Coody are lurking, both with legitimate claims on a victory. The field is wide open in a way that makes Phoenix interesting—firm greens punishing the imprecise, warm temperatures allowing for excellent scoring if you find your rhythm.
In my experience, weekends at Phoenix belong to players who can blend aggression with discipline. You can’t be timid on this course. The Stadium Course demands commitment to every shot. But you also can’t be reckless. It’s a high-wire act, and watching Hisatsune and Matsuyama navigate it this weekend will tell us something important about the future of golf.
The desert has always had a way of revealing character. This weekend should be no exception.
