Sony Open: Harry Hall, Hideki Matsuyama’s chance to win first PGA Tour win in Hawaii slips back | Golf news

England’s Harry Hall and in-form Hideki Matsuyama edged back as Patrick Fishburne and Danny McCarthy reached the semi-finals of the Sony Open in Hawaii.

Hall fell away from the share of the lead to get tied for 18th after he left four behind the leaders in the second round, six under, while Japan’s Matsuyama, who enjoyed a record-breaking victory at The Sentry last week. He is tied for 42nd place under four.

USA’s Fishburne started the round by making three straight birdies on the back nine to birdie the fifth hole, closing in on a final one-under 65 to lead the tournament at 10 under.

He shares the lead at the halfway mark with his countryman McCarthy, who finished four over with a 25-foot birdie on the fifth hole for a 66. McCarthy is considered one of the better putters on the PGA Tour, although he missed an eight-foot birdie attempt on the closing hole that left him with a perfect par. He was given leadership.

Tied at 10, the American pair finished one shot behind Kense Hirata (63) and Eric Cole (67), who had a chance for the lead until Whyalla missed a four-foot birdie putt on the par-five 18th. .

Paul Peterson, the 36-year-old rookie who played on five major tours around the world before earning his PGA Tour card this year, is one back. He opted to finish the round on the par-five ninth hole, two for birdie and a 67 in the near dark.

Two shots behind him were Austria’s Sepp Straka and Zach Johnson.

Will there be a first PGA Tour winner on Sunday?

Five of the leading players entering the weekend have never won on the PGA Tour, which could be key because an invitation to the Masters in April is at stake. But 25 players with a four-shot lead and 36 holes to go are a long way from winning.

Fishburne, 32, has carded a pair of five-under rounds so far and said the key to his performance was “probably just keeping the ball in play”.

“I hit a lot of fairways, and I’m very comfortable with the poet,” he said. “I made a few long putts in the first round and I felt like everything was going where I wanted it to on the greens today.

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“It’s just a matter of judging the wind and the rest. I feel like I’m rolling the ball well, I’m really excited for the next two days.”

A week after posting the lowest 72-hole score in PGA Tour history last week, Matsuyama is now six off the pace here after posting a one-under 69, although he remains in the mix in the outdoor tournaments in the same year.

Watch the Sony Open in Hawaii this weekend live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues on Saturday with Featured Groups from 6pm on Sky Sports Golf, with full coverage before 9pm. Release Golf and more with Now.