Mackenzie Hughes is being put to the test on the golf course at Kapalua and off at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, where he’s accompanied by his entire family, including his third child, a daughter born in December.
“This is kid number three, so I’m a PGA Tour-level diaper changer. A plus 5. Yeah. I can do it quick. I mean 20, 30 seconds, we’re done,” said Hughes, who is also getting the job done when he isn’t changing diapers.
Hughes, who won the Sanderson Farms Championship in October to get into this event on Maui, opened 2023 with a seven-under 66 on Thursday that left him tied for fifth going into Friday’s second round.
“I just kind of kept it in front of me. I drove it pretty nice. Obviously, it’s somewhat forgiving out here. A couple of the tee shots I didn’t like that I missed were not in bad spots,” said Hughes.
“I was hitting it solid. Again, like the conditions are ripe. I know that there’s going to be guys that come in with eight or nine-under par and this is a kind of day to get after it,” he said.
Co-leaders Collin Morikawa, J.J. Spaun and Jon Rahm each shot nine-under 64s, with Hughes two shots off the lead.
He finished his first nine on Thursday at four under after an eagle on the ninth hole. Hughes added birdies on two of his next three holes before his only bogey of the day on 13. He came right back with a birdie on the next hole and added another on 16.
Corey Conners finished the first round with a bogey-free 68 that left him tied for 17th. Adam Svensson shot a 71 and is tied for 34th.
The leaderboard is here.
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