Hideki

Matsuyama

Matsuyama opened 74-70 but blitzed TPC Sawgrass over the weekend. He raced out with seven birdies on his first 13 holes before stumbling with a double bogey at the 14th as well as a closing bogey at the 18th. He had no problems racking up birdies this week, posting 22 birdies which matched the best in the field this week while also landing an eagle (round 2). Avoiding errors didn’t come so easy as he squared nine bogeys and a trio of doubles. This could still be a nice confidence-boosting week for Matsuyama who arrived off back-to-back missed cuts. This will go in the books as his third top 10 in eight tries at THE PLAYERS.

Matsuyama made waves out of the gate today with a 6-under 30 including four straight birdies before the turn. Then, he saved par from 27 feet at the 10th but wasn’t able to build on that clutch par-saver, ending his week with three bogeys and five pars. While it wasn’t the final nine holes that he wanted, there is still plenty of positive to take out of San Diego. Playing his seventh event of the season, this will go in the books as his first top 20. He battled injuries for much of 2022 but could use this as a jumpstart to get him back into form. The WM Phoenix Open should be the next stop for Matsuyama where he happens to be a two-time champ.

Matsuyama has been slowed in his title defense this week at Narashino CC, playing his first two rounds in Even despite relatively easy scoring conditions. The former Masters champ finally found his footing in the third round, with five birdies against one bogey to shoot a 66 that lifted him 18 spots up the leaderboard. He’s still well off the pace, T-31 and 10 shots behind Rickie Fowler, but his Saturday form (including three birdies over his final seven holes) was more reminiscent of the player who cruised to a five-shot win at this event a year ago.

The score marked the first time in 13 career rounds in this event that Matsuyama, a winner by five shots a year ago, failed to break par. At 1 over he is T-41 among the 78-man field, seven shots behind overnight leader Brendan Steele. Matsuyama managed only two birdies on the day and squared three bogeys, including one on his second hole of the day (No. 11) that set the tone for his opener. The former Masters champ finished T-25 in Napa in his most recent start but now has ground to make up to retain any chances of going back-to-back like he did at TPC Scottsdale in 2016-17.

Matsuyama’s name has come up frequently in recent media reports linking the former Masters champion to LIV Golf, with some reports indicating he was potentially in line for a nine-figure payday to join the nascent circuit. But while Open champ Cameron Smith headlined a group of defections in August, Matsuyama stayed put and Tuesday in Japan he doubled down on those plans. “I’m a member of the PGA Tour. Never been prouder, especially after last (month) at the Presidents Cup,” Matsuyama told reporters. “I’m fully committed to the PGA Tour.” Matsuyama returns this week to Narashino CC, where he cruised to a five-shot win a year ago. It marks his first stroke-play start since a T-25 finish at last month’s Fortinet Championship.

Matsuyama has dealt with injuries for most of his career, whether it’s been knee, neck, or back. He even cited a wrist injury at the 3M Open when backing out early. “I am very disappointed to have to withdraw from this week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship, but I felt it was the best decision to ensure my neck receives the treatment it needs for me to compete in the BMW Championship and TOUR Championship.” He’s currently 11th in the FedExCup race but will fall a bit at week’s end as other golfers received amplified Playoff points.

Matsuyama carded just one birdie today while struggling in the windy conditions at TPC Twin Cities. The most notable lowlight came at the par-5 18th where he rinsed three in the drink and eventually tapped in for a ‘9'. Matsuyama landed just seven GIR by round’s end. This will go in the books as his eighth career mid-tournament WD, in 216 career starts on the PGA TOUR.

The 30-year-old, who checked in off a DQ (non-conforming club) at the Memorial two weeks ago, opened with 70-70-72, T17 thru 54 holes, and wraps with the only error-free lap of the day. On eight (of 14) fairways and 13 greens in regulation, he ticked five birdies at holes 6, 7, 12, 13 and 16, posting a stellar +4.57 SG: Putting with 25 total putts. For the week, the one-time major winner totaled 10 birdies versus five bogeys and a double, and ranked 48th SG: Off-the-Tee (-0.77), 3rd SG: Approach (9.19), 24th SG: Around (1.22), and 19th SGP (3.75). This was his 10th U.S. Open and third top 10, first since T2 in 2017 (Erin Hills), his ninth overall in 38 majors, first since his win at the 2021 (85th) Masters five major starts ago, and his sixth of the season in 16 events, first since a backdoor T3 at the Byron Nelson three starts ago, where he closed in 10-under 62. See link below to post-tourney comments.

Out of the late wave with Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed, the 30-year-old, a pre-tourney 25/1 outright, was birdie-less 3-over thru nine holes (1 double, 1 bogey) when he was DQ’d. This is his first DQ in his 212th career event and was making his ninth consecutive appearance in the event, winning on debut in 2014, still the only player to win the Memorial in their first appearance (other than Roger Maltbie at the inaugural in 1976). Chief Referee Steve Rintoul is currently meeting with the press, so if there is a transcript published as to the specific violation, we’ll update that here or in a separate blurb. See link below to a 52-second video from the PGA TOUR’s twitter feed which catches the moment of the DQ.