There has been ANOTHER first time winner on the PGA Tour this season! In a tournament where some of the biggest names in golf were clustered at the top, 22-year-old up and coming Japanese golfer Hideki Matsuyama made his mark today at the Golden Bear’s tournament. To some, this may have been a complete surprise – but we’ve been following Matsuyama’s transition to the PGA Tour from Japan and knew it was only a matter of time! He’s got a great swing, mindset and was even a member of the 2013 International Presidents Cup Team and led the Japan Tour on the money list last year.
Although most of the bigger names such as McIlroy, Scott and overnight leaders Watson and Langley did not play as well as they should have, it wasn’t a breeze for Matsuyama. He had to make birdie on the 72nd hole (only player to birdie 18 all week) to force a playoff with Kevin Na, who earlier shot an 8-under 64. He would make par on the first playoff hole to win the tournament. With this win, Matsuyama becomes the fourth Japanese player to win an official PGA Tour event and eclipses Ryo Ishikawa, the “Bashful Prince” who has been the face of Japanese golf for so long.
The PGA Tour is sure full of players who are young and talented. Congratulations to Hideki and we hope his fine play continues, especially in the Majors! He finished T10 at Merion Golf Club last year (sixth at The Open; 19th at the PGA Championship), so perhaps we’ll see him contend at Pinehurst this year too!
Source: The Memorial
