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▼ IN FULL SWING / Matsuyama Gains Confidence in Drive For Elusive Major Title
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Over a whirlwind two months, Hideki Matsuyama boosted his hopes of becoming the first Japanese golfer to win a major title in the U.S. PGA tour.
Starting in October, the 24-year-old experienced three “firsts” in his career at tournaments in Japan and abroad. His victory at the Japan Open Golf Championship on Oct. 16 gave him his first major domestic title.
Then two weeks later he headed to Shanghai, where he won the HSBC Champions, becoming the first Japanese golfer to grab an individual title in the World Golf Championships series. And on Nov. 13, Matsuyama captured the Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters on the Japan tour for his first wire-to-wire victory.
The latter was particularly impressive — Matsuyama finished with a score of 23-under 265 on the Taiheiyo Club Gotemba Course in Shizuoka Prefecture, rewriting the tournament record by one stroke and giving him a victory by a massive seven strokes ahead of second-place Song Young Han of South Korea.
“It was a great experience for me as wins build confidence, and also helps develop a winning habit,” Matsuyama said of his recent run of success.
Matsuyama said he was not playing well on the final day of the Taiheiyo Masters, but still carded seven birdies along with two bogeys and a double bogey to finish off the runaway victory.
On the par-5 18th hole, his second shot landed in a pond in front of the green. But by placing his 70-yard fourth shot near the pin, he was still able to save par.
Starting in October, the 24-year-old experienced three “firsts” in his career at tournaments in Japan and abroad. His victory at the Japan Open Golf Championship on Oct. 16 gave him his first major domestic title.
Then two weeks later he headed to Shanghai, where he won the HSBC Champions, becoming the first Japanese golfer to grab an individual title in the World Golf Championships series. And on Nov. 13, Matsuyama captured the Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters on the Japan tour for his first wire-to-wire victory.
The latter was particularly impressive — Matsuyama finished with a score of 23-under 265 on the Taiheiyo Club Gotemba Course in Shizuoka Prefecture, rewriting the tournament record by one stroke and giving him a victory by a massive seven strokes ahead of second-place Song Young Han of South Korea.
“It was a great experience for me as wins build confidence, and also helps develop a winning habit,” Matsuyama said of his recent run of success.
Matsuyama said he was not playing well on the final day of the Taiheiyo Masters, but still carded seven birdies along with two bogeys and a double bogey to finish off the runaway victory.
On the par-5 18th hole, his second shot landed in a pond in front of the green. But by placing his 70-yard fourth shot near the pin, he was still able to save par.
Matsuyama played down the effort. “The gallery would have been excited more if it went into the cup,” he said with a wry smile.
On a larger scale, the victory on a course that holds special meaning showed the young star’s development as a golfer — it was at the same tournament in 2011, while still an amateur and attending Tohoku Fukushi University, that he posted his first win on a professional tour.
“With the many experiences I’ve had abroad and the progress I’ve made, I felt that this course was easier than at that time,” Matsuyama said.
Brazenness leads to success
An Ehime Prefecture native, Matsuyama started playing golf at the age of 4, and won the Japan Junior Golf Championship while a student at Meitoku Gijuku High School in Kochi Prefecture.
He went on to enroll at collegiate golf powerhouse Tohoku Fukushi, and captured the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in 2010. The next year, he played at the Masters in Augusta, where he earned the low-amateur award.
Tohoku Fukushi coach Yasuhiko Abe said that Matsuyama had a brazenness that served him well in his desire for success. “He was impudent to the point where once he didn’t show up [for a meeting] because he had overslept.”
Matsuyama turned pro during his fourth year at the university in 2013, and immediately had an impact on the Japan pro tour. He notched four titles and become the first rookie to top the money list.
His success carried overseas the next year when he won the Memorial Tournament for his first title on the U.S. PGA tour. He picked up his second U.S. tour title in February this year at the Phoenix Open. In the 2015-16 season, his third on the U.S. tour that ended in September, he topped $4 million in prize money for the first time and finished ninth on the money list.
As for his ultimate goal of winning an overseas major, he showed he was getting closer by finishing seventh at the Masters and fourth at the PGA Championship.
Matsuyama was back in action last week at the World Cup of Golf in Melbourne, where he teamed up with friendly rival Ryo Ishikawa to represent Japan.
The pair carded seven birdies and no bogeys in the best-ball format in the final round Sunday to finish at 14-under 274. That left them in sixth place, well behind the Danish pair that won the tournament at 20 under.
“I wanted to win the tournament with Ryo, and change the Japan golf world even more,” said Matsuyama, who, at world No. 6, was the highest-ranked golfer in the event.
For Ishikawa, it was a valuable experience. Just five months older, Ishikawa preceded Matsuyama onto the U.S. PGA tour, but has not had similar success. “I almost never get a chance to practice with Hideki,” he said. “I could see the many things missing from my game.”
Matsuyama continues to strive to improve. “I aim to become a strong golfer who doesn’t complain when things are not going well. I hope to team up with Ryo again the next time and win the title.”
With unlimited potential, Matsuyama will head into 2017 with his goal firmly within his range.
On a larger scale, the victory on a course that holds special meaning showed the young star’s development as a golfer — it was at the same tournament in 2011, while still an amateur and attending Tohoku Fukushi University, that he posted his first win on a professional tour.
“With the many experiences I’ve had abroad and the progress I’ve made, I felt that this course was easier than at that time,” Matsuyama said.
Brazenness leads to success
An Ehime Prefecture native, Matsuyama started playing golf at the age of 4, and won the Japan Junior Golf Championship while a student at Meitoku Gijuku High School in Kochi Prefecture.
He went on to enroll at collegiate golf powerhouse Tohoku Fukushi, and captured the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in 2010. The next year, he played at the Masters in Augusta, where he earned the low-amateur award.
Tohoku Fukushi coach Yasuhiko Abe said that Matsuyama had a brazenness that served him well in his desire for success. “He was impudent to the point where once he didn’t show up [for a meeting] because he had overslept.”
Matsuyama turned pro during his fourth year at the university in 2013, and immediately had an impact on the Japan pro tour. He notched four titles and become the first rookie to top the money list.
His success carried overseas the next year when he won the Memorial Tournament for his first title on the U.S. PGA tour. He picked up his second U.S. tour title in February this year at the Phoenix Open. In the 2015-16 season, his third on the U.S. tour that ended in September, he topped $4 million in prize money for the first time and finished ninth on the money list.
As for his ultimate goal of winning an overseas major, he showed he was getting closer by finishing seventh at the Masters and fourth at the PGA Championship.
Matsuyama was back in action last week at the World Cup of Golf in Melbourne, where he teamed up with friendly rival Ryo Ishikawa to represent Japan.
The pair carded seven birdies and no bogeys in the best-ball format in the final round Sunday to finish at 14-under 274. That left them in sixth place, well behind the Danish pair that won the tournament at 20 under.
“I wanted to win the tournament with Ryo, and change the Japan golf world even more,” said Matsuyama, who, at world No. 6, was the highest-ranked golfer in the event.
For Ishikawa, it was a valuable experience. Just five months older, Ishikawa preceded Matsuyama onto the U.S. PGA tour, but has not had similar success. “I almost never get a chance to practice with Hideki,” he said. “I could see the many things missing from my game.”
Matsuyama continues to strive to improve. “I aim to become a strong golfer who doesn’t complain when things are not going well. I hope to team up with Ryo again the next time and win the title.”
With unlimited potential, Matsuyama will head into 2017 with his goal firmly within his range.
- November 30, 2016
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