History beckons for Matsuyama  11:08, 25/03/2022

Asian golf’s trailblazer K.J. Choi believes Hideki Matsuyama will go on to set a new benchmark for the game in the Far East after marveling at how the Japanese superstar has equaled his long-standing record of eight PGA TOUR victories.

The 30-year-old Matsuyama joined Choi atop the list of Asian-born golfers with the most wins under their belts following a stunning victory at the Sony Open in Hawaii. It was Matsuyama’s third win within the space of nine months which included an historic Masters Tournament triumph last April and a home win at the Zozo Championship in October.

With the TOUR staging its flagship tournament, THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass from March 10-13, it may well be written in the stars if Matsuyama can go on to become the first Asian to reach an unprecedented nine career titles at the same iconic event where Choi claimed his eighth and final tournament win some 11 years ago.

As the richest tournament in the world following an escalation of its prize fund to a princely US$20 million, THE PLAYERS boasts the strongest ever field in the game annually and it held at a venue which Matsuyama has a strong track record to back up his dream of hoisting what is a highly sought-after trophy.

In seven appearances since 2014, Matsuyama has posted two top-10s and three top-25s at THE PLAYERS, and fired a course-record equaling 63 in the first round in 2020 before the tournament was cancelled due to the onset of Covid-19.

The Pete Dye-designed Stadium course at TPC Sawgrass demands all the necessary skill, patience and guile to negotiate and it could well play nicely into Matsuyama’s hands this month. “Let's see, what do I like about this course? Oh, that's a tough question,” Matsuyama said several years ago. “I guess watching everybody else struggle too is comforting. I don't know why I play well in difficult conditions and the Majors.”

In many ways, Matsuyama has many of Choi’s traits. They typically excel at golf courses that reward precision and accuracy, work at their games from dawn till dusks and carry a region’s hopes of delivering success and inspiration to a region which has massive following in the game.

Choi, who won THE PLAYERS at age 41, recalls meeting Matsuyama for the very first time a decade ago. He was impressed by the younger man’s attitude towards the game and passion in wanting to become the best. He said Matsuyama was “unique” and possessed “special golf skills”.

The Korean legend believes Matsuyama will free-wheel his way into double digits for career wins on the PGA TOUR and said the key was for the ultra-talented Japanese to stay injury-free as he begins life in his 30s.