Who's who: Hideki Matsuyama

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Who's who: Hideki Matsuyama

  • Name:

    Hideki Matsuyama
  • Country:

    Japan
  • Born:

    Feb 25, 1992 in Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan.
  • Original/Home Club:

  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer
  • Turned Pro:

    2013

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (1): The Masters (2021). Presidents Cup player (2013, '15, '17, '19). Multiple wins on the Japan and PGA Tours, including Japanese major championship and World Golf Championship titles.

Did you know?

Matsuyama, who attended Tohoku Fukushi University, enjoyed an excellent amateur career, winning the Asian Amateur Championship in 2010, aged 18 years. A year later he won his first Japan Tour event (2011 Taiheiyo Masters) as an amateur, and also competed in The Masters at Augusta National, the first Japanese amateur to do so. At The Masters he won the Silver Cup as the lowest scoring amateur.

Matsuyama turned professional in April 2013. Since then he has amassed an impressive collection of wins including a Japan Open title, two World Golf Championships events, and several victories on the Japan and PGA Tours.

His crowning achievement to date was undoubtedly becoming the first-ever Japanese professional golfer to win a men's major golf championship (the 2021 Masters Tournament). In so doing he eclipsed Japanese golf legends like Isao Aoki, Jumbo Ozaki, Tommy Nakajima and Shingo Katayama, all of whom came close, but not quite close enough, to lifting one of golf's most prestigious major trophies.

Top tournaments won by Hideki Matsuyama

2024
America
267 (-17)
$4,000,000
Genesis Motors

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Matsuyama, Hideki

Score

267 (-17)

Prize money

$4,000,000

Title sponsor

Genesis Motors

Played as The Genesis Invitational (Feb 15-18). Second-placed Will Zalatoris (USA) and Luke List (USA) finished 3 shots behind Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), who shot a final round 62 (-9) to clinch his ninth PGA Tour win. [Riviera CC, Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, CA].

2022
America
257 (-23)
$1,350,000
Sony

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Matsuyama, Hideki

Score

257 (-23)

Prize money

$1,350,000

Title sponsor

Sony

Played as the Sony Open in Hawaii (Jan 13-16). Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn) beat Russell Henley (USA) with an eagle at the first playoff hole (par-5 18th). [Waialae CC, Honolulu, Hawaii].

2021
Asia
Narashino CC
265 (-15)
US$1,791,000
ZOZO

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Matsuyama, Hideki

Venue

Narashino CC

Score

265 (-15)

Prize money

US$1,791,000

Title sponsor

ZOZO

Played as the ZOZO Championship (Oct 21-24; PGA Tr and unofficial Japan Tr event; PGA Tour 2021/22 season). Second-placed Brendan Steele (USA) and Cameron Tringale (USA) finished 5 shots behind Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), who won his first PGA Tour title in his native Japan, recording his seventh PGA Tour win in total. [King course, Accordia Golf Narashino CC, Inzai, Chiba].

2021
Majors
278 (-10)
$2,070,000
x

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Matsuyama, Hideki

Score

278 (-10)

Prize money

$2,070,000

Title sponsor

x

The Masters Tournament (85th) (April 8-11). Second-placed and relatively unknown Will Zalatoris (USA) finished 1 shot behind 29-year-old Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), who became the first Japanese professional golfer to win a men's major golf championship. [Augusta National GC, Augusta, GA].

2017
America
267 (-17)
$1,206,000
Waste Mgt

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Matsuyama, Hideki

Score

267 (-17)

Prize money

$1,206,000

Title sponsor

Waste Mgt

Played as the Waste Management Phoenix Open (Feb 2-5). Defending champion Matsuyama (Jpn) beat Webb Simspon (USA) with a birdie at the fourth playoff hole (par-4 17th). [Stadium course, TPC Scottsdale, Phoenix, AZ].

2017
WGC
264 (-16)
$1,660,000
Bridgestone

Category

WGC

Winner (holder)

Matsuyama, Hideki

Score

264 (-16)

Prize money

$1,660,000

Title sponsor

Bridgestone

Played as the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational (Aug 3-6). Second-placed Zach Johnson (USA) finished 5 shots behind Matsuyama (Jpn), who won his second World Golf Championships title. [South course, Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio].

2016
WGC
265 (-23)
$1,620,000
HSBC

Category

WGC

Winner (holder)

Matsuyama, Hideki

Score

265 (-23)

Prize money

$1,620,000

Title sponsor

HSBC

Played as the WGC-HSBC Champions (Oct 27-30; co-sanctioned by world's leading mens professional tours). Second-placed Daniel Berger (USA) and Henrik Stenson (Swe) finished 7 shots behind Matsuyama (Jpn), who became the first Japanese player to win an individual World Golf Championships event. [Sheshan Intl GC, Shanghai, China].

2016
Japan
Sayama GC
275 (-5)
¥40million
JGA

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Matsuyama, Hideki

Venue

Sayama GC

Score

275 (-5)

Prize money

¥40million

Title sponsor

JGA

Played as the Japan Open (Oct 13-16; Japanese major ch'ship). Second-placed Kyoung-hoon Lee (S Kor) and Yuta Ikeda (Jpn) finished 3 shots behind Matsuyama (Jpn), who claimed his first win in a Japanese major championship. [Sayama GC, Iruma, Saitama, Japan].

2016
America
270 (-18)
$1,000,000
Hero MotoCorp

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Matsuyama, Hideki

Score

270 (-18)

Prize money

$1,000,000

Title sponsor

Hero MotoCorp

Played as the Hero World Challenge (Dec 1-4; unofficial PGA Tour money event, hosted by Tiger Woods). Second-placed Henrik Stenson (Swe) finished 2 shots behind Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), who recorded his fourth win in his last five worldwide starts. [Albany Resort, New Providence, Bahamas].

2016
America
270 (-14)
$1,170,000
Waste Mgt

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Matsuyama, Hideki

Score

270 (-14)

Prize money

$1,170,000

Title sponsor

Waste Mgt

Played as the Waste Management Phoenix Open (Feb 4-7). Matsuyama (Jpn) beat Rickie Fowler (USA) with a par at the fourth playoff hole (par-4 17th), to win his second PGA Tour title. [Stadium course, TPC Scottsdale, Phoenix, AZ].

2016
Japan
265 (-23)
¥40million
Mitsui Sumitomo

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Matsuyama, Hideki

Score

265 (-23)

Prize money

¥40million

Title sponsor

Mitsui Sumitomo

Played as the Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters (Nov 10-13; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Yong-hau Song (S Kor) finished 7 shots behind Matsuyama (Jpn). [Gotemba course, Taiheiyo Club, Gotemba, Shizuoka, Jpn].

2014
Japan
269 (-15)
¥40million
Dunlop

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Matsuyama, Hideki

Score

269 (-15)

Prize money

¥40million

Title sponsor

Dunlop

Played as the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament (Nov 20-23; Japan Tr event). Matsuyama (Jpn) beat Hiroshi Iwata (Jpn) with a par at the first playoff hole. [Phoenix CC, Miyazaki, Japan].

2014
America
275 (-13)
$1,116,000
Nationwide

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Matsuyama, Hideki

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

$1,116,000

Title sponsor

Nationwide

Played as The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance (May 28-Jun 1). First-time PGA Tour winner Matsuyama (Jpn) beat Kevin Na (USA) with a par at the first playoff hole. [Muirfield Village GC, Dublin, nr Columbus, OH].

2013
Japan
279 (-9)
¥24million
x

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Matsuyama, Hideki

Venue

Oarai

Score

279 (-9)

Prize money

¥24million

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Diamond Cup Golf (a Japan Tr event). Second-placed Hyung-sung Kim (S Kor), Brad Kennedy (Aus) and Sung-joon Park (S Kor) finished 2 shots behind Matsuyama (Jpn). [Oarai GC, Oarai-machi, Ibaraki, Japan].

2013
Japan
Fujizakura CC
275 (-9)
¥22million
Fujisankei

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Matsuyama, Hideki

Venue

Fujizakura CC

Score

275 (-9)

Prize money

¥22million

Title sponsor

Fujisankei

Played as the Fujisankei Classic (Japan Tr event). Tour rookie Matsuyama (Jpn) beat Hideto Tanihora (Jpn) and Sung-joon Park (S Kor) in a playoff, to win his third Japan Tour event in 2013. [Fujizakura CC, Yamanashi, Jpn].

2013
Japan
Yamanohara GC
266 (-18)
¥24million
x

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Matsuyama, Hideki

Venue

Yamanohara GC

Score

266 (-18)

Prize money

¥24million

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Tsuruya Open (April 25-28; Japan Tour event). Second-placed David Ho (USA) finished 1 shot behind Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), who recorded his second Japan Tour win. [Yamanohara course, Yamanohara GC, Hyogo, Jpn].

2013
Japan
Kochi Kuroshio CC
276 (-12)
¥40million
Casio

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Matsuyama, Hideki

Venue

Kochi Kuroshio CC

Score

276 (-12)

Prize money

¥40million

Title sponsor

Casio

Played as the Casio World Open (Nov 28-Dec 1; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Yuta Ikeda (Jpn) finished 1 shot behind 21-year-old Matsuyama (Jpn), whose prize money ensured he became the first rookie to win the season-long Japan Golf Tour money list. [Kochi Kuroshio CC, Kochi, Jpn].

2013
Awards
69.32
n/a
Japan Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Matsuyama, Hideki

Venue

Score

69.32

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

Japan Tr

Matsuyama (Jpn) recorded the season's lowest scoring average on the Japan Tour. Shingo Katayama (Jpn) was second with 69.91; Hyung-sung Kim (S Kor) was third with 70.21.

2013
Awards
Yn201mill
see Score
Japan Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Matsuyama, Hideki

Venue

Score

Yn201mill

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

Japan Tr

Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn) won the Japan Golf Tour 2013 Money List, with earnings of Yn201,076,781. Hyung-sung Kim (S Kor) was second with Yn125,824,405; Shingo Katayama (Jpn) was third with Yn112,557,810. Matsuyama became the first rookie to win the Japan Tour money title. Note: the Japan Tour Money List includes earnings from Japan Tour events and golf's four top majors (Masters, Open, US Open, US PGA).

2011
Amateur
270 (-18)
amateur
R&A / APGC

Category

Amateur

Winner (holder)

Matsuyama, Hideki

Score

270 (-18)

Prize money

amateur

Title sponsor

R&A / APGC

Played as the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (Sep 29-Oct 2). Second-placed Soo-min Lee (S Kor) finished 1 shot behind defending champion Matsuyama (Jpn). [Singapore Island CC, Singapore].

2011
Japan
203 (-4)
amateur
Mitsui Sumitomo

Category

Japan

Winner (holder)

Matsuyama, Hideki

Score

203 (-4)

Prize money

amateur

Title sponsor

Mitsui Sumitomo

Played as the Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters (Nov 10-13; Japan Tr event). Second-placed Toru Taniguchi (Jpn) finished 2 shots behind 19-year-old amateur Matsuyama (Jpn), who recorded his first Japan Tour win. Reduced to 54 holes due to bad weather. [Gotemba course, Taiheiyo Club, Gotemba, Shizuoka, Jpn].

2010
Amateur
269 (-15)
amateur
R&A / APGC

Category

Amateur

Winner (holder)

Matsuyama, Hideki

Score

269 (-15)

Prize money

amateur

Title sponsor

R&A / APGC

Played as the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (Oct 7-10). Second-placed Tarquin MacManus (Aus) finished 5 shots behind Matsuyama (Jpn). [Kasumigaseki CC, Kawagoe, Saitama, nr Tokyo].

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