Happy Honolulu Return for Record-Seeking Hideki

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States: Hideki Matsuyama didn’t get to see his winning shot but knew it was good. Russell Henley, the man who lost in the play-off at the Sony Open last year, jested he wanted to break Matsuyama’s trusty three-wood, the club which delivered one of the finest shots of 2022.

Matsuyama and Henley headline this week’s Sony Open with the Japanese star spurred to win a ninth PGA Tour victory which would make him the Asian golfer with the most PGA Tour titles.

Other big names teeing up at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu include Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim Joo-hyung, Adam Scott, Im Sung-jae, KH Lee and Kim Si-woo, who all starred in last September’s Presidents Cup.

Japanese rising stars Keita Nakajima and Taiga Semikawa, both former number ones in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, and 2022 Japan Tour number one Kazuki Higa are also in the tournament, which is celebrating Sony’s 25th anniversary as title sponsor.

A year on, Matsuyama’s majestic three-wood from 277 yards is still being talked about. The 30-year-old had forced a play-off with Henley, the 2013 Sony Open champion, with a closing 63 and put the icing on the cake with a stunning eagle after landing his three-wood approach to within three feet. He couldn’t see the shot into the par-five 18th hole, his ball soaring against setting sun in Honolulu.

“I wasn’t able to track that shot. But by watching the video I know how good that shot was. It was good,” smiled Matsuyama, whose victory last year tied Korean KJ Choi’s eight career wins on the PGA Tour.

Henley ran into Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, by chance on a golf course in Phoenix recently. He said he went up to the Japanese player, took out his three-wood and pretended to break it. “He was standing there with his team. I just walked up and said: ‘Hey there, buddy!' and grabbed his three-wood and almost broke it over my knee,” laughed Henley, a four-time PGA Tour winner.

“He played awesome. He shot 63, 63 on the weekend and it's just going to happen in golf where you lose. But no hard feelings, obviously. I was just messing around. I really like Hideki. I’ve always enjoyed playing with Hideki, and I think his golf game is just beautiful to watch. I always enjoy when I get to be paired with him, so it’s a fun memory to look back on. More so for him!”

Two-time Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship winner Matsuyama launched his 2023 campaign with a tied 21st finish at last week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions, also in Hawaii, and feels confident he can put up a strong defence at Waialae, despite a lingering neck injury.

“To be honest, it was a little surprising I was able to win last year. Waialae is one of the toughest golf courses. Shooting 63s on the weekend is something I’m happy with. I’m really happy I’m back here again,” said Matsuyama, who joined compatriot Isao Aoki (1983) as a winner at the Sony Open.

“I’ve been having a little trouble with my neck recently. I wasn’t able to practice as much as I can for the last couple months, but the game is trending going forward,” said Matsuyama, who is excited at the prospects of a new generation of young Japanese players coming through the ranks.

He said: “When I joined the Tour, I was about 21, and recently lots of players are graduating from college, they play really good on this Tour. I feel really happy that lots of young Japanese players are trying to come out here and trying to compete. The things that I’ve been doing the last 10 years, if it’s affecting in a good way, I feel really happy.”