Hideki Matsuyama is home. Hideki Matsuyama, a Japanese native, spotted some sushi near the practice area after finishing his ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP range session on Tuesday. He smiled and nodded in approval. Matsuyama looked more at home at Japan’s Accordia Golf Narashino CC. He won the 2021 ZOZO by five points and is now back to defend his title. Title defenses can be difficult and Matsuyama is often in his country of origin. The ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP list in Japan is very short. Tiger Woods won his record-setting 82nd PGA TOUR championship at Narashino in 2019, while Matsuyama was second. Many experts believe he will raise the trophy this week. Japan’s most successful male golfer returned home feeling energized following last month’s Presidents Cup at Quail hollow, where the International Team showed a tight-knit fighting spirit, despite losing to the U.S. Team. Matsuyama will be making his first start since last year. He hopes to add to his eight TOUR titles as well as build on the 11th-place finish in the FedExCup. He said Tuesday that “the energy that the fans provide really helps me out, it helps me play, but on one hand, it also puts pressure on my game,” he added. “I have been impressed over the past couple of days. Practice days were a success, but there are still many members of the gallery who cheered us on. I hope to do my best and make everyone feel supported. “Winning is always the number one goal. “Winning is always the No. After a close-call at a Tokyo Olympics medal, Matsuyama’s triumph was even sweeter. He had lost in a 7-1 playoff for bronze. Shota Hayafuji was Matsuyama’s long-time caddie. “Hideki has always said, ‘I want win ZOZO. I want to win Japan.'” He could only do it after arriving in Japan on Tuesday. “About 99 percent of his fans in 2021 were rooting for him win. It’s clear that this had a profound effect on him. To be able win in front of them was even more fun. Matsuyama is not only a legend in Japan’s sport culture, but also a hero in Japan’s game of golf. Matsuyama was born in Matsuyama in Ehime, Japan. His dad introduced him to the game at the age of 4. He became so obsessed with the game that he moved schools to eighth grade in order to provide the best training environment. His breakthrough moment was his win at the Asian Amateur in 2010. He became the first Japanese amateur to go that route to Augusta National. It was a sign of things to follow. Matsuyama reached No. Matsuyama ranked No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking 2012 and joined PGA TOUR 2013 – he proudly reflected on his nearly a decade on TOUR at Tuesday’s press conference held in Narashino. Matsuyama’s third consecutive win in 2017 was his third full season. Matsuyama reached another level with his third-victory season in 2017. Matsuyama expressed his desire to improve Japanese golf culture after winning the 2021 Masters. Hayafuji is remembered for bowing on the 72nd hole. He said that he hoped to be a leader for other Japanese players. “In the meantime I will try to get more wins.” Matsuyama, who is already a pioneer in Japanese golf, was a World Golf Hall of Fame member and won 51 times on Japan’s Golf Tour. Aoki said that Matsuyama won the Masters and then returned to Japan where he won ZOZO. Aoki stated, “That will have an enormous and positive effect on the game of golf in Japan. His victories at ZOZO and the Masters will inspire younger generations of Japan and motivate them to work harder. Aoki said that golf will evolve over time, but it’s remarkable to see how Hideki has been capable of adapting to all circumstances. Matsuyama is also resilient. He wanted to be the first Japanese man to win the Masters. He was briefly frightened when he couldn’t do it. He said, “I don’t have the energy or endurance left at this time.” “But I kept fighting with my heart at the end. “Unfortunately, I failed at the end.” It was a year filled with emotional extremes and it wasn’t over. Three months after the Olympics, Matsuyama’s fortunes changed again at the ZOZO. He hit a 3-wood to 12 foot on the 72nd hole for the closing eagle. In his press conference as the winner, he stated that it was one of his biggest goals to win in front Japanese fans. “So happy that that’s possible. In 2019, Tiger Woods won the Masters and went on the win the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP. I’m happy to be able emulate that. “The fans supported me and were rooting for my success, so I’m happy that I was able convert that energy into something positive.” Matsuyama in Japan says that the energy never stops renewing.
By: Kevin Prise
Title: Hideki Matsuyama in happy place at ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP
Sourced From: www.pgatour.com/tour-insider/2022/10/11/hideki-matsuyama-in-happy-place-at-zozo-championship-tour-insider-kevin-prise.html
Published Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2022 11:00:00 -0400
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