Hideki Matsuyama sets new PGA Tour mark with Riviera triumph, becomes Asia’s most successful golfer on US circuit
- Matsuyama overhauls field with nine-under-par final round to claim Genesis Invitational
- Win was Japanese golfer’s ninth on North American tour, breaking tie with South Korea’s KJ Choi
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Hideki Matsuyama fired nine birdies in a scintillating nine-under-par 62 on Sunday to rally from six shots back for a three-stroke victory in the Genesis Invitational at The Riviera Country Club.
Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, notched his ninth PGA Tour title, breaking a tie with South Korean KJ Choi for most by a player from Asia.
It was all the more poignant coming more than two years after his most recent victory at the 2022 Sony Open, and after a neck injury left him fearing he might not win again.
“Reaching nine wins was one of my big goals, passing KJ Choi,” Matsuyama said. “After my eighth win I’ve been struggling with my injury. There were a lot of times I felt I was never going to win again, I struggled to finish top-10.
“I’m really happy I was able to win today,” added Matsuyama, who unleashed a mighty fist-pump when his last putt dropped on the 18th. His 62 is the lowest closing round for a tournament winner at Riviera.
Tap-in birdies at the 15th and 16th helped the Japanese star break free atop a crowded leaderboard, with five players tied for the lead on the back nine at one stage.
He added a birdie at the par-five 17th – shooting six-under on the back nine and capping his round with a two-putt par at Riviera’s iconic 18th.
His 17-under total left him three strokes clear of Americans Luke List and Will Zalatoris.
Matsuyama will enjoy a sizeable boost to his world No. 55 ranking as well as a US$4 million winner’s prize from the $20 million purse on offer at the third of eight signature events on the PGA Tour schedule this year.
The elite tournaments are designed to showcase the game’s best, but top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and world No 2 Rory McIlroy were never a factor. Tournament host Tiger Woods’s first start of 2024 ended abruptly midway through the second round on Friday when he withdrew because of illness.
“A little disappointed that I wasn’t able to take a picture with Tiger today,” admitted Matsuyama, who received congratulations from the 15-time major champion via X on an “incredible win.”
“I was watching all day and seeing a record breaking 62 and coming from six shots back is truly special,” Woods posted.
