AUGUSTA, Ga. – The question became inevitable at some of the bigger golf tournaments, whether it was for Jordan Spieth or Tiger Woods.
And it had nothing to do with them. Japanese reporters, having quietly rehearsed the words in English, wanted to know what the best players thought of Hideki Matsuyama.
This wasn’t about validation. Everyone knew he could play. Matsuyama was still in college when he won his first professional event.
He made the cut at the Masters as a 19-year-old amateur. He won the Japan Golf Tour money title as a rookie. When he played in the Presidents Cup at age 21, he had more wins that year than anyone on his team.