Montreal, Canada: Hideki Matsuyama was described by some of his team-mates as a Japanese sensation, leader, master and great golfer. The version that everybody on the International Team hopes will show up this week at the Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal Golf Club is ‘assassin’.
“He’s an assassin,” said Australian debutant Min Woo Lee. “No one really knows much about Hideki. He does his own thing usually, and he plays wonderful golf. So, assassin, and off the course, private. I don’t know … does he have a kid? Does he have anything? Where does he live? I don’t know. I don’t even think Google knows. So private assassin,” added Lee.
After Adam Scott, who is making a record 11th appearance for the International Team, Matsuyama, who won twice on the PGA Tour this season and captured the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, is the second most capped International player in the biennial competition which the United States Team has dominated since 1994. The US has won the last nine editions, lost once in 1998, and both teams shared the Cup in 2003.
“I have so much admiration for what he does, the pressure he deals with playing for all of Japan, as their greatest player ever, I think. He is the master,” said Australian Scott, who took Matsuyama under his wing in 2013 when the two-time Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship winner made his Presidents Cup debut.
Matsuyama’s 7-10-5 (Win-Loss-Tie) record in the Presidents Cup is something that International Team captain Mike Weir hopes improves, hence the Canadian roped in Shigeki Maruyama as one of his captain’s assistants. Maruyama is part of Presidents Cup folklore having earned the moniker ‘Smiling Assassin’ after going 5-0-0 during the International Team’s lone victory at Royal Melbourne in 1998.
“Hideki’s great. He’s one of our leaders. And having Shigeki here, who was key in 1998, going 5-0 as a rookie to win, he’s a great character. I think it puts a smile on Hideki’s face. Hideki has been the lone Japanese player for all the times he’s played. So, to have Shigeki here for him is great. He’s been fantastic in the team room,” said Weir.
Matsuyama’s importance to the International Team’s quest to turn the tide against a powerful US Team, led by world number one Scottie Scheffler and this season’s two-time Major winner Xander Schauffele, was evident when Weir chose to pair him alongside local hero Corey Conners in the fifth and final match against Patrick Cantlay/Sam Burns in the opening four-ball session on Thursday.
Scott, the oldest player this week at age 44, is tired of losing to the Americans and knows he and the likes of Matsuyama and countryman Jason Day must lead from the front at Royal Montreal. Day teams up with Korean An Byeong-hun in the top match against Schauffele/Tony Finau while Scott will pair up with Min Woo Lee to take on Collin Morikawa/Sahith Theegala.
“We need him (Matsuyama) to deliver points,” said Scott, who holds an 18-25-6 career record. “We need our best player to deliver points. He knows that. I feel like I need to deliver more points than I have before. If a couple of the older, more experienced players can do that, hopefully it can filter down throughout the rest of the team.
“Hideki has won two big events this year. He brings strength to this team. Whoever plays with him, it’s like a dream pairing to play with Hideki. He’s so good and we are going to lean on him this week.”
Matsuyama, who at world number seven is the highest ranked International Team member, feels this could be the year for the International Team to end their winless run. “The team is well balanced, three from Canada, three from Australia, four from Korea. We have a good bond,” said Matsuyama, who holds 10 career PGA Tour wins, the most by an Asian golfer.
“It’s a great honour to represent the Shield (International Team logo). It’s unifying the team. It’s very hard, especially for someone like Adam who probably feels more pressure. He’s so passionate in wanting to win the trophy. This year, we have a solid team that can win the trophy. I’m really looking forward to it and hopefully I can contribute to the team.”
