Hideki Matsuyama staged a historic comeback to win the Genesis Invitational at Riviera, while Patrick Cantlay's struggles on weekends continued. The PGA Tour is facing a lack of enthusiasm and star power, with longshot winners and disappointing leaderboards. The Tour's challenges are compounded by the rise of LIV Golf and a string of unfortunate events, raising concerns about the future of the 2024 campaign.
The Genesis Invitational at Riviera featured a roller-coaster final round with moments of joy, frustration, and grief. Will Zalatoris, dealing with the unexpected death of a family member, finished tied for second after hitting a hole-in-one and undergoing major back surgery. Hideki Matsuyama clinched the victory with a lights-out Sunday performance, securing his ninth PGA Tour win. Patrick Cantlay, battling illness, missed an opportunity to win despite holding a 54-hole lead. Xander Schauffele also fell short, highlighting the emotional and unpredictable nature of the tournament.
Hideki Matsuyama rallies from a six-shot deficit with a 9-under 62 to win the Genesis Invitational, setting a new record for the lowest closing round by a winner at Riviera and becoming Asia's most prolific Tour winner with nine PGA Tour victories. Matsuyama's victory breaks the record he shared with K.J. Choi of South Korea. His final round brilliance included consecutive shots inside a foot of the hole, securing a three-shot victory over Will Zalatoris and Luke List. Matsuyama's win, his first in two years, earns him $4 million and moves him to No. 20 in the world rankings.
Hideki Matsuyama wins The Genesis Invitational with a bogey-free 9-under 62, earning 700 FedExCup points and $4 million. Luke List and Will Zalatoris share runner-up honors, while Patrick Cantlay finishes tied for fourth. Matsuyama's victory comes as a surprise, as he was listed at +6000 to win pre-tournament.
Hideki Matsuyama wins the Genesis Invitational at Riviera with a stunning 62, becoming the most prolific PGA Tour winner from Asia with nine victories, surpassing K.J. Choi. Matsuyama's record-breaking performance included a flawless 9-under 62 final round, securing a three-shot victory over Will Zalatoris and Luke List. Despite struggling with injuries and a recent dip in form, Matsuyama's exceptional play at Riviera has propelled him to No. 20 in the world rankings and reignited his confidence for the upcoming major season.
Hideki Matsuyama won the Genesis Invitational with a stellar performance, but Jordan Spieth reminded him to double-check his scorecard after being disqualified from the tournament for signing for the wrong score. Spieth's disqualification occurred after a scoring error during the second round, emphasizing the importance of accuracy in golf. Matsuyama's victory marked his ninth PGA Tour win and his first since the 2022 Sony Open.
Hideki Matsuyama won the Genesis Invitational, earning $4 million from the $20-million purse, while Will Zalatoris and Luke List tied for second to each claim $1.8 million. Xander Schauffele missed a 6-foot birdie putt at the last hole, costing him $666,666 as he tied for fourth place. The full purse payout and FedExCup distribution for those who made the cut at Riviera Country Club is listed.
Hideki Matsuyama overcame a six-shot deficit to win the Genesis Invitational with a record-setting 9-under 62 in the final round, securing his ninth PGA Tour victory and surpassing K.J. Choi's record for most wins by an Asian-born player. Matsuyama's exceptional performance included three consecutive birdies on the back nine, propelling him to a 3-shot victory over Will Zalatoris and Luke List. Despite previous struggles with injuries and form, Matsuyama's win marks a significant milestone in his career and positions him at No. 20 in the world rankings.
Hideki Matsuyama surged with a remarkable 9-under 62 final round to win The Genesis Invitational, overtaking Patrick Cantlay and a crowded leaderboard. Matsuyama's first PGA Tour win in over two years earned him a tournament record $4 million. Cantlay, who had led for most of the tournament, struggled on the final day. Matsuyama's exceptional shots on the 15th and 16th holes secured his victory, while Tiger Woods withdrew due to flu-like symptoms.
Hideki Matsuyama shoots a final-round 62 to win The Genesis Invitational at The Riviera Country Club, finishing at 17-under 267 and surpassing the record for wins by Asian-born players on the PGA TOUR. Matsuyama's impressive performance included a defining stretch of birdies on the back nine, securing his ninth career win on the tour.
The ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP kicks off the international swing of the PGA TOUR, with the tournament taking place in Chiba, Japan. The field of 78 players will compete at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club, a par 70 course with double greens. The top 125 players in the FedExCup standings will secure fully exempt status for 2024, while spots in Signature Events are highly sought after. The tournament features Bentgrass greens and windy conditions, with players aiming for a 36-hole score to gain an advantage. Ball-striking and iron play will be crucial on the challenging course.
Hideki Matsuyama has withdrawn from the BMW Championship due to a back injury, ending his streak of qualifying for the Tour Championship for nine consecutive seasons. This is his second withdrawal of the season, with a previous one due to a neck injury. Matsuyama had a disappointing season with only two top-10 finishes in 24 starts, and his last victory came at the 2022 Sony Open. Tony Finau, Jon Rahm, and Xander Schauffele now have the next longest-active streaks of making the Tour Championship at six.
Hideki Matsuyama has withdrawn from the BMW Championship due to a back injury, ending his streak of qualifying for the Tour Championship for the past nine seasons. Currently ranked 47th in the point standings, Matsuyama will miss the Tour Championship at East Lake next week, as only the top 30 players earn an invitation. This adds to a list of injuries the Japanese star has suffered in recent seasons.
Hideki Matsuyama is a strong contender in the Rocket Mortgage Classic due to his excellent ball-striking and tee-to-green performance. Despite historically struggling with putting, Matsuyama has shown improvement in recent tournaments. With a solid course history in Detroit and the potential for a low-scoring week, betting on Matsuyama to finish in the top 20 or even win the tournament could be a sensible risk.
The 2023 US Open is set to begin at Los Angeles Country Club, with Scottie Scheffler as the betting favorite. However, the middle of the board has produced the most winners over the last decade. Four players worth a punt at great numbers are Hideki Matsuyama, Sungjae Im, Jason Day, and Shane Lowry. Matsuyama has won a major and has hardly put a foot wrong this season, Im has the all-around game to win at any track, Day has been terrific for the lion’s share of 2023, and Lowry has proven to be a big-game hunter in his career.
