Hideki Matsuyama won a bronze medal at the Olympics earlier this month, but he will be without his regular caddie and coach for the first leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Matsuyama, along with his caddie Shota Hiyato and coach Mikhito Kuromiya, were robbed at the London airport while traveling back from the Olympic Games in Paris, France. Matsuyama’s wallet was stolen, while Hiyato and Kuromiya lost their passports and visas. As a result, they had to return to Japan to fix their passport issues, leaving Matsuyama to find a new caddie for the upcoming tournaments.
For the first leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Matsuyama will be using Taiga Tabuchi as his caddie, who is the regular caddie for Japanese pro Ryo Hisatsune. Matsuyama expressed that he will play golf as if he went back to the way he was before he had a coach, taking full responsibility for his performances. Despite the absence of his regular team, Matsuyama is currently ranked eighth in the FedEx Cup standings, putting him in a good position to qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake.
Matsuyama secured the bronze medal at the Olympics by shooting a final-round 65 at Le Golf National outside of Paris on August 4. He finished one stroke ahead of Victor Perez to clinch the medal. Although his medal was not stolen, Matsuyama expressed disappointment at the circumstances that led to his caddie and coach missing important tournaments. The second playoff stop at the BMW Championship in Colorado is approaching, and it remains unclear whether Hiyato and Kuromiya will be able to return in time to resume their roles.
Despite the challenges he faces with the absence of his regular caddie and coach, Matsuyama is focused on performing well at the FedEx St. Jude Championship with his temporary caddie. He is paired with Sahith Theegala for the first round of the tournament and is scheduled to tee off at 1:35 p.m. ET on Thursday. Matsuyama’s determination to excel in the playoffs and qualify for the Tour Championship highlights his resilience and commitment to his game. As a seasoned professional and the 2021 Masters champion, Matsuyama’s talent and skill on the golf course continue to impress fans and fellow competitors alike.
