History of Hideki Matsuyama in Timeline
Hideki Matsuyama is a highly accomplished Japanese professional golfer, renowned for his remarkable achievements on the PGA Tour. A pivotal moment in his career and Japanese golf history was his victory at the 2021 Masters Tournament, marking him as the first Japanese male golfer to secure a major championship title. This win solidified his status as a trailblazer and prominent figure in the world of golf.
February 1992: Early Life and Introduction to Golf
Hideki Matsuyama was born in February 1992 and was introduced to golf by his father at the age of four. He later attended Meitoku Gijuku Junior & Senior High School to pursue better golfing opportunities.
1992: Birth of Hideki Matsuyama
Hideki Matsuyama was born in Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan in 1992.
1999: World Golf Championships Inception
The World Golf Championships were established in 1999.
2008: Previous Japanese PGA Tour Win
Ryuji Imada's victory in 2008 was the previous PGA Tour win by a Japanese player before Matsuyama's win in 2014.
2010: Asian Amateur Championship Win
Matsuyama won the 2010 Asian Amateur Championship, earning him a spot in the 2011 Masters Tournament.
October 2011: World University Games and Asian Amateur Championship
Matsuyama secured gold medals in both the individual and team events at the 2011 World University Games. He also successfully defended his Asian Amateur Championship title in October 2011.
2011: First Taiheiyo Masters Win
Matsuyama first won the Taiheiyo Masters in 2011 as a 19-year-old amateur.
August 2012: Number One Amateur Ranking
In August 2012, Matsuyama achieved the number one ranking in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
2012: Top Amateur Ranking
In 2012, Matsuyama achieved the top spot in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
April 2013: Turning Pro and Japan Golf Tour Wins
Matsuyama turned professional in April 2013. He won his second professional tournament, the 2013 Tsuruya Open, on the Japan Golf Tour and would go on to win three more events on the Japan Golf Tour in 2013, becoming the first rookie to top the money list.
2013: Strong Performance in PGA Tour-sanctioned Events
In 2013, Matsuyama achieved six top-25 finishes in PGA Tour-sanctioned events, including a T-6 at the Open Championship, further highlighting his potential.
2014: First PGA Tour Victory
In 2014, Matsuyama secured his first PGA Tour victory at the Memorial Tournament, defeating Kevin Na in a playoff. This also marked the first win by a Japanese player on the tour since 2008.
2014: PGA Tour Qualification
Matsuyama qualified for the PGA Tour in 2014 through non-member earnings, demonstrating his success before even playing as an official member.
2015: Masters and Presidents Cup
In 2015, Matsuyama achieved his best major finish at the time with a fifth-place finish at the Masters Tournament. He also participated in the Presidents Cup, representing the International Team.
February 2016: Waste Management Phoenix Open Win
On February 7, 2016, Matsuyama clinched the Waste Management Phoenix Open title after a playoff with Rickie Fowler, achieving a career-high ranking of 12th in the Official World Golf Ranking.
October 2016: Japan Open Victory
In October 2016, Matsuyama secured victory at the Japan Open, marking his first win at his country's national open and his seventh victory in Japan overall.
November 2016: Second Taiheiyo Masters Win
In November 2016, Matsuyama won his second Taiheiyo Masters title, his first being in 2011 as a 19-year-old amateur.
December 2016: Hero World Challenge Win
Matsuyama ended 2016 by winning the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in December.
2016: Withdrawal from 2016 Rio Olympics
Matsuyama withdrew from the 2016 Rio Olympics due to concerns over the Zika virus epidemic.
June 2017: World Golf Ranking Achievement
In June 2017, Matsuyama reached his career-high ranking of second in the Official World Golf Ranking.
2017: Breakthrough Season and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational Win
Matsuyama had a successful 2017 season, winning three PGA Tour titles, including the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
2017: Shared Lead at 2017 PGA Championship
Matsuyama shared the 36-hole lead with Kevin Kisner at the 2017 PGA Championship.
2017: Second Waste Management Phoenix Open Win and World Ranking
Matsuyama successfully defended his title at the 2017 Waste Management Phoenix Open. After a second-place finish at the U.S. Open, he reached a career-high ranking of 2nd in the world.
December 2019: 2019 Presidents Cup Participation
In December 2019, Matsuyama was part of the International team at the Presidents Cup.
April 2021: Masters Tournament Victory
In April 2021, Hideki Matsuyama made history by winning the Masters Tournament, becoming the first Japanese and Asian-born player to achieve this feat. He finished with a score of 278 (-10), one stroke ahead of Will Zalatoris. His caddie, Shota Hayafuji, marked the occasion with a respectful bow to the 18th fairway.
2021: Masters Tournament Victory
In 2021, Hideki Matsuyama won the Masters Tournament, becoming the first Japanese man to win a major golf championship.
January 2022: Sony Open in Hawaii Victory
Matsuyama secured his eighth PGA Tour victory at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January 2022. After overcoming a five-shot deficit on the back nine, he entered a playoff with Russell Henley and won with an eagle on the first extra hole. This tied him with K. J. Choi for most wins on the tour by an Asian-born player.
June 2022: Disqualification at Memorial Tournament
During the first round of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village in June 2022, Matsuyama was disqualified for using a non-conforming club. A white substance applied to his 3-wood by his technician for alignment purposes led to the disqualification.
2022: Record-Breaking Win at The Sentry
In 2022, Matsuyama broke the PGA Tour's scoring record in relation to par by winning The Sentry at 35-under 257, surpassing Cameron Smith's 2022 record of 34-under, also at The Sentry.
2022: 2022 Presidents Cup Participation
Matsuyama represented the International team at the 2022 Presidents Cup. His performance consisted of one win, one tie, and three losses across the five matches he played.
February 2024: Genesis Invitational Victory
In February 2024, Matsuyama emerged victorious at the Genesis Invitational. Starting the final round six strokes behind, he shot a remarkable 62 to secure his first PGA Tour win since the 2022 Sony Open. His score marked the second lowest in course history at Riviera Country Club and the lowest final round score.
August 2024: Robbery in London
After winning an Olympic bronze medal in August 2024, Matsuyama was robbed during a layover in London on his way to the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis. His wallet and his caddie and coach's passports were stolen. Fortunately, his Olympic medal was not taken.
2024: Olympic Bronze Medal and FedEx St. Jude Championship Win
Matsuyama achieved significant accomplishments in 2024, winning a bronze medal in golf at the Olympic Games and the FedEx St. Jude Championship. His Olympic score was 267 (-17). He won the St. Jude Championship by two strokes, his 10th PGA Tour victory, overcoming a challenging final round.
January 2025: Career Achievements as of January 2025
As of January 2025, Matsuyama boasts an impressive record, including 20 worldwide wins, an Olympic bronze medal, ten top-10 finishes in major championships, and six Presidents Cup appearances. He also holds titles such as two-time winner of tournaments in the World Golf Championships, two-time winner of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, eight-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, and winner of the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
