You may not know his name, nor how to pronounce his name, but Hideki Matsuyama is on the brink of becoming one of the best golfers in the PGA.
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He may not have any major victories, but at 23 years old, Matsuyama is possibly the most underrated player in golf. He’s only been a pro since 2013, but Matsuyama has already made an impact. So far this season he has one top-two finish, two top-three finishes, and he’s currently tied for second in top-10 finishes with eight this summer.
Arguably the best performance of his career came this spring when he finished fifth at the 2015 Masters, his personal best major finish. Matsuyama has three top-10 major finishes since 2014.
Matsuyama has been a model of consistency. In 18 events this year, he’s has only missed the cut once. No matter the stage, it’s a safe bet Matsuyama will be in contention on the fourth day. He’s currently 17 in the FedEx Cup rankings, and 15 in the Official World Golf rankings.
And don’t think Matsuyama’s success is an anomaly; the numbers back him up. He currently ranks fourth in strokes gained (1.686), third in eagles (90), and first in strokes gained from tee to the green (1.751), per PGATour.com.
Matsuyama’s may only have one career PGA Tour victory (2014 Memorial Tournament), but he looks ready to turn the corner. With the PGA Championship right around the corner, he has a legitimate chance to make his name heard. Unfortunately, Matsuyama has not had much success at Whistling Straits in the past. The PGA Championship is the only major Matsuyama has yet to finish in the top-10. Last year at the 2014 PGA Championship, he placed tied for 35, but shot a solid 68 on the fourth day.
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And with Rory McIlroy possibly being healthy in time for the Whistling Straits, Matsuyama will have a bevy of competition standing between him and his first career major. Not to mention he’ll have worry about Jordan Spieth, the hottest young golfer in the world.
The most encouraging thing about Matsuyama is his steady progression. In 2013, he had six top-25 finishes, in 2014, he had 12, and this year he has 15. If this young prodigy continues to improve, Matsuyama could quickly become a top-five golfer in the world.
A long-awaited major victory could be the thing Matsuyama needs to break the dam and finally break out as one of the best up-and-coming youngsters in the game.
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