Presidents Cup: Meet the International team
Entering his third Presidents Cup, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama is beginning to really mesh with his predominantly English-speaking teammates.
“It’s been what, four years since my first Presidents Cup,” Matsuyama said through an interpreter in a Sport 24 article. “I still haven’t learned enough English to communicate well with my team-mates, but I can communicate.
Captain Nick Price said he’s beginning to show more of his personality, which us as golf fans are eager to see more of, too.
“He’s certainly come out of his shell,” Price was quoted by Sport 24. “He takes a ribbing from all of us. He really can take a joke and he can dish it out, too. He doesn’t say whole lot, but when he does it’s very funny.”
Matsuyama playing well is imperative for the Internationals to have a chance this week. Thankfully for them, he’s had a fantastic season up to date.
While his most recent events in the FedEx Cup Playoffs were uninspiring (MC, T23, T47/70, T26/30), the rest of his 2017 has been unassailable.
The 25-year-old’s won twice this year, one being the WGC-Bridgestone, and combined to shoot 20-under at the four majors. He’s been consistent, too, making 18 of 20 cuts.
For those familiar with his game, it’s beating a dead horse to say that his putter is what has kept him from a major championship. But it’s true.
He’s near the bottom of the PGA Tour in putting (173rd strokes gained) against elite marks everywhere else. Sure, he’s not the straightest off the tee, but I’d trust him to find the green from just about anywhere on the course.
Any time he’s in the fairway it’s a green light for the pin. He’s eighth on tour in fairway proximity and third in birdie average.
Things could be tricky for him if he’s left with a lot of putts in alternate shot, but he’ll be ultra valuable in four ball where he can try to go on birdie binges.