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CJ Cup: Top 10 power rankings at The Club at Nine Bridges

By Mike Randleman

JEJU, SOUTH KOREA - OCTOBER 21: Ryan Armour of United States on the 18th hole during the final round of the CJ Cup at the Nine Bridges on October 21, 2018 in Jeju, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
JEJU, SOUTH KOREA - OCTOBER 21: Ryan Armour of United States on the 18th hole during the final round of the CJ Cup at the Nine Bridges on October 21, 2018 in Jeju, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) /
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JEJU, SOUTH KOREA – OCTOBER 21: Hideki Matsuyama of Japan prepares for second shot on the 3rd hole during the final round of the CJ Cup at the Nine Bridges on October 21, 2018 in Jeju, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
JEJU, SOUTH KOREA – OCTOBER 21: Hideki Matsuyama of Japan prepares for second shot on the 3rd hole during the final round of the CJ Cup at the Nine Bridges on October 21, 2018 in Jeju, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) /

It appears that Hideki Matsuyama figured out how to play Nine Bridges by tournament’s end in 2018. A slow start kept him from contending for a title in his CJ Cup debut, but a strong finish vaulted him to T-18 (71-74-66-69).

Back again in 2019, this limited field event sets up well for the 27-year-old to gun for his first win anywhere since 2017.

That’s not to imply the Japanese star is going hungry. He’s still been one of the game’s more consistent players.

Matsuyama racked up 14 top-25s (six top-10s) in the 2018-19 PGA Tour season and had two third-place finishes.

He MC’d at his 2019-2020 debut at the Safeway Open, but bounced back for a T-16 a couple weeks ago in Las Vegas.

Matsuyama quietly was seventh on Tour in total strokes gained (1.498) and, less quietly, was fifth in SG approach (.759).

He had his best season around the greens (12th, .347) and was a slightly above average putter (97th, .011).

He figures to have a ton of birdie looks this week. It’s just a matter of how many he can get to drop.

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