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Hideki Matsuyama: 2021 FedEx Cup Contender or Pretender?

By Tim Letcher

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 15: Hideki Matsuyama of Japan lines up a putt on the first green during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on November 15, 2020 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 15: Hideki Matsuyama of Japan lines up a putt on the first green during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on November 15, 2020 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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Hideki Matsuyama is one of the most talented golfers in the world. Many think it’s just a matter of time before he wins big, including a FedEx Cup.

With the 2020 portion of the PGA Tour schedule in the books, we at Pro Golf Now will be taking a look at the current top 50, and some selected others, in the current FedEx Cup standings and whether they are contenders or pretenders for the 2021 FedEx Cup. Our latest subject is the current No. 23, Hideki Matsuyama.

Best career FedEx Cup finish: Matsuyama has been on the PGA Tour for seven years. And for seven years, he has made the trip to East Lake for the Tour Championship. His best finish in the final standings came in 2017, which was his best season on tour. Matsuyama won three times that season and ultimately finished eighth in the postseason standings. He also finished ninth in the postseason in 2019.

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So far this season: Matsuyama has made six starts so far this season, with five very solid performances and one that was not so much.

Matsuyama started his season at the U.S. Open, where he opened play with a 71 on Thursday. He followed that with a 69 on Friday to sit at even par through 36 holes. After a 70 on Saturday, Matsuyama found himself in a tie for fourth place. But a 78 on Sunday dropped him into a tie for 17th place.

His next start came at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas. There, he shot 68-69 to miss the cut.

The following week, he bounced back. Still in Vegas, Matsuyama played much better, this time at the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek. His 6-under par total earned him a tie for 21st place.

At the Zozo Championship, Matsuyama opened with rounds of 70 and 71. But he rebounded nicely, shooting 68 on Saturday and 66 on Sunday to finish tied for 28th.

Matsuyama then had his best finish of the season to this point.

At the Houston Open, it appeared to be another average week for Matsuyama until the weekend. He opened with rounds of 70 on both Thursday and Friday. But a 66 on Saturday moved him up the leader board and into a tie for eighth. And then a 63 on Sunday got him into a tie for second behind eventual winner Carlos Ortiz.

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His final start of 2020 came at the Masters. He opened with rounds of 68 on Thursday and Friday and found himself just one shot off the lead with 36 holes to play. But the weekend was unkind to Matsuyama, as he shot 72 on both Saturday and Sunday. That left him in a tie for 13th place.

The verdict: Matsuyama is one of the most talented players in the world. He has yet to win a major or a FedEx Cup but no one would be surprised if he did either, or both. Consider him a contender for the 2021 FedEx Cup.

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