Hideki Matsuyama puts up big fight at ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP in home country

Hideki Matsuyama wanted his own slice of history. While the golfing world was riding Tiger Woods home towards a record tying 82nd win on the PGA TOUR at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP Matsuyama was trying to play spoiler in his home country. The local star was the only player with a legitimate chance to take down Woods in the TOUR’s first official event in Japan when they returned to complete the final round on Monday. RELATED: Final leaderboard | WATCH: Matsuyama’s journey to the PGA TOUR Playing in the group ahead he started three back of Woods with just six holes to play, making it a tough ask. He mustered one birdie but the five-time PGA TOUR winner certainly had plenty more chances. Not converting them meant he would have to settle being second fiddle. “Six holes to play this morning, I was only able to have just one birdie… no chance with that,â€� Matsuyama would lament afterwards. “I needed at least three or four. But it was good week. If I can keep the golf like this, I will be back in good condition.â€� Woods had his lead cut to two quickly after the restart when he started with a bogey. A pivotal moment came shortly after on the par-5 14th. Matsuyama had given himself a three-foot look at birdie to bring the gap to just one shot but pushed his putt ever so slightly and it lipped out. Not long after when Woods was on the same green, he drained a much longer birdie try to once again set up a three-shot lead. Matsuyama bounced back with a birdie on the 16th hole to get within two again, a gap that was still there as they came to the final hole when his birdie effort on the 17th slid by the edge. “I wish I made that. The 17th birdie putt was hard to read, but I stroked it good with confidence. Just missed it by like one ball,â€� he said. The 27-year-old knew he probably needed an eagle on the par-5 to be a real threat but leaked his drive into a fairway bunker. He didn’t give up though and attempted a huge cut shot with a 3-wood from the sand. Despite making good contact the ball didn’t quite bend enough to the right and ended up in a greenside bunker. “It is rare that you have to hit 3-woods in that situation,â€� he said. Facing the likelihood of needing to hole out to provide some pressure Matsuyama caught too much ball and sent the ball flying over the pin, eventually settling for par and ultimately a runner up finish. “I could not help that because I was aiming at a tight spot,â€� he explained of his wild eagle try from the sand. “So I have to go over that kind of technique… I found something that I have to work on I guess.â€� Woods paid tribute to the fight put up by his nearest rival. “Hideki made it tight. It was a lot closer than what people probably thought,â€� Woods said after his win. “I saw Hideki stuff one in there (on 14) and if he makes … I delayed my second shot to make sure that I knew what he did. He ended up missing the putt, so then my layup became a little easier and I ended up making birdie after a nice little teach from Keegan’s putt. “At 15, I thought this was going to be the tournament. If I’m able to make this putt, I figure the tournament’s over. I didn’t. Hideki birdies 16 and next thing you know it’s a ballgame coming up the last.â€� Matsuyama, who was third at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES a week prior, moved to ninth in the FedExCup standings.

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