KAWAGOE, Japan – There’s often an attempt to place Hideki Matsuyama’s achievements in a larger context, to discuss not just his play but also what it means for his home country of Japan. It’s an easy story, especially for English-speaking media, about a man who uses few words in any language. Matsuyama is not a man on a mission, however. Becoming an evangelist whose pulpit is the putting green has never been his goal. He did not leave his homeland nearly a decade ago in order to grow the game in Japan, nor does he keep long hours on the driving range for that purpose. Matsuyama crossed the Pacific Ocean at age 21 to play the PGA TOUR because he wanted to compete at the highest level. The impact position of his famously methodical swing is more important to him than his impact on golf’s popularity in his homeland. RELATED: Leaderboard, tee times | How the format works | How to watch The Olympics are different than any other golf tournament, however. The majors may be of greater importance to most golfers, but at least there are four of them a year. Miss at the Masters and there’s another opportunity a month later. The Olympics only happen once every four years, however. Matsuyama recognizes that this week is unique, describing a home Olympics as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “If I say there’s no pressure, I’ll be lying,” he said. There are no spectators at Kasumigaseki Country Club this week, but he was still followed by about 100 people after teeing off Thursday. It was by far the biggest gallery. Many were volunteers clad in matching blue shirts and gray pants. And Matsuyama was reunited with the throng of Japanese media that documents his every move and enquires about every hole. They’ve been absent from the United States since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and this is Matsuyama’s first competition in Japan in some 18 months. Shigeki Maruyama, the four-time TOUR winner who’s serving as Japan’s Olympic coach, said Matsuyama usually “plays much more comfortably” than he did Thursday. His recent COVID-19 diagnosis only complicated things, interrupting Matsuyama’s preparations for this week. “He really likes this course and has special memories, but not being 100% because of what happened in summer, I feel bad for Hideki,” Maruyama said. Matsuyama won the 2009 Japan Junior at Kasumigaseki, then returned a year later to claim the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, a win that netted him his first Masters invitation. His win this year at Augusta National, which made him the first Japanese man to win a major, only heightened the expectations for this week. Green and gold perfectly complement each other. Matsuyama hasn’t finished better than T23 in four starts since the Masters, though. He named that as another source of anxiety. “Since my Masters win, I haven’t had the best results so far this summer, so I’m a little bit nervous,” he said in his pre-tournament press conference. His 69 in a low-scoring opening to the Olympics left him six shots behind Austria’s Sepp Straka. Matsuyama, who’s tied for 20th, is four back of bronze. After making birdie on half of his first eight holes, Matsuyama was 2 over par the rest of the way. Maruyama said Matsuyama’s endurance is “night and day” since he contracted COVID-19. Matsuyama had to withdraw from the Rocket Mortgage Classic four weeks ago because of his positive test and also withdrew from The Open Championship. This was his first competitive round since the opening day of the Rocket Mortgage Classic four weeks ago. When asked the most difficult part of competing after such a long layoff, Matsuyama said that his focus faded towards the end of his round. Thursday’s high temperatures only made that task harder. The Games have been played under the shadow of COVID-19, but on the field these Olympics have been a success for the host country. As of Thursday evening, Japan’s 13 gold medals were tied with the United States for the second-most (one behind China). But Japan also has seen one of its star athletes struggle with the pressure of competing at home. Naomi Osaka, who lit the Olympic flame in the opening ceremonies, lost in the third round of the women’s tennis tournament. “I definitely feel like there was a lot of pressure for this,” she said. Like Matsuyama, Osaka was competing after a lengthy hiatus. The Olympics were her first competition since she withdrew from the French Open in June to cope with her mental health. Unlike tennis, Matsuyama has the opportunity to recover from a tough day. Three rounds remain as he tries to win another medal for Japan.
Hideki Matsuyama’s gold medal quest gets off to slow start
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2nd Round Match-Ups – M. Pavon / B. Todd | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Brendon Todd | -110 |
Matthieu Pavon | -110 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – R. Fowler / B. Todd | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Brendon Todd | -130 |
Rickie Fowler | +110 |
2nd Round Match-Ups – D. McCarthy vs S.W. Kim | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Si Woo Kim | -125 |
Denny McCarthy | +105 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – S. Straka / D. McCarthy | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sepp Straka | -120 |
Denny McCarthy | +100 |
2nd Round Match-Ups – B. Hun An vs T. Moore | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Byeong Hun An | -110 |
Taylor Moore | -110 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – T. Moore / J. Rose | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Taylor Moore | -140 |
Justin Rose | +115 |
2nd Round Match-Ups – B. Harman vs S. Burns | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Brian Harman | -125 |
Sam Burns | +105 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – B. Harman / S. Im | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Brian Harman | -125 |
Sungjae Im | +105 |
2nd Round Match-Ups – M. Fitzpatrick vs M. Homa | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Matt Fitzpatrick | -130 |
Max Homa | +110 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – N. Taylor / M. Fitzpatrick | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Matt Fitzpatrick | -155 |
Nick Taylor | +130 |
2nd Round Match-Up – S. Scheffler v L. Aberg | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | -155 |
Ludvig Aberg | +130 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – L. Aberg / R. McIIroy | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ludvig Aberg | -130 |
Rory McIlroy | +110 |
2nd Round Match-Ups – T. Fleetwood vs X. Schauffele | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Xander Schauffele | -140 |
Tommy Fleetwood | +115 |
2nd Round Match-Ups – C. Morikawa vs C. Young | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Collin Morikawa | -120 |
Cameron Young | +100 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – C. Morikawa / X. Schauffele | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Xander Schauffele | -120 |
Collin Morikawa | +100 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – W. Simpson / G. Woodland | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Webb Simpson | -150 |
Gary Woodland | +125 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – B. Garnett / N. Dunlap | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Brice Garnett | -115 |
Nick Dunlap | -105 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – A. Eckroat / E. Barnes | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Austin Eckroat | -200 |
Erik Barnes | +165 |
2nd Round Match-Up – K. Kitayama v M. Pavon | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Kurt Kitayama | -110 |
Matthieu Pavon | -110 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – M. Pavon / E. Van Rooyen | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Matthieu Pavon | -140 |
Erik Van Rooyen | +115 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – R. Werenski / A. Long / S. O’Hair | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Adam Long | +160 |
Sean O’Hair | +170 |
Richy Werenski | +190 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – T. Merritt / J. Overton / C. Tarren | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Troy Merritt | +105 |
Callum Tarren | +140 |
Jeff Overton | +425 |
2nd Round Match-Ups – C. Hoffman vs T. Merritt | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Charley Hoffman | -115 |
Troy Merritt | -105 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – L. Hodges / A. Svensson | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Adam Svensson | -130 |
Lee Hodges | +110 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – E. Grillo / C. Young | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Cameron Young | -185 |
Emiliano Grillo | +150 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – J. Herman / L. Griffin / A. Cook | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Lanto Griffin | +110 |
Austin Cook | +165 |
Jim Herman | +320 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – K. Stanley / R. Barnes / S.H. Kim | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
S H Kim | -165 |
Kyle Stanley | +320 |
Ricky Barnes | +320 |
2nd Round Match-Ups – J. Bramlett vs S.H. Kim | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Joseph Bramlett | -110 |
S.H. Kim | -110 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – T. Finau / A. Schenk | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Tony Finau | -130 |
Adam Schenk | +110 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – J. Walker / H. Higgs / T. Alexander | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Tyson Alexander | +125 |
Harry Higgs | +200 |
Jimmy Walker | +220 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – R. Knox / A. Noren / S. Stevens | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Noren | -105 |
Sam Stevens | +160 |
Russell Knox | +400 |
2nd Round Match-Ups – A. Noren vs N. Hojgaard | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Noren | -115 |
Nicolai Hojgaard | -105 |
2nd Round Match-Ups – V. Perez vs S. Stevens | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Sam Stevens | -110 |
Victor Perez | -110 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – C. Kirk / M. Hughes | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Chris Kirk | -120 |
Mackenzie Hughes | +100 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – C. Reavie / B. Horschel / N. Hojgaard | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Nicolai Hojgaard | +120 |
Billy Horschel | +145 |
Chez Reavie | +330 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – N. Hardy / F. Molinari / S. Ryder | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sam Ryder | +140 |
Nick Hardy | +160 |
Francesco Molinari | +240 |
2nd Round Match-Ups – N. Hardy vs G. Higgo | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Garrick Higgo | -110 |
Nick Hardy | -110 |
2nd Round Match-Ups – B. Cauley vs S. Ryder | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Bud Cauley | -110 |
Sam Ryder | -110 |
2nd Round Match-Ups – B. Horschel vs N. Lashley | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Billy Horschel | -115 |
Nate Lashley | -105 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – S. Burns / K. Kitayama | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sam Burns | -120 |
Kurt Kitayama | +100 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – A. Smalley / J. Suh / D. Lipsky | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Justin Suh | +150 |
Alex Smalley | +165 |
David Lipsky | +220 |
2nd Round Match-Ups – A. Smalley vs H. Norlander | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Smalley | -125 |
Henrik Norlander | -105 |
2nd Round Match-Ups – C. Davis v E. Cole | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Cam Davis | -110 |
Eric Cole | -110 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – J. Day / E. Cole | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jason Day | -125 |
Eric Cole | +105 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – C. Hoffman / B. Cauley / C. Yuan | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Bud Cauley | +165 |
Carl Yuan | +175 |
Charley Hoffman | +180 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – S. Bae / H. Norlander / H. Buckley | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Henrik Norlander | +135 |
Hayden Buckley | +170 |
Sangmoon Bae | +230 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – C. Davis / B. Hun An | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Byeong Hun An | -115 |
Cam Davis | -105 |
2nd Round Match-Up – C. Davis v A. Putnam | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Andrew Putnam | -110 |
Cam Davis | -110 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – N. Lashley / C. Gribble / C. Kim | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Nate Lashley | +115 |
Chan Kim | +135 |
Cody Gribble | +375 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – J. Bramlett / R. Sloan / M. Schmid | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Matti Schmid | +145 |
Joseph Bramlett | +150 |
Roger Sloan | +250 |
2nd Round Match-Ups – C. Kim vs M. Schmid | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Chan Kim | -110 |
Matti Schmid | -110 |
2nd Round Match-Ups – R. Henley vs S. Theegala | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Russell Henley | -110 |
Sahith Theegala | -110 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – R. Henley / A. Putnam | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Russell Henley | -165 |
Andrew Putnam | +140 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – V. Perez / T. Lawrence / MJ. Daffue | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Victor Perez | +120 |
Thriston Lawrence | +170 |
MJ Daffue | +275 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – G. Higgo / B. Stuard / J. Byrd | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Garrick Higgo | -115 |
Jonathan Byrd | +210 |
Brian Stuard | +320 |
2nd Round Match-Up – MJ Daffue v T. Crowe | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Trace Crowe | -120 |
MJ Daffue | +100 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – L. Glover / S.W. Kim | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Si Woo Kim | -125 |
Lucas Glover | +105 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – K. Bradley / J.T. Poston | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
J.T. Poston | -140 |
Keegan Bradley | +120 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – A. Fitzpatrick / K. Dougherty / R. Pereda | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Fitzpatrick | +125 |
Kevin Dougherty | +130 |
Raul Pereda | +350 |
2nd Round Match-Up – A. Fitzpatrick v A. Dumont De Chassart | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Fitzpatrick | -130 |
Adrien Dumont De Chassart | +110 |
2nd Round Match-Ups – J. Thomas vs J. Spieth | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Jordan Spieth | -115 |
Justin Thomas | -105 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – S. Scheffler / J. Spieth | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | -215 |
Jordan Spieth | +175 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – J. Bridgeman / T. Whitney / J. Deraney | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jacob Bridgeman | -120 |
Tom Whitney | +170 |
Joseph Deraney | +450 |
2nd Round Match-Up -R. Hoey v J. Bridgeman | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Jacob Bridgeman | -115 |
Rico Hoey | -105 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – W. Clark / S. Theegala | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sahith Theegala | -120 |
Wyndham Clark | +100 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – Pi. Coody / J. Campillo / T. Longbella | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jorge Campillo | +120 |
Pierceson Coody | +145 |
Thomas Longbella | +330 |
2nd Round Match-Up – P. Coody v J. Campillo | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Jorge Campillo | -120 |
Pierceson Coody | +100 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – Y. Saso / X. Lin / A. Jutanugarn | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Xiyu Lin | +125 |
Yuka Saso | +160 |
Ariya Jutanugarn | +275 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – M. Homa / T. Fleetwood | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Max Homa | -110 |
Tommy Fleetwood | -110 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – A. Furue / S.Y. Kim / L. Grant | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sei Young Kim | +140 |
Ayaka Furue | +160 |
Linn Grant | +240 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – J. Thomas / K. Kisner | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Justin Thomas | -370 |
Kevin Kisner | +290 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – J.Y. Ko / P. Tavatanakit / S.Y. Ryu | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jin Young Ko | +130 |
Patty Tavatanakit | +160 |
So Yeon Ryu | +260 |
2nd Round 2 Balls – C. Bezuidenhout / C. Phillips | |
Type: 2nd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Christiaan Bezuidenhout | -150 |
Chandler Phillips | +125 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – L. Thompson / B. Henderson / L. Ko | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Lydia Ko | +135 |
Brooke Henderson | +150 |
Lexi Thompson | +280 |
Tiger Woods Retirement | |
Type: To announce retirement in 2024 – Status: OPEN | |
No | -650 |
Yes | +400 |
To Join LIV Golf | |
Type: To Join LIV – Status: OPEN | |
No | -2500 |
Yes | +1000 |
Adelaide | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Jon Rahm | +600 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +900 |
Joaquin Niemann | +1100 |
Cameron Smith | +1200 |
Talor Gooch | +1200 |
Tyrrell Hatton | +1200 |
Dustin Johnson | +2000 |
Abraham Ancer | +2200 |
Brooks Koepka | +2200 |
Louis Oosthuizen | +2200 |
Click here for more… | |
PGA Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +400 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Rory McIlroy | +1200 |
Ludvig Aberg | +1600 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Xander Schauffele | +2000 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +2500 |
Collin Morikawa | +2500 |
Max Homa | +2500 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2500 |
Click here for more… | |
US Open 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +400 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Rory McIlroy | +1200 |
Ludvig Aberg | +1600 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Viktor Hovland | +2000 |
Brooks Koepka | +2500 |
Cameron Smith | +2500 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2500 |
Xander Schauffele | +2500 |
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The Open Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +500 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1100 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2000 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2000 |
Jordan Spieth | +2500 |
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Requests | |
Type: Requests – Status: OPEN | |
The Open Championship – Alex Noren – Top 20 Finish | +200 |
Solheim Cup 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -140 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1200 |
Ryder Cup 2025 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -135 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1000 |