MATSUYAMA REBORN AFTER GENESIS

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA wants to take his recaptured form back to Augusta after winning his first event for 763 days at the Genesis Invitational.

The 2021 Masters champion (far right) dropped out of the world’s top 50 after suffering back and neck injuries.

But the Japanese star nailed nine birdies in a closing 62 to win in Los Angeles by six shots. “Hopefully I can keep the momentum going,” said the new world No.20. “I hope to take this momentum to Augusta.”

Will Zalatoris, runner-up at the 2021 Masters, revealed a close relative had died on Thursday before he went on to finish joint-second in California.

“This whole week was for her,” said the 27-year-old Californian.

Patrick Cantlay (inset) faltered during the final round after being called out for playing too slowly alongside close friend Xander Schauffele.

Cantlay, 31, held a two-stroke lead when play resumed Sunday and led by as many as five shots heading into the weekend. He and Schauffele were the final group out at Riviera, and they found themselves a full hole behind the penultimate pairing before even completing the fifth hole.

When Luke List and Will Zalatoris were teeing off on the seventh, Cantlay and Schauffele found themselves still on the No.5 fairway. With the distance between the two pairings becoming clear, Jim Nantz highlighted it during the CBS broadcast.

“It’s early in the round,” he remarked. “There is a noticeable gap between these two [final] pairings. Is there a reason for that?”

Potential reasons for the pace of their play did appear after the round was over. The Golf Channel reported following the final round that Cantlay woke up Sunday with a temperature exceeding 100 degrees, according to his coach, Jamie Mulligan.