Matsuyama looks to end a year without contending
AKRON: Hideki Matsuyama shot 61 on the final day at Firestone last year to win the Bridgestone Invitational, his sixth victory worldwide in 20 starts.
He was among the favourites to win the PGA Championship the following week and nearly pulled it off until Justin Thomas overtook him on the back nine.
That was his last good chance to win a tournament.
Matsuyama returns to this World Golf Championship needing to revive some good memories.
“I started out the new season and I really haven’t played that well,” Matsuyama said on Tuesday.
“I’ve been grinding and practising hard.
“Hopefully, this will be a week that I can catch the magic again and play well.”
Matsuyama, once in the mix to reach No. 1 in the world, now is at No. 16.
More troublesome is that he is No. 86 in the FedEx Cup standings with only three tournaments left before the start of the tour’s postseason.
In his four years on the US PGA Tour, the 26-year-old Japanese star has never missed the Tour Championship.
“I have some work to do,” Matsuyama said.
“I’ve never been in this position before and so I’ll have to get on my game and play well these last couple of weeks.
“Hopefully, it will carry through to the Tour Championship.”
In another development, Russell Knox was overlooked as a captain’s pick for the Ryder Cup two years ago and a late surge – runner-up at the French Open and a victory in the Irish Open – has given him a chance to make the European team and at least put him in the conversation as a pick.
Knox had the right perspective when it comes to an event like the Ryder Cup.
“It’s not a goal of mine as much as it’s a reward,” he said after missing the cut at the British Open.
“My goal was to play good this week, to try and have my best Major finish.
“Ryder Cup is a reward for good play.
“Of course, it’s on my goal list but I’m not focusing on it.
“I’m focusing on each event and trying to finish off the season.
“So the Ryder Cup, of course, is there,” he said.
“It’s like a little diamond hanging there at the end.
“But I’ve got to take care of a lot of business before that.”