Matsuyama bonds with teammates
HIDEKI MATSUYAMA’S English still isn’t great, but when it comes to communicating with his International Presidents Cup teammates he hopes winning translates into any language.
The 25-year-old Japanese star is the highest-ranked player on the International team at No. 3 in the world.
He’ll be teeing up in a third Presidents Cup when the Internationals take on the United States in the biennial match play competition, which the Americans have dominated with nine wins in 11 prior editions to one for the Internationals and one draw.
Despite the language barrier, International team captain Nick Price said Matsuyama’s experience had made him a valuable contributor in the team room as well as on the course.
“He’s certainly come out of his shell,” Price said. “He takes a ribbing from all of us. He really can take a joke and he can dish it out, too. He doesn’t say whole lot, but when he does it’s very funny.”
“It’s been what, four years since my first Presidents Cup,” said Matsuyama said through his interpreter. “I still haven’t learned enough English to communicate well with my teammates, but I can communicate.
“They’re my teammates, my brothers. I’m looking forward to winning the Cup with them this year.”
Matsuyama went into the US PGA Tour’s seasonending FedEx Cup series atop the playoff standings but missed the cut at the Northern Trust, tied for 23rd at the Dell Championship, finished 47th at the BMW Championship and was 26th at the Tour Championship.
It was a disappointing playoff run for a player whose season started in spectacular style, with a victory in the World Golf Championships HSBC Champions last October.
He successfully defended his Phoenix Open title and added the WGC Bridgestone crown to his resume in August, and contended at the PGA Championship before faltering in a bid for a first major trophy.
Price is confident Matsuyama can shake off any late-season fatigue as the Internationals vie to claim the Cup for just the second time.
“Obviously he’s pretty tired,” Price said. “He started playing great at the end of last year, so it’s been an 11month, 10-month stretch.” – AFP International Team’s Jason Day (left) and Marc Leishman (middle) joke around as Anirban Lahiri plays his tee shot during practice yesterday.