Nomore Hide-ing bysecond topman
HIDEKI MATSUYAMA is golf ’s biggest emerging star.
Yet the man ranked as the second best player on the planet has crept around Royal Birkdale unnoticed and refuses to talk up his chances of lifting the Claret Jug.
Matsuyama has rocketed to world No.2 and has been tipped as the man to beat this week by Southport’s 1976 winner Johnny Miller.
At the age of just 25 the Japanese superstar has won 14 events.
Matsuyama was second at last month’s US Open and tied for fourth at the PGA Championship last year.
However, while the likes of Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson have carried huge galleries and a circus with them since arriving at Birkdale the Asian ace has been barely recognised and practised to just a handful of spectators.
Matsuyama has the pressure of trying to become Asia’s first Open winner on his shoulders but is adamant his previous record at the Championship does not give him bundles of confidence.
Following a final nine holes of warm-up yesterday he said: “I have only one top 10 in all in the UK.
“I will do my best but although my confidence is not zero it is also not 100 per cent. I will try my best.”
Matsuyama is humble in his approach yet his attention to detail is astonishing.
On Tuesday evening the Japanese spent two hours on the practice range after a full 18 holes then followed that up with another two hours on the practice putting green.
Miller is convinced Matsuyama will take some beating at Birkdale.
He said: “Hideki is the best player right now. He’s ready to win.”