Matsuyama feeling the heat
SHANGHAI: Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama admitted yesterday that he is under pressure to replicate the storming performance that propelled him to WGCHSBC Champions glory in Shanghai one year ago.
The Japanese opens his defence of “Asia’s major” today alongside world No.1 Dustin Johnson of the US and fast-rising Spaniard Jon Rahm.
The trio are among the attractions of a star-studded field at the US$9.75 million (approximately 323 million baht) showpiece event at Sheshan International Golf Club.
Other leading contenders at the tournament, which is sanctioned by the PGA Tour, European Tour and Asian Tour, include last year’s runner-up Henrik Stenson, Olympic champion Justin Rose and a clutch of current and former major winners in Phil Mickelson, Jason Day and Brooks Koepka.
There are three Thais in the field — Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Phachara Khongwatmai and Poom Saksansin.
The 25-year-old Matsuyama became the first Asian to win a World Golf Championship a year ago, and it was the catalyst for a brilliant run that also delivered the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational title in August.
Matsuyama and Johnson have a stranglehold on WGC events, splitting the last five between them — two for the Japanese and three to the American.
“It is different coming back as defending champion,” said Matsuyama, the world No.4, who seared his way to victory last year by a comprehensive seven shots from Sweden’s Stenson and Daniel Berger of the US.
“I don’t want to put a lot of pressure or expectation on myself, I just want to let the tournament come to me, like it did last year. All I can do is try to play my best and hopefully I will play well.”
Making Matsuyama’s task all the harder, he will also have to contend with a growing challenge from the home golfers.
Prime among the Chinese who will hope to be in the mix on the final day on Sunday are Li Haotong, a rising talent who underlined his potential with an eye-catching third-place finish at the British Open in July.
Top-ranked Johnson has mastered the tournament before, winning it in 2013, and given his form in WGC events it would be a surprise if he fails to challenge this week.
“I’m always excited to come here and I’ve had a lot of success in this tournament, it’s something I look forward to,” said the 33-year-old American.
“My game is getting there. I had three weeks off so a little rusty but hopefully I knocked all of the rust off today [practising].”
Rahm has never played the WGC-HSBC Champions before and the 22-year-old is relishing his stay in China.
“I can’t wait for the tournament to get started, the course is in great shape, it’s a beautiful course that I think suits my game well,” said Rahm.