Matsuyama romps to WGC title
Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama never gave anyone a chance Sunday, closing with a 6- under- par 66 to win the HSBC Champions in Shanghai and becoming the first Asian winner in the 18 years of the World Golf Championships.
Matsuyama, 24, hit his second shot into the water on the par- 5 18th hole and still salvaged a par by sinking an 18- foot putt. That gave him a seven- shot victory over reigning British Open champion Henrik Stenson and Daniel Berger.
It was the largest margin of victory at the HSBC Champions and the largest in a WGC event since Tiger Woods won the Bridgestone Invitational by seven shots in 2013.
Matsuyama, who entered the final round with a three- stroke lead, played his final 45 holes without a bogey to complete 72 holes at 23- under 265, one shot off the tournament record set three years ago by Dustin Johnson. It was the 10th career victory for Matsuyama, who will rise to a career-high No. 6 in the world rankings Monday.
Rookie Cody Gribble earned the first PGA Tour title of his career, closing with a 7- under 65 to notch a four- stroke victory over Chris Kirk, Luke List and Greg Owen in the Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Mississippi.
Gribble, who started the round a shot behind co- leaders Kirk and List, made five birdies on the back nine to turn a tight tournament into a blowout. He finished 72 holes at 20- under 268.