Matsuyama enjoys his free time with father
KAPALUA, Hawaii - Unbeatable at the end of the year, Hideki Matsuyama went home to Japan and nearly met his match. His father. “It was close,” Matsuyama said, laughing as the translation was given in English.
No score was revealed, though none was necessary.
Matsuyama wrapped up his third straight victory in the Bahamas by holding off British Open champion Henrik Stenson, and then he headed home to spend time with family and friends. He had what he described as a “fair share” of sake to celebrate his best year — no one had more than his five victories worldwide — that elevated him to No. 6 in the world and into the elite of golf.
Still, nothing topped the time he spent with his father, Mikio Matsuyama.
“My father, when he played a lot, he was probably a plus-2,” Matsuyama said, referring to his father’s handicap index. “We hadn’t played for probably 10 years together. My father hadn’t even played golf for probably a year. So this past offseason, we were able to play. It was special.”
Mikio Matsuyama introduced his son to golf, taught him the fundamentals and remains the only coach he ever had. He rarely travels with him except for the big tournaments, though he was there when his son won the Japan Open.
There wasn’t much to teach during their time in Japan. Matsuyama was the hottest player in golf at the end of the year, winning four of his last five tournaments while playing in four countries. And the last three victories were not really close.
Matsuyama nearly blushes when mentioned in the same breath as Jumbo Ozaki or Isao Aoki, the only two Japanese men in the World Golf Hall of Fame.
But he is aware of the company he’s keeping in the world ranking.
“When I go back to Japan, more people recognize me and it makes it a little more difficult to go out for meals,” he said. “And even in America, I’ve noticed people when I go out to dinner — I don’t speak a lot of English and so we don’t get into a conversation — but I think some of them recognize me. It’s a good feeling.”