Xander Schauffele travelled 12,000 kilometres from his home in Florida to Yokohama in Japan, but his emotional comeback victory at the Baycurrent Classic had the feel of a homecoming.
Matt McCarty may need a pat on the back and one of those ice-cold, extra-sudsy beers Japan is famous for after coughing up a potential 59 – or 58 – in the most devastating way during Sunday’s final round at the Baycurrent Classic outside Tokyo.
Adam Scott made a hot start at the PGA Tour’s Baycurrent Classic in Japan, carding a three-under-par 68 to sit one shot off the pace after the opening round at Yokohama Country Club.
Phoenix Campbell braved rain and a split third round to leave himself even-par during the final round at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Taiheiyo Club in Gotemba.
A double-bogey at the last soured what was an otherwise solid opening round for leading Australian Quinnton Croker at the Asia Pacific Amateur, as the Queenslander posted a first-round of even-par 70 to sit five shots off the lead.
This week’s AT&T Byron Nelson marks Matsuyama’s first start since his victory at Augusta National, where the 29-year-old became the first player from Japan to win a men’s Major championship.
Jones has served as the national coach for the Japan Golf Association since October 2015 and has no doubt that Matsuyama’s win will inspire the next wave of Japanese golfers to chase equally lofty goals.
Hideki Matsuyama may instantly have risen to the greatest golf hero Japan has ever known with his roller-coaster-ride Masters win. Now, however, comes the hard part.