It should be impossible for the second-ranked golfer in the world, for a player who could create a wonderful piece of sporting history, to arrive at an Open apparently almost entirely under the radar. Add the fact Hideki Matsuyama was the joint runner-up in the last major to be played and his invisibility is even more bizarre.
There has never been a male Japanese major champion but Matsuyama’s steady rise – he is a four-times PGA Tour winner and second only to Dustin Johnson where ranking points are concerned – render him by far the nation’s best hope. Perhaps the fact he routinely chooses not to converse with the media in English impacts on the level of wider attention he receives.
“I am working on my English,” the 25-year-old says. “I think I am recognised a little more now in America but if I could speak good English more people would know my personality.
“I don’t play golf to be famous or get attention so maybe not being recognised too much can be good but I know I have a responsibility to the game to be able to promote it to the best of my ability so I am gradually practising my English.
“I do understand more than I can speak and it is about finding the confidence to do it. It is very nerve‑racking speaking in a different language on camera or to a big audience of journalists. I use the translator in press conferences because I know getting all the information quickly is important for the journalists to do their jobs and my English would make that difficult as they might not understand me.”
Self-awareness can be added to the lengthy list of Matsuyama qualities. Few would know of his interest in pool, table tennis and darts. The strongest influence on the young Matsuyama as his golfing talent blossomed was not someone in the upper echelons of the sport. “Although I started to watch quite a bit of golf, my dad was my biggest inspiration,” he says. “He was my golfing hero as a youngster – he was probably plus-two handicap when he was playing a lot and I dreamed of being as good as him.
“Golf was a big part of my life from a young age. I was always dreaming about being a pro golfer but education was also very important to me so I went to university before I turned professional. It was very important for me to mature and develop as a person and a golfer. I wouldn’t have been ready straight out of school and getting a good education was also very important to me and my family.
“When I played at Augusta in 2011, qualifying as the Asian amateur champion and finishing at one-under par, that was a real turning point. It was such a wonderful opportunity to play among the world’s best on one of the most famous courses in the world and to see how I would handle it. After that I really started to believe more strongly than ever that after university I could have a good career as a professional golfer.”
Matsuyama embraces what major glory would mean to Japan, rather than seeing it as a burden. “There is pressure for sure but I believe I have learned how to deal with the pressure. I feel that there is no way to get away from pressure but I try to focus on what I can control.
“Winning a major is on my list of goals. I feel good and inspired by the support I get from Japan rather than feeling additional pressure. I want to make the Japanese golf fans proud. I already feel enormous pride to have reached No2 in the world rankings and be the first Japanese player to reach this.”
Matsuyama is one of 18 Asian players in the Open field. Only one man from that continent – YE Yang, who won the 2009 US PGA Championship – has sampled major glory. Matsuyama’s own development owes plenty to the removal of red-mist episodes which once undermined his ability. “I am competitive and before you grow up that can be seen as temperamental and fiery,” he says.
“I think the biggest difference is that I have matured and learned how to handle all the emotions that come with the pressure of competing. Now I channel the fire in a positive way. That being said, it is still tough to control your emotions.”
There is another target. Matsuyama did not participate in golf’s return to the Olympics, last summer in Rio. With Tokyo the venue for 2020, and golf still on the menu, that is Matsuyama’a focus. “It is hard to imagine a greater honour than representing Japan in a home Olympics. It is definitely a goal for me.
“When Andy Murray won the tennis Olympic gold at the 2012 London Olympics, I dreamt about how incredibly special it would be to do the same in the golf in Japan.”
Matsuyama has earned the right to dream big.
