MATSUYAMA CLAIMS FIRST PGA TITLE
Hideki Matsuyama earned his first victory in America and validation as one of golf's young stars Sunday with birdie on the 18th hole to force a playoff and a 10-foot par putt on the first extra hole to win The Memorial.
In a tournament that Masters champions Bubba Watson and Adam Scott threw away on a wild back nine, Matsuyama looked certain to join them.
He lost the lead by dropping three shots on two holes, and he didn't look like a winner when he pushed his drive toward the bunkers on the final hole. Lightly slamming his driver to the turf in disgust, the head broke off.
But the 22-year-old from Japan followed with an approach to just outside 5 feet for birdie and a 3-under 69. That forced a playoff with Kevin Na, who finished his round of 64 about two hours earlier.
Matsuyama chose not to replace his broken driver in the playoff, and his 3-wood on the 18th hole went into the bunker. Na drove left into the creek and still had about 10 feet for bogey when Matsuyama made his par putt.
Matsuyama won for the sixth time in his career, with all of the rest of his victories coming on the Japan Golf Tour. He had a pair of top 10s in the majors last year. Matsuyama should rise to about No. 13 in the world rankings after the victory.
Memorial Tournament (Final Day)
1. Hideki Matsuyama* (-13)
2. Kevin Na (-13)
3. Bubba Watson (-12)
T4. Chris Kirk (-10)
T4. Adam Scott (-10)
T6. Steve Stricker (-9)
T6. Ben Curtis (-9)
* Won in playoff
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