사진 확대 Hideki Matsuyama (right) is taking a photo with Tiger Woods. AFP Yonhap News Agency
“Tiger Woods is my idol. I took my first picture together in LA nine years ago, and I want to take more pictures with Woods, so I try to play well, especially at his tournament.”
Hideki Matsuyama, wearing the trademark “Sunday Yellow” T-shirt, expressed his feelings with a bright smile as he was handed the trophy to Tiger Woods.
Matsuyama cut eight shots on the final day of the Hero World Challenge, an event hosted by the Woods Foundation at Albany Golf Course in the Bahamas on the 8th (Korea Standard Time), ending the regular round with Alex Noren (Sweden) tied for a 22-under 266 total. And in the first hole of the extension, Matsuyama put his Iron 9 shot on the pin 60cm and decorated the champion putt with a birdie.
Like his victory speech, Matsuyama has a particularly good performance at the Woods tournament, his idol. After winning the 2016 and this year’s Woods-hosted competitions, he also won the championship trophy at the Genesis Invitational, where Woods hosted the event in 2024. “Tiger Woods told me to play 10 under par today, but I couldn’t,” said Matsuyama, who was handed the trophy to Woods and took a picture together. Still, I’m very happy to win,” he said. “I was younger and more aggressive nine years ago, but now I have more confidence than then.”
Matsuyama, the only Asian player to win the Masters championship, also set a new record of winning the first and last tournaments in 2025.
Earlier, Matsuyama won the PGA Tour opener and The Sentry, which featured only the best players, in January this year, with a total of 34 under par. This is the new record for the lowest 72-hole hit from a regular tournament in PGA Tour history.
Matsuyama, who won the start and end of this year, said, “Actually, this year was a really difficult time. It didn’t feel like it was going well after winning the opening game, but I’m happy to finish with the championship like this. There is nothing more enjoyable than winning,” he said, looking back on the hard times in the middle of the season.
Scottie Scheffler of the U.S., world No. 1 in men’s golf, who challenged for the third consecutive championship, finished the tournament tied for fourth with major U.S. Open champion J. Spun.
[Reporter Cho Hyosung]
