Hideki Matsuyama, his caddie Shota Hayafuji and coach Mikihito Kuromiya were all victims of a robbery in London last week. Matsuyama had his wallet stolen and both Hayafuji and Kuromiya were robbed of their passports.
As a result of the theft, Matsuyama’s caddie and coach were forced to return to Japan in order to have their passports and visas reissued. To add insult to what is already a traumatic situation, the very earliest they will be able to make it out to the United States of America is just before the Tour Championship in two weeks’ time.
Instead of Hayafuji at his side, the 32-year-old has Taiga Tabuchi at his side for the Playoffs, the caddie who recently worked with PGA Tour and DP World Tour pro, Ryo Hisatsune.
🚨 Matsuyama On A Mission: Matsuyama, the winner of The Genesis Invitational at The Riviera Country Club earlier this season, made seven birdies and two bogeys in the opening round at TPC Southwind. He came into this week at No 8 in the FedEx Cup and showed no ill effects from breaking in a new caddie, Tabuchi.
He bounced back quickly from a bogey at the par-5 third with a birdie on the par-3 fourth and added two more on the seventh and ninth before making the turn with a 2-under 33. After a birdie on 12, Matsuyama rattled off three straight circles on Nos 14-16.
His momentum was halted a bit thanks to a bogey on 17, but still, an opening 5-under effort under the circumstances is impressive.
