“Written by DOUG FERGUSON, Golf Writer for The Associated Press.”

LOS ANGELES — LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hideki Matsuyama set the Riviera record for the lowest closing round by a winner Sunday in the Genesis Invitational, giving the Japanese star another record that means far more to him.

Matsuyama made an impressive comeback, overcoming a six-stroke gap with a stellar 9-under 62 round. He sealed his victory, which marks his ninth on the PGA Tour, with two consecutive shots that landed within one foot of the hole. This breaks the previous record held by K.J. Choi from South Korea for the most wins by an Asian-born player on the tour.

Matsuyama ended the tournament with a score of 17-under 267, securing a three-shot win over Will Zalatoris (69) and Luke List (68). Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, close friends who were competing in the last group, fell behind on the back nine and ultimately tied for fourth place.

Matsuyama earned his first win in two years, following his victory at the Sony Open in a playoff. Shigeki Maruyama sent him a text, recalling a conversation they had about Matsuyama potentially becoming the top PGA Tour winner among Asian players.

At the beginning of the final round, it seemed improbable for Cantlay to win as he held a two-shot lead and appeared to have complete command of his game. However, it was a tough battle for Cantlay from the very start as he struggled to hit fairways and greens and struggled to make significant putts.

Cantlay failed to make a 12-foot putt for birdie on the simple first hole, and did not have another opportunity for a birdie until the sixth hole. He finished with a score of 72.

Cantlay and Schauffele were paired together and both faced difficulties. However, Schauffele managed to regain momentum with a challenging birdie on the 10th hole and an impressive bunker shot for eagle on the 11th. Despite bogeying the following three holes, he finished strong with a 70.

List set the early pace. Zalatoris took the lead in the middle of the back nine. At one point there was a five-way tie for the lead heading to the tough stretch on the back nine at Riviera.

Matsuyama took charge with remarkable skill. His shot on the difficult 15th hole cleared the bunker and stopped just 8 inches from the hole.

He stated through his interpreter that the second shot on 15 was possibly the best shot he made.

On the 16th hole, he allowed the club to hang loosely as he watched the trajectory, uncertain of its destination until the crowd erupted in cheers for a shot that landed just 6 inches from the hole. He successfully completed his third consecutive birdie on the 17th hole, extending his lead to three shots, and at that point, he could not be surpassed by anyone else.

Matsuyama’s last move was a difficult 4-foot putt for par on the last hole. He pumped his fist in celebration, a rare display of emotion from the usually reserved Japanese golfer, when the ball went in. His score of 62 beat Doug Tewell’s 1986 record by one stroke for the best final round by a winner at Riviera.

During the past two years, Matsuyama faced challenges, beginning with a neck and back injury he sustained at Bay Hill in March 2022. He achieved only six top 10 finishes globally during this time period and dropped out of the top 50 rankings in the world.

Matsuyama shared that after his injury, he had been concerned about potential setbacks every week. However, during this week’s competition, he was able to play without any concerns, which greatly aided his performance.

The victory earned him a sum of $4 million out of the $20 million total prize pool, and has elevated him to the 20th spot in the world rankings, with the remainder of the major season still ahead. Matsuyama’s total number of wins now stands at 18, including eight on the Japan Golf Tour and the unofficial Hero World Challenge, which is also organized by Tiger Woods.

___

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Source: wralsportsfan.com