Hideki Matsuyama cruises to victory at 2016 WGC HSBC Champions
Hideki Matusyama becomes the first-ever Asian player to win a WGC event.
Hideki Matsuyama has been slated as a future major champion for some time now, with the 24-year-old often predicted to become Japan’s first ever major champion.
We can’t help but think Matsuyama is one step closer to that prediction today after romping home to victory by a whopping seven strokes at the WGC HSBC Champions event in Shanghai becoming the first-ever Asian winner of a WGC event.
Matsuyama led by five strokes going into the final round but was never headed, leaving American Daniel Berger and Henrik Stenson in his wake. The seven shot victory was the largest ever at the WGC tournament and the largest since Tiger Woods won the WGC-Bridgestone by seven shots in 2013.
Matsuyama won the Japan Open two weeks ago and finished second at last week’s PGA Tour event in Malaysia.
It’s fair to say Matsuyama is on a roll. Expect to see him challenge for a major in the coming years. Get out and see him represent Japan at the World Cup of Golf in Melbourne in November.
Adam Scott was the best of the Australian golfers in Shanghai.
Despite a disastrous 8-over 80 on Friday, Scott followed it with some stunning golf over the weekend (64 and 66) that saw him finish in a tie for 14th place, 14 shots behind Matsuyama.