Hideki Matsuyama - Projections

[Paddy_2_Iron]

1 in FEDEX cup rankings

19 OWGR

3 wins in the last 9 months

29 years old, with 8 wins 1 a major.  

 

Where can this Japanese Rockstar end up?  Do you think 2 majors 15 wins is possible?  He had that massive lull between 17 and 20.  

 

Short term I can see him picking off another win if his putting can stay hot, but I am not sure I see much sustainability in his game.  He has game, so if the stars align he could win another major, but I just don't see it.  If he continues to play lesser tourney's and swallow his pride he could pick up some cheapies and roll his total much higher.  

 

If he continues to play a lot of lesser events I think he can get to 15 wins.  I am struggling giving him another major, I don't see it.  Could it happen sure, I just am not sure if that can happen again for him.  

 

Final projection for his career.  

 

15 wins (WGC possibly)

1 major 

Edited January 18, 2022 by Paddy_2_Iron

[chigolfer1]

12 minutes ago, Paddy_2_Iron said:

1 in FEDEX cup rankings

19 OWGR

3 wins in the last 9 months

29 years old, with 8 wins 1 a major.  

 

Where can this Japanese Rockstar end up?  Do you think 2 majors 15 wins is possible?  He had that massive lull between 17 and 20.  

 

Short term I can see him picking off another win if his putting can stay hot, but I am not sure I see much sustainability in his game.  He has game, so if the stars align he could win another major, but I just don't see it.  If he continues to play lesser tourney's and swallow his pride he could pick up some cheapies and roll his total much higher.  

 

If he continues to play a lot of lesser events I think he can get to 15 wins.  I am struggling giving him another major, I don't see it.  Could it happen sure, I just am not sure if that can happen again for him.  

 

Final projection for his career.  

 

15 wins (WGC possibly)

1 major 

 

10th OWGR

[Paddy_2_Iron]

2 minutes ago, chigolfer1 said:

 

10th OWGR

I highly doubt he can maintain that throughout the year, I see that declining significantly throughout the season.  

 

Interesting to see if he can leverage his hot putting into another win.  I would certainly not be against it.  

Edited January 18, 2022 by Paddy_2_Iron

[moosehillgolf]

I could see him grabbing another Masters eventually. The one place confidence on the greens reigns supreme, which is what his desperately needs and he basically had his B game Sunday (probably nerves getting to him) and pulled it off.

[Paddy_2_Iron]

2 minutes ago, moosehillgolf said:

I could see him grabbing another Masters eventually. The one place confidence on the greens reigns supreme, which is what his desperately needs and he basically had his B game Sunday (probably nerves getting to him) and pulled it off.

 

If I had to pick one that he could win, it would be the Masters.  However he has done relatively well at all the majors at least once in his career.  T2 at a US Open in 2017 I remember specifically.  

 

 

[chigolfer1]

1 hour ago, Paddy_2_Iron said:

I highly doubt he can maintain that throughout the year, I see that declining significantly throughout the season.  

 

Interesting to see if he can leverage his hot putting into another win.  I would certainly not be against it.  

 

I thought you were listing current stats.  And, if that is your prediction, I doubt he drops back to 19 the way he's playing but we'll see.

Edited January 18, 2022 by chigolfer1

[BombinJim]

I could see him winning at Augusta again and perhaps a shorter US Open track (Brookline?). As for your wins I see him reaching that 15+ mark eventually. The confidence he had in driver accuracy coming down the stretch at Sony along with his iron play and hot putter make him a formidable force. Seems like he picked up some distance too lately unless I overlooked that in the past.

[elwhippy]

He is just getting started. 

[bladehunter]

He’s truly a top 5 player in the world right now. And I think he has the highest ceiling overall , he wins often if his putter is working. That’s it. His only hole. 

[Golfingfanatic]

Hideki is an underrated chipper and pitcher of the golf ball imo.

[oikos1]

Fifteen wins on the PGA Tour in the modern era of golf would be quite impressive.  Definitely could see him winning another major or more.

 

As of 2019, there were 1/2 dozen players currently playing on the PGA Tour in the Top 100 all time and with 12 or more wins.  Thomas(3) and Spieth(1) have since picked up a few more to join that group.

 

https://zims-en.kiwix.campusafrica.gos.orange.com/wikipedia_en_all_nopic/A/List_of_golfers_with_most_PGA_Tour_wins

[bscinstnct]

Quick look at his stats over the years and what stands out is

 

His approach game is off the hook. Gane around the green can be outstanding.

 

Putting is turrible. 
 

Even last year he almost lost half a stroke per ROUND putting. That’s crazy.

 

But had an awesome year so there you go. Lol

 

I didn’t realize that he was top-5 owgr all of 2017 and at #2!

And otherwise he’s been #15-#30 for the past 4 years, now at #10.

 

This is an excellent player. If he stays focused and stays hot…

 

Predictions? 

 

[TiScape]

I’d say his biggest projection right now is probably his tendency to comment on peoples weight gain in response to his own insecurities about the 10-15 lbs. he’s put on since his Masters win. 😞 

[bscinstnct]

16 minutes ago, TiScape said:

I’d say his biggest projection right now is probably his tendency to comment on peoples weight gain in response to his own insecurities about the 10-15 lbs. he’s put on since his Masters win. 😞 

 

Wait wut he say now?!

[Blonde Line Lizard]

As long as he does better than Fowler.

[MattyO1984]

The Japanese Adam Scott. 
 

Got his Masters and will have weeks where he putts well so he can barely do anything else other than win.

[khalespace]

It's interesting that he was born in the city of Matsuyama and his last name is also Matsuyama. Is this a coincidence or he is named after the city?

Edited January 18, 2022 by khalespace

[HMHS]

30 minutes ago, khalespace said:

It's interesting that he was born in the city of Matsuyama and his last name is also Matsuyama. Is this a coincidence or he is named after the city?

Coincidence only...

[HMHS]

My hope is he wins another major -- best chance is the PGA - he was right there against JT in 2017 --- that was truly painful for me to watch as a fan... and more so for him sobbing after the round in the arms of Japanese reporters.  

 

So my prediction is 2 majors by the end of his career.  Wins?  My hope again is that he surpasses KJ Choi and reaches 10 PGA wins... not easy to win -- that playoff loss to Ancer in WGC is a perfect example - St Jude was "a wasted opportunity' but golf gods evened it out last weekend, I guess... (Hideki lipped out his putt to win the playoff hole in St Jude last yr)

 

He's clearly riding a wave now -- sadly, I'm realistic and this will "settle down" -- the hope is that his putting stroke improvement is there (and not just this week).   he has a new coach (vs self coaching in the past)-- it's Yui Kawamoto's former coach -- knows his stuff, that's for sure... 

 

And yes, he did gain some weight in the offseason by not doing anything LOL.  Fatherhood beckons I guess but with Hideki, I'm kinda shocked how he manages to keep focused completely with golf... Great as a fan of his of course -- hopefully get to see that other side of him in the future (though doubtful)

 

 

[Christosterone]

 

[chigolfer1]

14 minutes ago, Christosterone said:

 

 

Wow, that was really good!   One of the best humor golf bits I've ever seen.

[stinger_gc]

2 hours ago, MattyO1984 said:

The Japanese Adam Scott. 
 

Got his Masters and will have weeks where he putts well so he can barely do anything else other than win.

I think his ceiling is way higher then Adam Scott's ever was.

[Hawkeye77]

Rory will win more majors the rest of his career than Matsuyama from here on out.

[CasualLie]

3 hours ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Rory will win more majors the rest of his career than Matsuyama from here on out.

 

Oh... Now that's an interesting bet.  Not sure who I would take.  Leaning towards Hideki, but let's see if Rory gets a win before the Masters.

[woahnelly]

Hideki wins The Players at some point in his career, let's not forget he had a nice lead the day of Covid rocking the world ..

 

John Daly and Phil Mickelson both won The Open, the latter also winning a major at 51 so anything is possible in that regard. I wouldn't be surprised if Hideki never wins another one or if he wins 5.

[iBanesto]

13 hours ago, Paddy_2_Iron said:

I highly doubt he can maintain that throughout the year, I see that declining significantly throughout the season.  

 

Interesting to see if he can leverage his hot putting into another win.  I would certainly not be against it.  

 

Matsuyama in 2016 and 2017 was consistently in the top 10 of the OWGR. He got to World No. 2.

 

He ended 2016 with the following finishes: 5th, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 1st and 1st.

 

It appears he then chose to minimise the pause at the top of the backswing and his form dropped. But he was still around 20-30 in OWGR.

 

Thus it seems he has found his swing and putting again, so I can see him maintain this form and continue to go up the rankings.

[Christen_The_Sloop]

2 hours ago, iBanesto said:

 

Matsuyama in 2016 and 2017 was consistently in the top 10 of the OWGR. He got to World No. 2.

 

He ended 2016 with the following finishes: 5th, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 1st and 1st.

 

It appears he then chose to minimise the pause at the top of the backswing and his form dropped. But he was still around 20-30 in OWGR.

 

Thus it seems he has found his swing and putting again, so I can see him maintain this form and continue to go up the rankings.

He had a wrist injury - missed the Pheonix where he was a two time defending champion. Missed a few more tournaments, lost a little confidence... Now I think he's found his form again.

[MattyO1984]

8 hours ago, PHILsThemannnn said:

I think his ceiling is way higher then Adam Scott's ever was.

 

A Masters, a Players Championship, Tour Championship and World Number 1 is a pretty high ceiling.

[iBanesto]

1 hour ago, Christen_The_Sloop said:

He had a wrist injury - missed the Pheonix where he was a two time defending champion. Missed a few more tournaments, lost a little confidence... Now I think he's found his form again.

 

Did not know that.

 

Thanks.

 

 

[Christen_The_Sloop]

1 hour ago, MattyO1984 said:

 

A Masters, a Players Championship, Tour Championship and World Number 1 is a pretty high ceiling.

 

They do compare fairly well, but Matsuyama is slightly ahead of Scott's pace. Comparable strikers of the ball for sure. Matsuyama's putting, streaky as it is, is much better than Scott's when it's on. I don't that Scott's putting was ever on. Matsuyama hasn't ever had to go head to head with Tiger at full strength, but that's the world we live in. Most of Scott's top years were past Peak Tiger, so he really has no excuse. We might be watching peak Matsuyama right now. I think the the desire to be the best Asian golfer ever (aside from Tiger) is a bigger motivation than most people can understand.