Hideki Matsuyama celebrates his triumph at the Genesis Invitational in California with an impressive comeback in the fourth and final round. The Japanese golfer, who ended the third round in 7th position, demonstrated his skill by scoring 62 (-9) for a total of 267 (69 68 68 62, -9) strokes. This outstanding performance allowed him to surpass Americans Will Zalatoris and Luke List, who both finished tied for second place with 270 (-14). Californians Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, along with Canadian Adam Hadwin, shared the fourth position with a score of 271 (-13).
Meanwhile, the top-ranked player in the world, American Scottie Scheffler, settled for a 10th place finish with a score of 276 (-8). The Englishman Tommy Fleetwood achieved the same result, among others. However, Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy could only secure the 24th spot with a score of 279 (-5), as he struggled to meet the high expectations.
The Riviera Country Club course (par 71) hosted the PGA Tour tournament, which witnessed the unfortunate withdrawal of Tiger Woods due to illness during the second round. Adding to the drama, Jordan Spieth was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard, mistakenly recording a “3” instead of a “4” on a particular hole.
Despite Patrick Cantlay’s dominance in the initial three rounds, Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, showcased his exceptional skills and determination. With a flawless finish, including nine crucial birdies, Matsuyama outshone his competitors and emerged as the clear winner. This victory holds special significance as it coincides with his 32nd birthday, which falls on Sunday, February 25.
This triumph marks Matsuyama’s ninth title, including a Major, on the PGA Tour. It is also his first victory since January 2022 at the Sony Open in Hawaii. By becoming the first Japanese player to win the Genesis Invitational, Matsuyama soared from 55th to 20th place in the world rankings.
His remarkable achievement in California earned him a prize money of $4,000,000 from the total pool of $20,000,000. The PGA Tour now shifts its focus to Mexico, as the Mexico Open is scheduled to take place in Vallarta from February 22nd to 25th. Representing Italy in the tournament will be Francesco Molinari.
According to the Source tennisworldusa.org