NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Hideki Matsuyama received Sunday’s Hero World Problem, ending with an 8-under 64, hitting a 9-iron to 2 ft for birdie on the primary gap of the playoff, beating Alex Nolen for birdie and ending his season the identical method it began.
Matsuyama, who began the yr by profitable at Kapalua and setting a PGA Tour report for par, holed out from 116 yards with an eagle from the tenth fairway, catching Sepp Straka and passing Scotty Scheffler to take management at Albany Golf Membership.
Nolen, who did not begin the yr till Could due to a hamstring harm, stormed out on the again 9 and made an 18-foot birdie putt on the ultimate gap to catch Matsuyama for a 64, tied at 22-under 266 and superior to the playoffs.
The time beyond regulation did not final lengthy. Matsuyama, who is thought for taking one hand off the membership even when he hits shot, now spun the 9-iron in his hand and watched it purpose on the flag and fall a number of ft away. Noren’s 6-foot birdie strive missed to left.
Matsuyama mentioned, “It was the right distance for me.” “Early on the second shot (by regulation), I missed it a bit to the proper. I aimed effectively and hit shot.”
This was his second win on the Tiger Woods-sponsored vacation occasion, following his first win in 2016.
Straka, who led by one stroke over Scheffler after 54 holes, birdied the ultimate gap for a 68 and completed alone in third place. Scheffler bought off to a sluggish begin and was stretched two holes early on the again 9, ruining his bid for a 3rd straight title at Albany Golf Membership. He hit 68 photographs, tied for fourth with U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun (65).
Matsuyama was out with a rating of 31, and when he holed out with an eagle, he was instantly tied with Straka.
However the event took form behind him on the par-5 eleventh.
Scheffler, who was two photographs behind the lead, missed the golf green along with his driver from 291 yards out, and the entrance of the ball was lined in mud. I went left beneath a small bush. He hacked it to the sand and hit his fourth shot over the inexperienced and into the again of a bunker. He managed to flee with a bogey, permitting solely a spectacular bunker shot.
However he discovered a bunker on the par-3 twelfth gap and made bogey, and when the Japanese star made a 30-foot birdie putt on the thirteenth gap, he was 5 photographs behind Matsuyama.
Scheffler completed the season tied for eighth or worse previously 16 tournaments, up till the Houston Open within the final week of March.
“I am glad to be right here. It is form of a affirmation of the place I’m,” Scheffler mentioned. “I felt like a number of the issues we have been engaged on the previous few weeks we have made some progress right here, and undoubtedly a number of the issues we have been specializing in within the offseason we have made some progress right here as effectively. It is a good place to be.”
Matsuyama, who presently has 21 wins on the earth, wore the standard yellow shirt within the remaining spherical after beginning three photographs behind the lead. Though he was unable to make the most of each par 5s on the again 9, a bogey-free spherical and a pleasant 9-iron shot within the playoff was sufficient to obtain his third trophy from Woods. In 2024, he additionally received the Genesis Invitational at Riviera, which was hosted by Woods.
“Tiger instructed me to shoot 10 beneath right this moment,” Matsuyama mentioned. “I didn’t shoot 10 beneath, however I’m very blissful to win this week.”
