Hideki Matsuyama rallied from a 6-shot deficit with a 9-under 62 Sunday to set the Riviera record for the lowest closing round by a winner in the Genesis Invitational.
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 rallied from a 6-shot deficit with a 9-under 62, punctuated by consecutive shots inside a foot of the hole, to win for the ninth time in his career on the PGA Tour. That breaks the record for Asian-born players he shared with K.J. Choi of South Korea.
Matsuyama finished at 17-under 267 for a 3-shot victory over Will Zalatoris (69) and Luke List (68). Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, best friends playing in the final group, faded in the middle of the back nine and tied for fourth.
It was Matsuyama’s first victory since his playoff win at the Sony Open two years ago, after which Shigeki Maruyama sent him a text to remind him of a conversation they once had about becoming the most prolific PGA Tour winner of Asian players.
Matsuyama entered the week without a top-10 finish in 20 straight starts, the longest top-10 drought of his entire PGA Tour career. Matsuyama was 80-1 to win entering the week, according to ESPN BET odds, and 125-1 to win entering the final round.
