Hideki Matsuyama has had a hectic few days.
After profitable the bronze medal on the Summer season Olympics in Paris, Matsuyama, his caddie Shota Hayato, and his coach Mikihito Kuromiya have been on the mistaken finish of a theft in London—stopping in the UK earlier than heading to Memphis. Burglars stole Matsuyama’s pockets, however fortunately, his passport and newly awarded medal have been salvaged. The identical can’t be mentioned for Hayato and Kuromiya, nonetheless, because the thieves stole their passports, that means that Matsuyama’s workforce had no alternative however to return to their native Japan, per Golf Digest Japan.
That can go away Matsuyama with out his looper and coach at this week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, the primary occasion of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs.
However in all probability, the 2021 Masters winner won’t have his workforce by his facet by means of the season-ending Tour Championship, which begins on Thursday, Aug 29.
“There’s an opportunity they’ll make it, however now we have to enter it considering it’s near zero,” Matsuyama mentioned to Golf Digest Japan in his native language.
Hayato and Kuromiya have submitted rush requests to acquire new passports and visas for entry into america. However these pleas will probably make them miss the FedEx Cup Playoffs altogether.
Matsuyama arrives in Memphis ranked eighth within the FedEx Cup standings, that means he has loads of wiggle room to make it to East Lake. The highest 30 gamers after subsequent week’s BMW Championship—the second of the three playoff occasions—qualify for the Tour Championship.
In the interim, Matsuyama has pegged Taiga Tabuchi to loop in the course of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Tabuchi caddied for Ryo Histasune all through the 2024 season, however Histasune missed out on the playoffs. He completed 84th, which opened the door for Tabuchi to seize Matsuyama’s bag for the stretch run.
“I’m glad he accepted,” Matsuyama mentioned of his short-term caddy.
“He’s labored with Hisatsune this yr, so I believe he is aware of the ropes, and he can communicate English, so I can depend on him.”
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. You’ll want to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.
