Chipping In: Magical Matsuyama, Jaidee & the Crazy Life of McIlroy

In his weekly column Chipping In, Nick Bonfield reflects on the tournaments this weekend including Matusyama's impressive victory at the Memorial Tournament, Jaidee's win at the Nordea Masters as well as the other key talking points including the crazy life of Rory McIlroy.

Magical Matsuyama

It's been a hugely impressive rise to prominence for Japanese golfer Hideki Matsuyama who, at the age of 22, has played on the Presidents Cup and won one of the most coveted titles on the most prestigious tour in world golf. He was in the final group at last week's Byron Nelson Championship, and although that didn't work out as planned, he clearly learnt profusely from the experience. At Muirfield Village, he looked to have blown his chances following a double at 16 and bogey at 17, but he showed great courage and ability in firing his approach at 18 to six feet and converting the subsequent putt - becoming the first person to birdie the tough closing hole on all four days. In the ensuing playoff, he cut a calm, confident figure and dispatched Kevin Na - who fired a superb 64 earlier in the day - at the first extra hole. There's only one direction for Matsuyama to go in, and the only question is how prolific he'll be.  

US Open momentum 

It wasn't the desired outcome for Bubba Watson or Adam Scott - who both fell fowl of a treacherous closing stretch on one of the best and most complete golf courses in the United States - but signs are good ahead of the US Open in two weeks. Scott will attract a significant amount of money over the next fortnight, and rightfully so. He's a fine player from tee to green - his imperious length also means he'll be hitting more 3-woods than most, and should be more accurate as a consequence - he's in outstanding form and he's a past major champion, so you really have to fancy his chances at Pinehurst. Bubba, on the other hand, is someone you wouldn't immediately associate with US Open success, but he's a man who's defied convention since he first picked up a golf club. He was carving his ball all over the place at Muirfield Village, and if he does that at Pinehurst he'll miss the cut, but let's not forget how brilliant he was off the tee at The Masters. Both players are in good shape for a tournament that's as wide open as it's ever been. 

The crazy life of Rory McIlroy

You do have to feel for Rory McIlroy, who just can't seem to get his life back on an even keel. With the Ulsterman, it's never straightforward, but many see that as a sign of true, unfettered talent. He won the BMW PGA Championship against the backdrop of a split with celebrity girlfriend Carloline Wozniacki - the latest in a series of seemingly never-ending hurdles he's had to overcome. Since the start of 2013, he's had to deal with the fanfare of his switch to Nike and subsequent loss of form, a legal dispute over his management, the fallout after his withdrawal from the Honda Classic, the break-up of a serious relationship and more. This week, he shot a sublime opening 63, but also managed to damage his knee in the process and ended up finishing outside the top 20. He plays the game with alarming ease when everything clicks into place, and you can't help but feel that would happen more often if he could find a little bit more stability in his private life. He's admitted several times before that he finds it difficult to see his career and personal life as two separate strands, and that's something he needs to work on. 

Jubilation for Jaidee

Well, what a week it's been for Asian golf, with two players at different ends of the age spectrum notching victories on the two major global tours. Thongchai Jaidee - one of Asia's touring pioneers, and no doubt someone Matsuyama looked up to as a youngster - shot a brilliant closing 65 to play himself into a play-off with Stephen Gallacher and Frenchman Victor Dubuisson before recording a birdie four at the first play-off hole to claim his sixth European Tour title. It seems apt that 44-year-old Jaidee won the same week as one of the new Asian generation, helping demonstrate the strength in depth of golfers coming from the East.  While there probably won't be many more titles for Jaidee, Matsuyama, Seung-Yul Noh - who recorded a first PGA Tour title earlier this season - Ryo Ishikawa, Sang-Moon Bae and Kiradech Aphibarnrat are among those players who'll be flying the Asian flag for decades to come.

Ryder Cup watch 

It was disappointing for both Stephen Gallacher and Victor Dubuisson to miss out in a play-off at the Nordea Masters, but the bigger picture looks far rosier. It's now safe to say the Frenchman is guaranteed a Ryder Cup berth, and given his character, solid all-round game and strong amateur background, I have a feeling he'll excel. I had the opportunity to interview Victor last week and he's a very pleasant young man, so I'm delighted to see him doing well. Gallacher, on the other hand, has edged up to 9th in the European points rankings, and with those ahead of him likely to take part in the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup play-offs, he's got a good chance to make his Ryder Cup debut on home soil at Gleneagles this September. 

Next week, the European Tour heads to Austria for the Lyoness Open, while the PGA Tour stops in Memphis for the FedEx St Jude Classic.

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