Hideki Matsuyama what's in the bag 2025
By: Derek Clements | Edited: Mon 08 Dec 2025
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Hideki Matsuyama ended the year as well as he began it. The 33-year-old former Masters champion hit his approach at the first playoff hole to three feet and made the birdie putt to beat Alex Noren, of Sweden, and win the Hero World Challenge.
"It was a perfect distance for me," Matsuyama said. "I was going right at it.”
Matsuyama and Noren each shot 8-under 64s in the final round at Albany in Nassau, Bahamas, to overhaul overnight leader Sepp Straka.
Matsuyama opened the year with a record-low score at Kapalua’s Plantation Course to win the Tournament of Champions but then failed to record a top-10 finish in his next 22 starts.
He shared the 36-hole lead here after a 66 but trailed by three entering the final round.
Straka led by three early and covered the front nine in 32, but Matsuyama went one better, including a 30-foot birdie putt at the par-three eighth. He caught Straka by spinning a wedge from 116 yards back into the hole at the 10th for an eagle to reach 21 under.
Matsuyama pulled in front with a 30-foot birdie at the 13th. Tournament host Tiger Woods had told Matsuyama to shoot 10 under and at one stage he looked on course to do precisely that but finished regulation play with five successive pars. "I didn’t shoot 10 under but very happy to win this week," Matsuyama said.
Straka faded after making a mess at the par-five 11th, where he went from bunker to bunker and had to work hard for bogey. He closed in 68 and finished third.
Scottie Scheffler's bid for a third straight win at the Hero World Challenge came up short as he signed for 68 and finished tied fourth. Noren played alongside Matsuyama and came from behind with eight birdies in his final 13 holes to shoot 64 and force a playoff with a 19-foot birdie at the last.
Player Profile
Matsuyama was born on 25 February 1992 in Ehime, Japan. He was introduced to golf at the age of four, by his father.
He won the 2010 Asian Amateur, which allowed him to compete at the 2011 Masters, the first Japanese amateur to do so. He was the leading amateur and won the Silver Cup. The following week he finished in a tie for third at the Japan Open.
In 2011, Matsuyama won the gold medal at the 2011 World University Games. He also led the Japan team to the gold medal in the team event. In October 2011, he also successfully defended his title at the Asian Amateur Championship. In November, Matsuyama won the Talheiyo Masters while still an amateur. In August 2012, he topped the world amateur golf rankings.
Matsuyama turned professional 2013 and won his second professional tournament, the Tsuruya Open. Five weeks later, Matsuyama won his third title, the Diamond Cup. After a top-10 finish at the US Open he entered the top 50 in the world rankings for the first time. He also won the Casio World Open and claimed the Japan Tour money list.
In 2014, Matsuyama qualified for the PGA Tour and in just seven events had six top-25 finishes, including tied sixth at The Open.
His first PGA Tour success came at the 2014 Memorial Tournament, climbing to 13th in the world rankings. In his first full season as a PGA tour member, he finished 28th in the FedEx Cup standings.
In 2016 he won the Phoenix Open, beating Rickie Fowler in a playoff, and he retained the title the following year.
On 11 April 2021, Matsuyama won The Masters, becoming both the first Japanese player and the first Asian-born player to win the tournament. He finished with an overall score of 278 (-10), one shot ahead of runner-up Will Zalatoris.
He won the Sony Open in 2022, which was his last victory until he claimed the Genesis in 2024. He had fallen to 55th in the world. It was his 250th start. He then won the FedEx St Jude in August 2024.
He was then victorious at the Tournament of Champions in January 2025 with a record-breaking score of 35 under par. It was his 11th win on the PGA Tour.
He has made 287 starts on the PGA Tour, making 245 cuts. Apart from his 11 wins, he has had seven runner-ups, nine thirds and 42 top fives, with career earnings in excess of $62m. He is ranked 20th in the world.
He averages 300.2 yards from the tee, finds 58.50% of fairways and hits 65.70% of greens in regulation. He averages 28.45 putts per round, gets up and down from the sand 70.55% of the time. He has a scoring average of 69.85 and makes 4.05 birdies per round.
Last 10 Events
Hero World Challenge - 1st
Dunlop Phoenix Tournament - T5th
Genesis Championship - T7th
Baycurrent Classic - T20th
BMW PGA Championship - T13th
Tour Championship - 29th
BMW Championship - T26th
FedEx St Jude Championship - T17th
Wyndham Championship - T19th
The 153rd Open - T16th
Hideki Matsuyama WITB
Driver: Srixon ZXi LS (9 Degrees)
3-Wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 Degrees)
5-Wood: Cobra King RadSpeed Tour (17.5 Degrees)
Irons: Srixon Z-Forged II (4-9)
Wedges: Cleveland RTX 4 Forged Prototype (48, 52, 56, 60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron GSS
Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV
About the author
Derek Clements is a seasoned sports journalist and regular Golfshake contributor, specialising in tour coverage, opinion pieces, and feature writing. With a long career in national newspapers and golf media, he has reported on the game across Europe, the United States and Australia. A passionate golfer, he has played and reviewed numerous renowned courses, with personal favourites including Pebble Beach, Kingsbarns, Aldeburgh, Old Thorns and the K Club. His love of the game informs his thoughtful commentary on both professional golf and the wider golfing community.
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Tags: WITB Tour Pro player profile in the bag
