Matsuyama eyes unique collection of wins in Arnold Palmer Invitational

Hideki Matsuyama has already won prestigious tournaments hosted by golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. He’s now got his eyes on another big one this week.

Winner of last month’s Genesis Invitational, which is hosted by Woods, to complement his 2014 triumph at the Nicklaus-hosted Memorial Tournament presented by Workday, the 31-year-old enters this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard with a mission to complete a unique treble of victories.

Since Woods began hosting the Genesis Invitational in 2020, no player has won all the three player-hosted tournaments on the PGA Tour. And Matsuyama hopes to change that.

“I’m feeling pretty good right now, so I hope to put myself near the top of the leaderboard at the end of the week and in a position to get another win,” said Matsuyama ahead of his appearance at Bay Hill.

“Of course playing here on the PGA Tour, this is one tournament I’ve always wanted to win but for whatever reason, this has been a place I’ve never really played well. So I’m figuring out how to overcome those issues, whether that means practicing at home or here at this course I’m not sure. It is something I’ll consider each day as we go about preparing for the week.”

The Arnold Palmer Invitational, one of eight Signature Events this season, will feel like a home game for Matsuyama as it is played in Orlando which is where the Japanese superstar is based when he is in the United States.

He ended a two-year winless run at the Genesis Invitational three weeks ago to become the winningest Asian golfer on the PGA Tour with nine victories, breaking a tie with Korea’s K.J. Choi. He was especially delighted to return to the winner’s club as he has had to overcome a niggling neck injury, which was bothering him for some time.

“Looking back, I’m obviously very excited about the win (at Genesis Invitational),” said Matsuyama, who closed with a final round 62 for his latest triumph. “All the way up to the final round, I was able to get some good work in on things I was focusing on the entire week. As for my golf, the putter is still a bit shaky but it’s getting closer. I’m hitting some good shots and depending on how my short game goes