Hideki Matsuyama achieved the extraordinary feat on Sunday, dominating Riviera Country Club to clinch the Genesis Invitational title convincingly. In this triumph, he conquered the renowned course famously referred to as ‘Hogan’s Alley.’
A striking monument of Ben Hogan, the victor of the 1948 U.S. Open at Riviera, still graces the 18th green, a testament to the course’s storied history.
However, it was Matsuyama who stood tall above the competition on Sunday, securing victory by a commanding three-shot margin. His remarkable performance included a scintillating 9-under 62, the lowest score of the tournament, and the lowest final-round score ever recorded at Riviera, as noted by Justin Ray of The Athletic.
Few could have foreseen Matsuyama’s ascent to contention, let alone his resounding triumph, not even the man himself.
“To answer that question, no,” Matsuyama admitted when questioned about his expectations for Sunday’s outcome.
“I was not feeling comfortable with my ball-striking, so I was kind of thinking, ‘Hey, I’m going to have a couple of missed shots today,’ but maybe that kind of worked out.”
Despite starting the day six shots behind 54-hole leader Patrick Cantlay, the 2021 Masters champion swiftly made his mark, commencing his final round with three consecutive birdies to thrust himself into the mix.
A further burst of three successive birdies on holes 10, 11, and 12 propelled him to 14-under, where he found himself in a five-way tie for the lead with Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Luke List, and Will Zalatoris.
With steady pars on the 13th and 14th holes, Matsuyama approached the daunting par-4 15th. It was here that he delivered a stroke of brilliance, executing a sublime second shot that landed mere inches from the pin, setting up an easy birdie.
While many of his competitors faltered on the challenging 15th hole, Matsuyama’s flawless execution further solidified his lead, gaining crucial strokes on the field.
But Matsuyama’s display of precision was far from over.
Following up with another exceptional tee shot on the picturesque par-3 16th, he found himself even closer to the hole than before, tapping in for yet another birdie and claiming the solo lead at 16-under.
Maintaining his momentum, Matsuyama navigated the pivotal par-5 17th with finesse, capitalizing on a birdie opportunity to secure his ninth birdie of the day.
Unlike Cantlay the previous day, Matsuyama seized the opportunity presented by the 17th hole, effectively sealing his victory with a birdie on Riviera’s penultimate hole.
A composed finish on the 18th ensured Matsuyama’s triumph in the PGA Tour’s third signature event of the year, marking his ninth career PGA Tour victory—a milestone of considerable significance for the Japanese golfer.
“Reaching nine wins was one of my big goals, passing [South Korean] KJ Choi,” Matsuyama reflected.
“After my eighth win [at the 2022 Sony Open in Hawaii], I’ve been struggling with my back injury. There were a lot of times when I felt that I was never going to win again. I struggled reaching the top-10, but I’m really happy that I was able to win today.”
Matsuyama’s path to victory was not without its challenges, overcoming back and neck injuries to reclaim his position at the forefront of the golfing world.
Ultimately, his masterful Sunday performance at Riviera, reminiscent of Hogan’s enduring legacy, will be etched into the annals of golfing history.
Jack Milko, a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through, provides comprehensive golf coverage. For more updates, follow @_PlayingThrough on Twitter and Jack Milko @jack_milko.
