Golf is always crying out for its next big star and often, sponsors exemptions are the first chance we get to see a glimpse of the potential stars of the future.
Ever since Tiger Woods emerged on the scene in the 90s, golf has looked for its next big thing but until now, nobody has come close to Tiger.
Sure, players like Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth all caused a big stir as younger players and enjoyed success in their own right. But in the main, Woods has remained the big needle mover.
In the modern day game, we’re looking constantly at the Korn Ferry Tour and beyond to find our next big star but at the Sony Open this week, we might be getting a glimpse into the future by way of witnessing 16-year-old, Mao Matsuyama.
Who is Mao Matsuyama?
Mao Matsuyama is an up and coming teenage golfer from Nagoya, Japan, who has been given a sponsor’s exemption into the Sony Open in Hawaii this week.
Since playing from being a child, Matsuyama has continued his golfing journey and shot into the public eye last year when he Toyota Junior World Cup and then the Japan Amateur in consecutive weeks.
By picking up such wins, he rocketed inside the top 200 on the world amateur rankings and now finds himself rubbing shoulders with his idol, Hideki Matsuyama.
However, despite the surname, 16-year-old Mao Matsuyama is not related to PGA Tour star and former Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama.
However, that doesn’t mean the teenager isn’t inspired by the Japanese star.
“I want to be one of the best golfers in the world just like Hideki Matsuyama and even go beyond that,” Mao Matsuyama said this week. “As a Japanese, I want the world to know my name and be a famous professional golfer.”
“I often get asked if we are brothers or related. Thanks to my last name, I get more attention from everyone, and I think that may be a good thing.”
How Mao Matsuyama is doing at The Sony Open
Unfortunately for young Mao, things haven’t exactly gone how he’d like in Hawaii.
At the time of writing, he was some nine over par and sitting second last for the entire tournament after going three over in his opening five holes of the second round.
With the cut-line projected to be at least one under par, Matsuyama stands little chance of making it.
However, he will be better for the experience and clearly, he is one to watch for the future.
The PGA Tour’s youngest ever golfers
Despite his tender years, Matsuyama is actually nowhere near being the youngest player to ever feature in a PGA Tour event.
In fact, he’s some years off being close.
That record is held by Don Dunkelberger, who back in 1937, competed in the Chicago Open at just 11-years-old. Unsurprisingly, Dunkelberger withdrew after round one.
| Youngest PGA Tour players | Age at time of playing |
| Don Dunkelberger | 11 years, 11 months |
| Guan Tianlang | 14 years, 5 months |
| Bob Panasik | 15 years, 8 months |
| Tadd Fujikawa | 16 years, 4 days |
| Justin Thomas | 16 years, 2 months, 23 days |
| Matteo Manassero | 16 years, 2 months, 28 days |
| Ty Tyron | 16 years, 9 months, 7 days |
As the list above shows, some players do very much go onto have success on the TOUR and young Matsuyama will be hoping to follow suit.
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