Xander Schauffele says what people didn’t appreciate about Hideki Matsuyama when he won The Masters

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We are so used to talking about Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler when it comes to the last few editions of The Masters that it’s easy to forget that it was only four years ago we saw Hideki Matsuyama win.

Matsuyama produced a stunning third round of 65 to put himself out in front back in 2021 and despite stuttering on the final 18, he held off Will Zalatoris to claim the crown.

Very much one of the top golfers to come out of Asia in recent memory, Matsuyama has been a consistent player on the PGA Tour now for some time.

In fact, he has a fine Masters record in general and hasn’t finished outside the top 40 in his last 11 appearances at Augusta National.

Obviously, he has something going around the famous course and according to Xander Schauffele, Matsuyama’s win sometimes goes unrecognised for how good it was.

Xander Schauffele says what was ‘spooky’ about Hideki Matsuyama’s Masters win

Looking back on Matsuyama’s win in ’21, it really was a masterclass in how to play the conditions, especially on day three.

The Japanese star needed all his craft and skill to get over the line.

And according to Xander Schauffele, Matsuyama’s short-game at Augusta was like something he’d not seen before.

“Man…there’s so many who are insane. I’d say the one – in a tournament – we all think we can do crazy things around the greens at times but Hideki (Matsuyama),” Schauffele commented when asked whose short-game he enjoyed watching.

“When I played with Hideki at The Masters, he did some ‘spooky’ chips. To like tap in range that I don’t think people appreciated that much, when he won.

“He was in some weird spots. Augusta is about hitting it in the right spot and then you leave yourself a chance to get up and down. You don’t have to hit it….but there was like three or four holes on the back nine where he like, absolutely stoned it. And I know it’s wet, and so it’s wet you have to play it a little differently but he’s almost just chipping in and I’m like ‘Damn’.”

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Hideki Matsuyama’s PGA Tour record in full

It’s always nice to win praise off a fellow player and Schauffele’s comments here are a nice touch for Matsuyama.

In general, Matsuyama has helped himself to a fine career on the PGA Tour overall and his Masters win is really the icing on the cake.

With 11 wins on TOUR and another eight world-wide, Matsuyama has more than made an impression during his golf career so far. At 33, there is plenty more to come as well and given his record around Augusta, another Masters win cannot be ruled out.

Overall, Matsuyama’s numbers speak for themselves and with over $60m in prize money earned, it’s safe to assume he can rest easy as on the financial side of things as he moves through his 30s.