There are moments in the career of a golfer when he just can’t do anything wrong. This ‘being in the zone’ feeling can last one round for some, or, it can continue for a few weeks. Most players hope for the latter, and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama is living it right now.
Hideki, who became the first Asian player to win a World Golf Championship event, has finished first, second and first in his last three starts in successive weeks. The run started with him winning the Japan Open before the runner-up finish at the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur last week.
And then, he took his form to Shanghai, where he almost lapped the quality field before winning by a whopping margin of seven shots.
Not much is being said about his Japan Open win, but that would have given him all the motivation and confidence he needed. I have played enough Japan Opens to vouch that the tournament is at par with the US Open as far as tough playing conditions are concerned. To give you an idea, only four players broke par at Sayama Golf Club and Hideki was champion by three shots having finished on five-under par.
I love the way he plays. He has a very powerful and consistent swing. He hits his irons close, and even when he doesn’t, his strong short game ensures good scores for him.
I have been saying it for some time that Hideki deserves to be recognised among the foremost young talents in the world. He is just 24 years old, which makes him a lot younger than Rory McIlroy and Jason Day.
Now that he is up to No. 6 in the world rankings, the only thing missing from his impressive CV is a major title. He has contended in a few majors in the past and, hopefully, this run will pave the way for a stronger 2017 for him in which he follows in the footsteps of YE Yang and becomes the second Asian to win one of the four grand slam events.
The European Tour moves to Antalya in Turkey for the Turkish Airlines Open, first of the three Final Series events. The tournament, which is being played at the Regnum Carya Resort course this year, has been unlucky in its build-up with McIlroy pulling out last week after Tiger Woods had done so a couple of weeks earlier.
McIlroy is worried about security given the situation in the country, but I am sure if the European Tour is going ahead with the tournament, they have done their due diligence.
With Race to Dubai leader Henrik Stenson not playing in Turkey, this will be a good opportunity for Danny Willett to get back to the top of the standings. The Swede will be back in action in South Africa where both him and Willett are former winners of the NedBank Challenge in Sun City. And then it will be Dubai, where Stenson has a brilliant record.
So, if Willett wants to go one better than last year and become Europe’s No. 1 player this season, this week is going to be extremely crucial for him.
— Jeev Milkha Singh is a four-time champion on the European Tour
