Hideki Matsuyama wins the Memorial Tournament

Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama came through a playoff against Kevin Na of the USA to win the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance at Muirfield Village GC in Ohio.

Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama came through a playoff against Kevin Na of the USA to win the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance at Muirfield Village GC in Ohio.

Matsuyama looked to have blown his chance of a first PGA Tour title in regulation play after he had found the water on the 16th hole and posted a double bogey, then followed that up with a bogey on the 17th.

Those slips left the 22-year-old needing a birdie on the home hole to force his way into a playoff with Kevin Na who had earlier carded a fine closing round of 64.

When Matsuyama’s drive started out well right of the fairway, heading for the trees, the game looked up. The young Japanese star was so frustrated that he hit his driver off the ground, breaking the head off.

But he was fortunate. His ball rebounded from a tree and back out onto the short grass. He grasped the opportunity, fired a great second shot to within five feet of the pin and then holed a clutch birdie putt to match Na’s clubhouse total of 13-under-par.

On the first extra hole, the 18th at Muirfield Village, Na hooked his tee shot into a stream. Matsuyama, hitting 3-wood from the tee as his driver was out of commission, found a bunker. Matsuyama’s second shot was hooked and it hit a spectator to the left of the green.

Na found the putting surface in four shots and was left with an eight footer for bogey. Matsuyama hit a delicate flop shot for his third, then rolled his par putt home from some 10 feet to claim the victory.

"To win my first PGA TOUR event is enough," Matsuyama said. "But to win it here at Mr. Nicklaus' course, it really gives me a lot of confidence now going on. And hopefully, I'll be able to use this week as a stepping stone to further my career."

Bubba Watson was one ahead with five to play, but he fell away to end the week a shot back in third place. Adam Scott was tied for the lead with seven to go, but he played those holes in four over par.

“The whole thing is frustrating,” Scott said. “We all could have done something different.”

The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance Muirfield Village GC, Dublin, Ohio May 29 – Jun 1, purse $6,200,000, par 72

1    Hideki Matsuyama (Jap) 70    67    69    69    275    $1,116,000 2    Kevin Na (USA)        72    69    70    64    275    $669,600     3    Bubba Watson (USA)    66    69    69    72    276    $421,600 T4    Chris Kirk (USA)        66    70    74    68    278    $272,800 T4    Adam Scott (Aus)        69    70    68    71    278    $272,800 T6    Ben Curtis (USA)        69    71    69    70    279    $215,450 T6    Steve Stricker (USA)    71    70    70    68    279    $215,450 T8    Luke Guthrie (USA)    75    69    66    70    280    $167,400 T8    Bill Haas (USA)        73    67    72    68    280    $167,400 T8    Thorbjorn Olesen (Den) 71    67    74    68    280    $167,400 T8    Charl Schwartzel (RSA)    72    69    67    72    280    $167,400 T8    Brendon Todd (USA)    71    68    69    72    280    $167,400

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage