Despite Hideki Matsuyama’s recent victory at the Genesis Invitational, including a stunning final round, LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman continues to tried to seduce a Japanese star To the Saudi-supported circuit.
Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion and one of his country’s biggest stars, will be a big acquisition for LIV. He is also passionate about golf and will help LIV, which is growing rapidly, open its doors to the Japanese market.
“We’ve been trying to get Hideki Matsuyama. I don’t mind admitting that,” Norman said in an interview with Australian Golf Digest.
“When Hideki won, [Los Angeles], what did I do first? I said, “Congratulations, Hideki.” I’m proud of you, buddy. ”
Matsuyama’s victory at Riviera was his first on the PGA Tour since 2022, when he won the Sony Open in Hawaii in January.
Since then, he has had to battle neck and back injuries that have led to repeated sidelines and a decline in form over the past two seasons.
Still, he still showed flashes during that time, finishing solo in fourth place at the 2022 U.S. Open and recording four other top-10 finishes.
His best performance in 2023 was fifth place at The Players.
And so far in 2024, Matsuyama has appeared in every tournament he has participated in. He also feels better in health, as evidenced by his final-round 62 to win the Genesis Invitational.
Matsuyama will next compete in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the fourth signature event of the 2024 PGA Tour season. In the meantime, he will not be attending the Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach, instead opting to practice and take time off this week.
Perhaps he will keep an eye on the LIV golf event in Saudi Arabia this week. Probably not.
Either way, Norman will still try to steal Matsuyama from the PGA Tour, steal yet another star, and take more talent from the tour.
“Stay tuned, buddy,” Norman added.
“stay tuned.”
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
