PLAYER PROFILE · PGA TOUR
Hideki Matsuyama is the most important golfer Japan has ever produced – the first Japanese man to win a major championship, an Olympic medallist, and the most successful Japanese player in the history of the PGA Tour.
| Full name | Hideki Matsuyama |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 February 1992, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Turned pro | 2013 |
| Primary tour | PGA Tour |
| Height | 5′ 11″ (1.80 m) |
| Major championships | 1 (2021 Masters) |
| PGA Tour wins | 11 |
| Olympic medal | Bronze, Paris 2024 |
Early Life & College
Matsuyama was born in the city that shares his surname, on the island of Shikoku, and rose through the strong Japanese amateur and university system, playing at Tohoku Fukushi University. His amateur record was outstanding – he won the Asia-Pacific Amateur twice, earning invitations to the Masters, where he announced himself as a low amateur. He turned professional in 2013 and quickly became the dominant force in Japanese golf before taking his game to America full-time.
The Historic Masters
For years Matsuyama carried the hopes of a golf-obsessed nation that had never seen one of its men win a major. He answered them at the 2021 Masters, controlling the tournament through the weekend and holding his nerve down the back nine to claim the green jacket – the first major championship won by a Japanese man, and an event watched through the night by millions back home. It stands among the most significant moments in Japanese sporting history, and transformed Matsuyama from a great player into a national icon.
A Career of Consistency
The Masters is the crown, but Matsuyama’s career is one of remarkable sustained excellence. His eleven PGA Tour victories – the most by any Japanese player – include two World Golf Championships and two wins at the Phoenix Open, and he has been a fixture in the world’s top ten for much of the past decade, reaching a career-high of World No. 2. His eight Japan Golf Tour titles and multiple Presidents Cup appearances complete the picture of a player of exceptional and enduring class.
Playing Style
Matsuyama is a superb ball-striker with one of the most distinctive swings in the game – a pronounced pause at the top of the backswing that has become his signature. His iron play and his ability to shape shots have long been admired by his peers, and though the putter has at times been the difference between contention and victory, the quality from tee to green is a constant. Famously private and understated, he lets the golf speak, and it has said a great deal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many majors has Hideki Matsuyama won?
Hideki Matsuyama has won one major championship – the 2021 Masters Tournament – becoming the first Japanese man ever to win a men’s major golf championship, a landmark moment for the sport in Japan.
How old is Hideki Matsuyama and where is he from?
Matsuyama was born on 25 February 1992 in the city of Matsuyama, in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. He attended Tohoku Fukushi University and turned professional in 2013.
What did Hideki Matsuyama’s 2021 Masters win mean for Japan?
It was historic. No Japanese man had won a major before, and Matsuyama’s green jacket was celebrated across Japan as one of the country’s greatest sporting achievements. He remains the most successful Japanese player in PGA Tour history.
Has Hideki Matsuyama won an Olympic medal?
Yes. Matsuyama won the bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, on home soil, he narrowly missed a medal, losing a seven-man playoff for bronze.
How many times has Hideki Matsuyama won on the PGA Tour?
Matsuyama has won 11 PGA Tour titles – more than any other Japanese player in history – including two World Golf Championships events and two Waste Management Phoenix Opens, along with eight wins on the Japan Golf Tour.