Hideki Matsuyama WINS Genesis Invitational… Japanese star hits NINE birdies in final-round 62 to claim three-shot victory after host Tiger Woods withdrew on PGA
At the Genesis Invitational at the Riviera Country Club, Hideki Matsuyama easily won after shooting a nine-under par 62 in the final round on Sunday.
The tournament was hosted by Tiger Woods in California, but the 15-time major winner withdrew from the competition in the second round because of illness.
Matsuyama finished three strokes ahead of Will Zalatoris and Luke List after making nine birdies in his final round without making any mistakes. It marks his first victory since the 2022 Sony Open in Hawaii and his ninth on the PGA Tour.
After overturning a six-shot deficit to beat the record he shared with South Korea’s KJ Choi for Asian-born players, Matsuyama broke the Riviera record for the lowest closing round by a victor.
Best friends in the last group, Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, wilted on the back nine and tied for fourth, while Matsuyama finished at 17-under.
At one point in the final round, Cantlay led by two shots and appeared to be in complete control of his game. However, he had trouble right away on Sunday.
On the first, a simple par-5, Cantlay missed a 12-foot birdie try; he didn’t have another opportunity to make a birdie putt until the sixth hole. His final score was 72.
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