Relaxed Matsuyama may unlock more silverware at US Open

A bearded Hideki Matsuyama may well be the best version of Hideki Matsuyama that the golfing world needs.

The Japanese superstar enters this week’s US Open, the year’s third major, at the prestigious Los Angeles Country Club with his facial hair on full display for a fourth successive tournament that bookmakers may well start running betting odds as to how long the beard will remain.

Already cemented in golf’s folklore as Japan’s first male major champion when he triumphed at the 2021 Masters, Matsuyama recently displayed a lighter side of his personality that may well unlock his quest for more major silverware.

The 31-year-old was smiling and laughing during the June 1-4 Memorial Tournament when quizzed about his new look. The responses were rather refreshing as Matsuyama is known for his stoic demeanour when fronting the media that, perhaps, he has learnt that all work and no play makes Jack, or in this case Hideki, a dull boy.

“I don’t know why I let it grow out but then everybody says, man, it looks really good, so I guess it might be here to stay,” Matsuyama explained with a grin through his interpreter.

And what is the best part about having a beard? “I don’t have to shave it,” he laughed.

American golf writers were amused by Matsuyama’s easy-going nature as he prepares for his 11th successive appearance at the US Open in the company of two-time US Open champion Brooks Koepka and reigning FedExCup winner Rory McIlroy in the opening two rounds.

He has three top 10s, missed only one cut and finished fourth at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts after closing with a glorious 65 to finish three behind champion Matt Fitzpatrick in 2022.

In 2017, Matsuyama posted a career-best joint-second at Erin Hills, and it was achieved during a highly successful season in which he won three times and rose to a career-high world No. 2.

Coincidentally, that was also the year when Matsuyama was probably the happiest in his personal life as he had tied the knot and become a father, which no one had an inkling until he stunned a bewildered Japanese press corps with the announcement from out of the blue.

A nagging back and neck injury, however, has since proven to be bothersome for Matsuyama, stopping him from living up to his reputation as one of the hardest workers on the range. He has withdrawn from a handful of tournaments since picking up the injury at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2022 and has tinkered with his game and practice regime to avoid further aggravation.

His last victory came in January 2022 when he won the Sony Open in Hawaii to tie K. J. Choi as the Asian golfer with the most wins at eight. But, in recent months, he has shown glimpses of his best form again by finishing no lower than tied-29th in his last six strokeplay starts, including a solo fifth at the Players Championship in March.

He offered a glimpse of the uncertainties he now faces with his physical concerns. Following a second-round 65 at the Memorial, which he won in 2014 for his PGA Tour breakthrough, Matsuyama said: “I feel great. You never know, though, tomorrow morning.”

Throughout the current 2022-23 season, Matsuyama has remained cautiously optimistic he can return to the winner’s enclosure again and stand out as the Asian golfer with the most wins on the PGA Tour. “We are getting closer on what we were working on,” he said in March.

“Whether or not those changes will produce results, or I can hit the ball the way I want to hit it, that will take some time. We also talk about the condition of my neck and how to put as little stress on it as possible.”

For years, Matsuyama, who is currently ranked 26th, stood out as the leading Asian in the rankings but he is now surpassed by Korea’s Im Sung-jae (world No. 19) and Tom Kim (No. 22).

He is 58th on the FedExCup points list and needs to sustain his climb if he is to maintain the longest active streak of any player by qualifying for his 10th straight playoffs finale, the Tour Championship, which is exclusive to the top 30 golfers.

Perhaps a new look with the beard and a relaxed attitude are the ingredients that Matsuyama need in his chase for a second Major victory and ninth tour title. With Hollywood a few miles away from this week’s venue, he may well rewrite his own script and emerge as a champion once again.