Less than a week before the start of the 86th Masters in history (April 7-10, 2022), the health of the defending champion, the Japanese Hideki Matsuyama, is in question. The outgoing champion, bothered by physical problems in the neck and shoulder, withdrew this Friday from the Valero Texas Open. Not really the best preparation to face the Augusta National Golf Club and the stars of world golf!
Like a Tiger Woodsdont everyone in golf is eagerly waiting to find out whether or not he will line up from next Thursday at 86th Masters of Historyanother file currently animates the specialized gazettes. Hideki Matsuyama, first Japanese in history to have won a Grand Slam tournament last year (and not just anyone), is not sure to defend his green jacket.
Injured in the neck and shoulders during the second round of theArnold Palmer Invitational (March 3-6), the current world No. 12 retired this Friday from Valero Texas Open to TPC San Antoniothwarted once again by a body not fully healed, apparently.
Lots of care…
As the magazine says GolfweekMatsuyama had explained during a press conference by telephone on March 22 that he had ” received a lot of care (…) I will do my best to prepare myself well in order to be able to defend my title in Augusta. I haven’t been able to train as much as I would have liked but compared to what I’ve done, I think I’m on the right track… »
Did he just want to take no risks before the big deadline or did the wound he’s been trying to heal for several weeks wake up again?
Already two victories this season on the PGA Tour
Hideki Matsuyama, now 30, has won two tournaments in the PGA Tour this season. the ZOZO Championship at home in Japan on October 24 and the Sony Open in Hawaï January 16. Eighth to Waste Management Phoenix Open on February 13, he remained in 39th place in the Genesis Invitational and a top 20 finish (20th) at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Winner of the 2021 Masters with a total score of -10, he left the Americans Will Zalatoris, Jordan Spieth and Xander Schauffele respectively one and three points behind, becoming a true God living in the land of the rising sun !
Photo : Kevin C. Cox / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
