Hideki Matsuyama loses his caddie and coach after their identification documents were stolen
Hideki Matsuyama recently won a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics but experienced a setback when his wallet was stolen during a layover in London.
The golfer shared with Japanese media, including Golf Digest Japan, that the thief made off with his wallet, as well as the passports and visas belonging to his caddie, Shota Hayato, and coach, Mikihito Kuromiya. Because of this, they had no option but to return to Japan and apply for emergency travel documents rather than travel to Memphis for the first stage of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. The top 50 players in the season-long points standings qualify for the next stage, the BMW Championship at Castle Pines in Denver.
“It’s possible they might make it (to Colorado), but we need to prepare for the reality that it’s not likely,” Matsuyama expressed to Golf Digest Japan.
As per reports, the soonest they could arrive in the U.S. would be just before the Tour Championship scheduled in two weeks.
“I’ll approach my golf as if I were back to my pre-coach days,” Matsuyama said to the Japanese media in Memphis. “I now feel all the pressure is on me.”
In the meantime, Matsuyama has recruited Taiga Tabuchi, who usually caddies for another Japanese golfer, Ryo Hisatsune, to serve as his temporary caddie while Hayato is away. Hayato famously bowed in gratitude on the 18th green when Matsuyama won the Masters in 2021.
“I’m pleased he agreed to help,” Matsuyama commented about Tabuchi, whose regular golfer recently achieved his career-best finish with a T-3 last week but did not qualify for the playoffs. “He has experience working with Hisatsune this year, which is great, and he can communicate in English, so I feel I can depend on him.”
Matsuyama, who clinched victory at the Genesis Invitational in February, starts the FedEx Cup Playoffs in eighth position. He also confirmed that his bronze medal is safe and secure.
