Ryo Hisatsune played alongside Hideki Matsuyama in the third round of the WM Phoenix Open on Saturday.
Matsuyama leads by one stroke from Hisatsune and three others with one round left to play at the WM Phoenix Open.
The event at TPC Scottsdale is one of the most exciting to watch on the PGA Tour and Matsuyama and Hisatsune treated golf fans to some spectacular golf on Saturday.
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Matsuyama recently criticized the PGA Tour for allowing Brooks Koepka to return so quickly after leaving LIV Golf.
So the Japanese star has been in the news over the past week. However, he’s now hitting the headlines for his performance on the golf course.
He didn’t drive the ball as well as he can on day three in Phoenix but his iron play was razor-sharp as usual.
But what was he actually like to play with?
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Hisatsune is 10 years younger than Matsuyama, so it goes without saying that he has always looked up to his fellow countryman.
It must have been a real thrill for him to play alongside the 2021 Masters champion at TPC Scottsdale on Saturday.
Hisatsune was asked what it was like for him to play alongside Matsuyama on Saturday afternoon in Phoenix.
“How special it’s final group then play with Hideki,“ the 23-year-old admitted.“Then it’s a huge crowd so like very excited. So, a couple of easy misses in first few holes, but in the afternoon, I made a lot of birdies.
“Then keeping patient and then going to, I think, very play well. So, yeah, I’m happy.“
The young Japanese golfer was then asked how Matsuyama made him feel out on the golf course.
“Especially, more respect some Hideki. More comfortable speaking Japanese, too, so very much comfortable.
“You know, he’s like won Masters and then like 11 times PGA winner, so like very different for me. But more chasing Hideki tomorrow.“
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The gratitude he showed after winning The Masters five years ago proved what sort of man he is.
The 33-year-old is a seasoned winner, with 11 PGA Tour victories to his name, and he’ll be confident of making it 12 on Sunday.
That said, Hisatsune will pose a real threat to Matsuyama’s chances of winning the WM Phoenix Open.
The 23-year-old from Okayama has won on the DP World Tour before, so he knows how to get the job done.
Matsuyama will clearly still be the hot favorite to win at TPC Scottsdale, though. A fascinating final round at the WM Phoenix Open awaits us.