SONY OPEN IN HAWAII

January 16, 2022

Hideki Matsuyama

Waialae Country Club

Press Conference

Q. Talk about the shot in the playoff.

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: It was a perfect number for me for a cut 3-wood, 276 yards left to right, follow wind.

I knew the green was soft enough to hold it, and I was able to pull it off.

Q. Did you know it was good when you hit it?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: To be honest I didn't even see it.

Q. It was a good shot.

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: But everybody started cheering and I knew it was good.

Q. How did you feel about your chances at the turn when you were I think five strokes behind?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Yeah, Russell was playing so beautifully the front nine, but at the turn I was thinking, He can't keep this up, can he? I was able to birdie 10 and then a two-shot swing at 11 and then the game was on again.

Q. On that note, the three-putt on 9, you're not a guy who shows a lot emotion, but did that kind of light a fire for the back nine?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Yeah, that three-putt at 9 did hurt. Again, I was five back but I just put my head down and I was playing pretty well; I was 3-under at the time, so I figured, well, if I could make a few more birdies maybe I can get back into it.

Q. Given it's sponsored by Sony, what this event means to Japan, what does this win mean to you?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Yeah, I mean, I feel great. To be able to win back-to-back with ZOZO and here with at the Sony, and especially on a course that I haven't really played that well. It's a tough golf course for me.

So I'm extra excited, extra happy because of that.

Q. Obviously Hawaii and Japan, a lot of connections. What does it mean or how did it feel to see a lot of Japanese supporters, the support throughout this whole weekend and the tournament, especially on the 18th?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Yeah, even at the turn when I was five back I could hear the cheers from my countrymen. That really spurred me on.

Q. And then overall, just kind of a recap, how was your experience here on the Island and your time here, your time in Hawaii?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: I had a great time. Got sunburned. It was hot. But still very happy.

Q. Two things: What did you think about the crowd coming all the way up to the 18th green for the finish in regulation?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Yeah, I mean, Tiger has had that experience many times, especially at the TOUR Championship. Russell and I, that was our first time. I was surprised that all of a sudden there they were.

Q. Did it put more pressure on you, bother you?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: No.

Q. And then in regulation, the drive you hit, did you have to tie your shoes to make sure they didn't come off when you swung?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: (Smiling.) That's probably the first swing of its type that I've had on the PGA TOUR up until now.

Q. But you felt like you had to do that?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Yeah, I was playing for eagle there. I knew Russell would probably birdie and I needed eagle to tie.

Q. What club for the second shot in regulation?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: 6-iron.

Q. Hideki, in the months since you won the Masters, has your life changed at all, and how would you say your life has changed?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: It has because the pressure of not winning a major has been gone.

Q. What do you do now? How do you celebrate? Where are you going? Where do you play next?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: I'll have my share of sake tonight and we'll see you all in San Diego at Torrey Pines.

Q. When do you take vacation?

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA: Tonight.