On Sunday, Hideki Matsuyama shocked the golfing world as he completed an incredible comeback at the Genesis Invitational. After being down by six shots to leader Patrick Cantlay, the Japanese International scripted an iconic turnaround. Eventually, he finished three strokes ahead of second place Will Zalatoris to claim his ninth PGA Tour title.
This victory though has now become a center of discussion. A video of Matsuyama’s chip shot at the 17th hole is making rounds on social media. Many users are now alleging of him cheating by moving his ball a little bit. Commentator Jim Nantz has now gone in to defend the 2021 Masters winner.
Moving a ball even a little bit from it’s spot is considered an offence in golf and golfers are adjusted a penalty. Users on social media claimed that Matsuyama shifted his ball a bit at the par 5 17th hole to get a better chip.
Nantz, who was covering the event for CBS Sports was quick to spot this discussions and called in rules and review analyst Mark Dusbabek to explain the situation. “They’re playing a game of ‘gotcha,’ they think, with Matsuyama behind the 17th a moment ago and saying ‘hey that ball moved! This isn’t right!’“
Dusbabek would explain how the ball had shifted a bit but did not move from it’s place which thus resulted in no penalty for Matsuyama.
Yes Jim, the ball did not move. The ball just shifted a little bit, but it stayed in its same position. The ball has to move to a different position, up, down, to the side, it doesn't matter. It just didn't move its position. Mark Dusbabek explaining why Matsuyama was not penalized on Golf on CBS.
Nantz would then come into the defence of Matsuyama and seemingly told his critics to pick on someone else.
Go find somebody else to pick on. Jim Nantz to critics of Hideki Matsuyama.
It is though not the first time this season when an event winner has faced such heat from the fans. Matthieu Pavon, the winner of the Farmers Insurance Open was also alleged of cheating by pushing down the grass at the final hole of the event at Torrey Pines.
Hideki Matsuyama scripts golf history with win at Genesis Invitational
Hideki Matsuyama’s triumph at the Genesis Invitational saw several records being broken and pieces of history being created. He would fire a score of 9-under 62, the lowest round score at the Riviera course enroute to victory.
This victory also saw him become Asia’s most prolific golfer. He would overtake K.J. Choi in numbers of wins PGA Tour wins by an Asian player as his ninth victory on the tour now sees him lead this category.
The 31-year-old golfer also took home a sum of $4 million from the event purse prize, almost double than the one he received during his triumph at the Augusta National in 2021. He will now looking forward to build on from this win and try to replicate this feat at the other huge events coming up.
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