Hideki Matsuyama robbed at airport after winning bronze at Olympics

The first leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs begins Thursday at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Tenn., however Olympics bronze medalist Hideki Matsuyama will likely be with out his common caddie and coach.

Matsuyama advised Japan Golf Digest they have been robbed at the London airport whereas touring again from the Olympic Games in Paris, France. Matsuyama stated his pockets was stolen, whereas his caddie, Shota Hiyato, and coach, Mikhito Kuromiya, misplaced their passports and visas.

Hiyato and Kuromiya needed to return to Japan to repair their passport points. The second playoff cease is subsequent week’s BMW Championship in Colorado, and it’s unclear in the event that they’ll return in time.

Matsuyama advised reporters he’s utilizing Taiga Tabuchi this week, who’s the common caddie for Japanese professional Ryo Hisatsune.

“I’m going to play golf as if I went back to the way I was before I had a coach,” Matsuyama stated. “I feel like all the responsibility is on me.”

Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, is ranked eighth within the FedEx Cup standings, that means he’s in good condition to play the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake.

He shot a final-round 65 at Le Golf National outdoors of Paris on Aug. 4, which was adequate to safe the bronze medal by one stroke over Victor Perez. Matsuyama stated his medal was not stolen.

Matsuyama is paired with Sahith Theegala for the primary spherical of the FedEx St. Jude Championship, going off at 1:35 p.m. ET on Thursday.

Josh Berhow

Golf.com Editor

As GOLF.com’s managing editor, Berhow handles the day-to-day and long-term planning of one of many sport’s most-read information and repair web sites. He spends most of his days writing, modifying, planning and questioning if he’ll ever break 80. Before becoming a member of GOLF.com in 2015, he labored at newspapers in Minnesota and Iowa. A graduate of Minnesota State University in Mankato, Minn., he resides within the Twin Cities along with his spouse and two youngsters. You can attain him at joshua_berhow@golf.com.