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PGA, Golf Herren The Genesis Invitational – Final Round Feb 19, 2023 Pacific Palisades, California, USA Max Homa reacts after missing the hole on eighteenth green during the final round of The Genesis Invitational golf tournament. Pacific Palisades California USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xGaryxA.xVasquezx 20230219_gav_sv5_059. Image Courtesy: IMAGO
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PGA, Golf Herren The Genesis Invitational – Final Round Feb 19, 2023 Pacific Palisades, California, USA Max Homa reacts after missing the hole on eighteenth green during the final round of The Genesis Invitational golf tournament. Pacific Palisades California USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xGaryxA.xVasquezx 20230219_gav_sv5_059. Image Courtesy: IMAGO
Due to a neck ailment, Hideki Matsuyama withdrew from the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play before the start of his third-round match. As a result, Max Homa won the match and became the first person to move on to the knockout rounds. He spent approximately 20 minutes trying to loosen up while warming up on the range.
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Fans react to Hideki Matsuyama and his ensuing injury
Matsuyama was seen this week at Austin Country Club with cellotape covering his neck. Matsuyama has been battling a persistent neck problem that began during the 2022 Arnold Palmer Invitational for the past 12 months. At the Sony Open in Hawaii, which he won in 2022, Matsuyama said to the media that the issue has prevented him from training as much as he’d like.
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Golf – The Masters – Augusta National Golf Club – Augusta, Georgia, U.S. – April 10, 2021 Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama hits his tee shot on the 17th hole during the third round REUTERS/Mike Segar
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The news of conceding and injury was confirmed by PGA Tour’s Instagram and Twitter Handle. Fans were disheartened to learn about Matsuyama’s tragic injury and on the contrary, some did not shy away to troll Homa.
A user commented, “Max is like..thankyou very much,” dissing Homa for the lucky victory. Another user commented, making fun, “Off day for Max then? Lol” Supporting Homa, a comment read, “Let’s go Max”. A troller commented targeting Matsuyama, “Get a better pillow”.
Prior to their 9:06 a.m. local tee time at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, Hideki Matsuyama has conceded his match to Max Homa due to a neck injury. Homa advances out of group play with a 3-0-0 record.
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) March 24, 2023
Golf fans sent immense love and wishes for a speedy recovery to Hideki Matsuyama below the Instagram post. The comments section was flooded with good wishes. A user said, “Hope he’s ok!”, another one commented, “Damn, seems like he’s been bit by the injury bug hard ever since the Masters win. Still one of the best Masters victories though”.
Gameplay at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play
Matsuyama defeated Kisner in his initial round, but on Thursday, he was defeated by Suh 3-and-1. After winning matches the first two days against Justin Suh and Kevin Kisner, Homa appeared set to move on. To qualify for a playoff, Suh would have had to defeat Kisner and hope that Homa loses to Matsuyama today. In eight appearances, Matsuyama has only once advanced to the weekend of the Match Play.
Homa has unexpected free time on Friday, so we’ll have to wait and see what he does with it.
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Written by
Edited by
Manaal Siddiqui