Home

Golf

Why Was Hideki Matsuyama Disqualified From the Memorial Tournament?

Published 06/03/2022, 4:00 AM EDT

Follow Us

USA Today via Reuters

Hideki Matsuyama is among the famous names in golf. He is teeing it up this week at the Memorial Tournament and is famous for his immaculate ball striking. However, he is in the news for something the PGA Tour professional will not be happy about, and in the end, he had to suffer a brutal punishment.

Albeit, many fans still ponder about how things panned out for Matsuyama during the Memorial tournament.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Hideki Matsuyama has a tough time at the Memorial

The Japanese professional teed off along with his playing partners Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy on the first hole on Saturday. Moreover, Matsuyama used his faithful three-wood on the first hole to hit the opening shot. But on the second hole, his 2022 Memorial Tournament campaign ended after rules officials found he was using a non-conforming club. As a result, the 2021 Masters Champion was disqualified from the Muirfield Village Country Club, a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course.

via Reuters

The 30-year-old professional had some thick white paint-like substance around the middle part of his three-wood. Also, if the player is carrying a non-conforming club in his bag, the professional will face disqualification from the event. Moreover, it was Hideki’s first DQ in his golf career. Not to forget, he won his first PGA Tour title at the Memorial in 2014.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest Golf stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

This Upcoming Pro-Am Event Is Stronger Than Any Major, Featuring 14 Former World No. 1 Golfers, Including Tiger Woods

The Tour’s chief referee, Steve Rintoul, also spoke about the disqualification. He said, “Our committee became aware through some pictures that were posted that there may be a substance that has been painted on the face of one of Hideki’s clubs. Unfortunately, when we found out about it, Hideki was playing the second hole.”

He added, “A whiteout substance that was very much up on the face of the club which, really, it’s very clear in equipment rules that’s not allowed.” Moreover, it was strange how the Japanese professional did not notice the white substance on the clubhead. At the same time, his fans will not be happy to see his run at the Memorial end early in the event. DO you think Hideki knew the club was non-conforming?

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Matsuyama wins the 2021 Masters tournament

Hideki Matsuyama won the major championship in 2021. He emphatically won the Masters to claim his first major win. Moreover, Matsuyama ended the event with an overall score of 10-under-par. As a result, he won the tournament with a one-shot lead on Sunday. He shot a final round of one-over-par, 73 to finish on the top of the leaderboard.

His final round of 73 included three birdies and one bogey on the opening nine holes. As a result, the Tour pro moved out in two-under-par. 34. Matsuyama made four-bogeys and one birdie on the back nine to win the event. Moreover, Will Zalatoris finished as the runner-up to Hideki. He ended the major championship event with an overall score of nine-under-par. In the end, Zalatoris had to settle for a solo second position finish at Augusta National.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Watch This Story: Which team does Tiger Woods support in the NFL, NBA, and in MLB?

What do you think about the unfortunate incident? Share your views in the comment section.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

ADVERTISEMENT

Written by:

Bazif Qadri

626Articles

One take at a time

Bazif Qadri is a Golf writer at EssentiallySports. Currently pursuing BSC Economics Hons, Bazif is a golf enthusiast. Not only a fan, but he is also an avid golfer himself.
Show More>

Edited by:

Vibhanshu Kumar

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT