Hideki Matsuyama made up a five-shot deficit on the back nine and then won the Sony Open in a playoff with one of the best shots he never saw - a three-wood into the sun that set up an eagle putt from three feet to beat Russell Henley in Honolulu.
The eighth career PGA Tour victory for Matsuyama drew him level with South Korea's KJ Choi for most tour victories by an Asian-born player.
"I got on a roll," said Matsuyama, who shot 31 on the back nine while Henley made eight pars and a bogey.
Matsuyama, 29, hammered a driver on the par-5 18th in regulation to set up a two-putt birdie for a seven-under 63 and got into a playoff when Henley missed a 10-foot birdie putt and closed with 65.
Back to the 18th for the sudden-death playoff, Matsuyama this time hit three-wood off the tee with Henley in a fairway bunker. That left him another three-wood, and he immediately held up his hand to shield the sun and search for the ball. He didn't need to see it. The gallery at Waialae erupted with cheers as the ball landed about 10 feet in front of the back pin and rolled out to three feet, setting up a putt for eagle.
Matsuyama was pleased to emulate Isao Aoki, who became the first Japanese player to win on the PGA Tour at the Sony Open in 1983 when he holed out from the fairway for eagle.
"To follow him up, I'm over the moon," Matsuyama said.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hideki Matsuyama's victory gave him eight PGA Tour titles, tied with KJ Choi for most tour wins by an Asian-born golfer. AP
