SUNDAY OCTOBER 30, 2016 - WGC - HSBC CHAMPIONS
HIDEKI MATSUYAMA
• His first European Tour International Schedule victory in his 30th official European Tour event.
• Could move to as high as sixth in the Official World Golf Ranking from tenth.
• This victory beats his previous best European Tour finish of tied fourth in the 2016 US PGA Championship.
• The 14th first-time winner of the season. They are: Nathan Holman (Australian PGA Championship), Marc Leishman (Nedbank Golf Challenge), Brandon Stone (BMW SA Open hosted by City of Ekurhuleni), Haydn Porteous (Joburg Open), Andrew Johnston (Real Club Valderrama Open de España hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation), Soomin Lee (Shenzhen International), Li Haotong (Volvo China Open), Jeunghun Wang (Trophée Hassan II), Chan Shih-chang (King’s Cup presented by PTT Group), Jimmy Walker (US PGA Championship), Paul Peterson (D+D REAL Czech Masters), Brandt Snedeker (Fiji International), Tyrrell Hatton (Alfred Dunhill Links Championship) and Hideki Matsuyama (WGC – HSBC Champions).
• Gains his first WGC title in is 14th WGC appearance.
• This victory beats his previous best WGC performance of tied ninth in the 2015 WGC – Dell Match Play.
• This victory beats his previous best WGC stroke play finish of tied 12th in the 2014 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational.
• This victory comes in his fourth appearance in the WGC – HSBC Champions.
• This victory beats his previous best performance in the WGC – HSBC Champions of tied 41st in 2014. (His other two appearances in the event saw him withdraw in 2013 and retire in 2015).
• Becomes the first player from Japan to win an individual WGC event.
• Becomes the first Asian golfer to win an individual WGC event. (Y E Yang won the HSBC event in 2007 before the tournament had WGC status).
OTHER FACTS
• Becomes the 33rd different player overall to win an individual WGC event since they began in 1999.
• Becomes the first, first-time winner of a WGC event since Russell Knox won the 2015 WGC – HSBC Champions.
• Becomes the first player since Russell Knox in this event in 2015 to make a WGC event their first European Tour success.
• Becomes only the second Japanese player to win an official European Tour event, following Isao Aoki (1983 European Open).
• Aged 24 years and 248 days becomes the youngest player to win the WGC – HSBC Champions. This beats the previous record of Martin Kaymer, who was 26 years and 313 days in 2011.
• Becomes the third youngest different winner of a WGC event, aged 24 years and 248 days, following Patrick Reed (23 years and 216 days – 2014 WGC – Cadillac Championship) and Tiger Woods (23 years and 242 days – 1999 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational).
• His winning margin of seven is the largest in the history of the WGC – HSBC Champions, beating the three shots of David Howell in 2006 (before the event was a WGC), Martin Kaymer in 2011 and Dustin Johnson in 2013.
• His 23 under par winning total equals the largest on the European Tour during the 2016 season, matching Tyrrell Hatton (Alfred Dunhill Links Championship) and Padraig Harrington (Portugal Masters).
• Made a total of 29 birdies during the four days.
• Becomes the 24th winner this season to win after leading going into the final round.
• Becomes the 26th different Asian player to win in European Tour history.
• Makes European Tour history for the greatest number of different Asian countries winning on the European Tour in the same season, with six. The countries are: India, South Korea, China, Thailand, Chinese Taipei and now Japan.
• Becomes the ninth victory on the European Tour International Schedule by an Asian player in 2016, the most in a single season. The winners are: SSP Chawrasia (Hero Indian Open), Soomin Lee (Shenzhen International), Li Haotong (Volvo China Open), Jeunghun Wang (Trophée Hassan II and AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open), Ashun Wu (Lyoness Open powered by Sporthlife Cashback Card), Thongchai Jaidee (100th Open de France), Chan Shih-chang (King’s Cup presented by PTT Group) and Hideki Matsuyama (WGC – HSBC Champions).
• Becomes the eighth different winner of the WGC – HSBC Champions, in the eighth playing since the tournament gained WGC status in November 2009.
• Gains his largest European Tour prize of €1,467,338.
• His tenth victory as a professional.
• Continues with his outstanding recent form, having won the Japan Open, finished second in the CIMB Classic and now winning the WGC – HSBC Champions.
