Hideki Matsuyama's game rounding into shape as Masters approaches

Hideki Matsuyama hasn’t won on the PGA Tour in two years, but his game is on the uptick heading into the Masters.

The Japanese star tied for third at Torrey Pines in January, then added a tie for ninth a month later at Riviera.

After making the cut on the number at The Players Championship, Matsuyama scorched the Stadium Course at Sawgrass on the weekend with rounds of 66 and 67. That vaulted him into a tie for eighth and gave him a boost of confidence heading into the Masters.

“I hit some real good quality iron shots and I had some putts go in, so it was a good weekend,” Matsuyama said through a translator after his finish at The Players. “It’s always good to be playing well prior to Augusta, but I’ve got a long ways to go still. Augusta is still a ways off, but I’m on the right track.”

The Masters has been on Matsuyama’s radar as a player for nearly a decade. He won the Asian Amateur in 2010 and 2011 to earn berths in the field at Augusta National, and he made the most of those opportunities. He was low amateur his first year and just missed out on those honors the following year.

As a professional, Matsuyama has continued to excel in Augusta. He missed the cut in 2014, but has finished inside the top 20 the past four years.

“I’ve played well there. To compete for the green jacket, I’ve got to work harder,” Matsuyama said. “If I can catch the wave, continue the momentum I had (at The Players), hopefully we’ll have a good result there.”

In 2018, Matsuyama was hampered by a wrist injury early in the year, and he finished 19th at the Masters. He did finish the year strong with a pair of ties for fourth in the FedEx Cup playoffs.

“Compared to last year it’s much better this year,” he said. “I’ve had some good results that have been satisfying. Without results, it would be a struggle, but so far so good. I feel confident about my game.”

Matsuyama would like to regain the form he exhibited in 2017, when he won three times and tied for second at the U.S. Open.

“All I can control is how I’m playing now and I am playing good,” he said. “I’ve got the results I’ve been looking for and heading in the right direction. Hopefully I’ll get there.”