Hideki Matsuyama shuns LIV millions, commits to PGA Tour on eve of Zozo Championship defence
- Masters champion says he wants to continue doing his best on the Tour after being linked to the Saudi-backed organisation
- Matsuyama weighs in on row over world ranking points, says ‘fine to award them’ to LIV players
Hideki Matsuyama said on Tuesday that he was fully committed to playing on the PGA Tour, as he prepared to defend his title at this week’s Zozo Championship in his native Japan.
Matsuyama, who became his country’s first male major winner at the Masters last year, will face a field including Tokyo Olympic champion Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa and rising South Korean Kim Joo-hyung as the Tour returns to Narashino Country Club.
Several top stars, including two-time major winner Dustin Johnson and Open champion Cameron Smith have switched to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf, which offers huge prize purses.
The PGA Tour has banned LIV golfers from competing in their events and world No 19 Matsuyama said he had no intention of joining the rebel circuit.
“I’m a member of the PGA Tour – the players who left did so because they thought it was the right thing to do, so I can’t say anything about them,” said the 30-year-old, who won last year’s Zozo Championship title with a stunning eagle on the final hole.
“I am playing on the PGA Tour and I want to continue doing my best here.”
The US PGA Tour arrived in Japan days after LIV Golf held its first US$25 million event in Asia in Bangkok.
