1 month agoHideki Matsuyama has recorded back-to-back top-25 finishes at the Genesis Invitational and Phoenix Open and now sets his sights on the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he will compete for the 11th time. In previous appearances, he's made nine cuts and posted five top-25 finishes, including a T12 last year. To succeed at Bay Hill, Matsuyama will need to be efficient off the tee and with his approach play, as the course ranks among the toughest for both. Known for his elite iron play, he ranks 17th in strokes gained on approach and in the 98th percentile for proximity from 150-200 yards, a distance that accounts for 35.5% of all approach shots here. He also ranks in the 95th percentile for proximity from 200-plus yards. Matsuyama's main issue remains his off-the-tee play, where he's lost 1.679 strokes this year and ranks 175th in total driving. Fantasy managers can confidently play Matsuyama at his $9,300 price tag, and he'll likely be in contention on Sunday if he can improve his first-shot performance.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
2 months agoHideki Matsuyama finished tied for 25th at last week's Waste Management Phoenix Open, marking his third top-25 finish in 2025. He is now preparing for this week's Genesis Invitational, which will be held at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California. Matsuyama won this event last year; however, it's important to note that it was held at The Riviera Country Club, where it takes place annually. Torrey Pines also hosted the Farmers Insurance Open last month, where Matsuyama finished tied for 32nd. So far this year, he has not missed a cut, making him a solid option for DFS lineups this week.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
2 months agoThings have continually regressed for Hideki Matsuyama since winning the Sentry a month ago. His latest outing at Pebble Beach saw the Japanese star lose strokes on approach for the first time in six months, which was a bit of a surprise, but his limited history there is not great anyway. That is thankfully not the case at TPC Scottsdale, as he is making his 12th start in this event and has never missed a cut. Matsuyama is one of six men to win this championship in back-to-back years (2016 and 2017), though that dominance has not been as present in recent years. Still, he has reestablished himself as someone to always watch for in any event he tees it up in.
--Todd McGill - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
2 months agoHideki Matsuyama has been blistering hot to start 2025 with a win, T16, and T32 in his first three events. Matsuyama is widely regarded as one of the best approach and around-the-green players on Tour, and over the last two years, he ranks in the 96th percentile for proximity on approach shots from 100-150 yards, a range that accounts for 37.6% of all approach shots at Pebble Beach. He also finished the 2024 season ranked No. 1 in strokes gained around the green, which will be crucial this week, as Pebble Beach features the smallest greens on Tour -- averaging just 3,500 square feet. Matsuyama has played Pebble Beach twice, posting a T71 in 2024 and a T21 in the 2019 U.S. Open. At $9,600 on DraftKings, fantasy managers will need to rely on Matsuyama's short game to keep him in contention in this stacked field.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
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