Well Played
Players 2025: Peter Malnati wraps up PGA Tour reaction of the year with homage to Hideki Matsuyama
Hideki Matsuyama looked like he was struggling with his golf game during Thursday's opening round of the Players Championship, a familiar sight for PGA Tour fans. What wasn't as familiar is that the 2021 Masters champ was actually struggling with his golf game at TPC Sawgrass as he started five over through six holes before rallying to shoot a two-over-par 74.
That's because Matsuyama is perhaps as known for being a perfectionist with his iron shots as he is for slipping on that green jacket. There are countless examples—and even video compilations—of the Japanese star flailing his arms in disgust, only for his golf ball to wind up in good shape on the green.
Anwyay, that all leads us to what Peter Malnati did later in the day on his own approach shot on the 18th hole. The two-time PGA Tour winner clearly didn't think he caught his golf ball cleanly out of the pine straw, flailing in disgust and dropping his club to the ground. But his golf ball had other ideas, bouncing onto the green and feeding down a slope to about 12 feet. Must be nice.
The best part? As his ball rolled toward the hole, Malnati blurted out, "Hideki!" Have a look and listen:
Absolutely nailed it, Peter. In fact, we're going to go ahead and give you our PGA Tour Reaction of the Year Award.
And to even further honor Hideki, Malnati missed the birdie putt. We kid, we kid. (Sort of.)